Contact and illustrations:
Recently the results of 5 field expeditions (1996-2001) of the ‘Ice and Climate Group’ of the Department of Geography of the VUB (in collaboration with the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Science (Novosibirsk, Russia)) in the Altai Mountains, South Siberia, near the border with Mongolia and China, were published in Annals of Glaciology.
The results of this research are based on simulations with numerical glacier models, developed at the VUB. Ground truth comes from historical documents and field observations with ice radar and GPS (Global Positioning System), from which ice thickness, ice velocity, yearly surface variations, hydrological characteristics and historical length variations could be determined for two visited glaciers. Radar sounding suggests that these glaciers are frozen to the bed in most places and only melt during summer. This polythermal character only occurs in polar and subpolar regions. Meltwater is responsible for faster motion of the glacier by sliding over the bed, hence further increasing shrinkage of the glacier.
Research shows that Sofiyskiy glacier retreated by 1800 m during the 20th century (also Maliy Aktru glacier shortened by 800 m since 1911). Computer simulations show that a first rapid retreat of the glacier is due to a temperature rise and less snow accumulation during the period 1880-1910. From 1940 circumstances became less favourable probably due to warmer climate. The Altai glaciers seem especially vulnerable for variations in summer temperature.
Temperature on earth has risen by 0.6 °C over the last 140 years. This is shown from a compilation of instrumental observations by the IPCC of the United Nations, the world’s leading research centre on climate change. Due to this warming, glaciers have retreated globally and sea level has risen already with two to five centimeters. Some glaciers are three kilometer shorter then in 1850. For 2100, the IPCC predicts an increase of temperature with 1.4-5.8 °C and a rise of sea level with 0.09-0.88 m, where glaciers make a contribution. To reduce the uncertainty of present predictions on climate and sea level change, more research is necessary.
This research forms a contribution to the project `Glacier Fluctuations and Climatic Change in South Siberia' (Belgian Science Policy Office), Contract IN/RU/006 (1998-2000), and the research project `Climatic Change in the Altai Mountains' (FWO-Vlaanderen), Contract G.0120.97 (1998-2000).
More information can be obtained by
Dr. Frank PATTYN en drs. Bert DE SMEDT
Department of Geography (WE-DGGF), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan
2, B-1050 Brussel.
Tel: +32 (0)2 629 33 84 - Fax: +32 (0)2 629 33 78
Email: fpattyn@vub.ac.be
Information and illustrations
Photo's Sofiyskiy glacier: www.vub.ac.be/nieuws/mda/docu/fotosofiyskiy.doc or www.vub.ac.be/nieuws/mda/docu/sofiyski.jpg
More information and graphics: homepages.vub.ac.be/~fpattyn/altai_res.html
Photo’s Altai mountains and Sofiyskiy: homepages.vub.ac.be/~fpattyn/altai.html
IPCC report: www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/wg1/
Publicaties
* Pattyn, F., B. De Smedt, S. De Brabander, W. Van Huele,
A. Agatova, *A. Mistrukov and H. Decleir (2003) Ice dynamics and basal
properties of Sofiyskiy Glacier (Altai, Russia) based on DGPS and radio-echo
sounding surveys. Annals of Glaciology 37: 286-292.
*De Smedt, B. and F. Pattyn (2003) Numerical modelling of historical
front variations and dynamic response of Sofiyskiy glacier, Altai Mountains,
Russia. Annals of Glaciology 37: 143-149.
A copy of the papers can be obtained from the authors.
