Supraglacial debris cover assessment in the Caucasus Mountains, 1986-2000-2014
- 1Department of Geomorphology, Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tamarashvili st., Tbilisi, Georgia, 0177
- 2Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, Canada, V2N 4Z9
- 3Department of Glaciology, Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 29 Staromonetniy Pereulok, Moscow, Russia 119017
- 4Institute of Cartography, Technical University of Dresden, 01069, Dresden, Germany
- 5Department of Earth Sciences, Georgian National Academy of Sciences, 52 Rustaveli Ave., Tbilisi, Georgia, 0108
- 1Department of Geomorphology, Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tamarashvili st., Tbilisi, Georgia, 0177
- 2Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, Canada, V2N 4Z9
- 3Department of Glaciology, Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 29 Staromonetniy Pereulok, Moscow, Russia 119017
- 4Institute of Cartography, Technical University of Dresden, 01069, Dresden, Germany
- 5Department of Earth Sciences, Georgian National Academy of Sciences, 52 Rustaveli Ave., Tbilisi, Georgia, 0108
Abstract. Surpaglacial debris cover plays an increasingly important role impacting on glacier ablation, while there have been limited recent studies for the assessment of debris covered glaciers in the Greater Caucasus mountains. We selected 559 glaciers according to the sections and macroslopes in the Greater Caucasus main watershed range and the Elbrus massif to assess supraglacial debris cover (SDC) for the years 1986, 2000 and 2014. Landsat (Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+, Landsat 8 OLI) and SPOT satellite imagery were analysed to generate glacier outlines using manual and semi-automated methods, along with slope information from a Digital Elevation Model. The study shows there is greater SDC area on the northern than the southern macroslope, and more in the eastern section than the western and central. In 1986-2000-2014, the SDC area increased from 6.4 %-8.2 %-19.4 % on the northern macroslope (apart from the eastern Greater Caucasus section), while on the southern macroslope, SDC increased from 4.0 %-4.9 %-9.2 %. Overall, debris covered glacier numbers increased from 122-143-172 (1986-2000-2014) for 559 selected glaciers. Despite the total glacier area decrease, the SDC glacier area and numbers increased as a function of slope inclination, aspect, glacier morphological type, Little Ice Age (LIA) moraines, rock structure and elevation. The datasets are available for public download at https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.880147.
Levan G. Tielidze et al.


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SC1: 'Supraglacial debris cover assessment in the Caucasus Mountains, 1986-2000-2014', Alifu Haireti, 20 Sep 2017
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RC1: 'Supraglacial debris cover assessment in the Caucasus Mountains, 1986-2000-2014', Anonymous Referee #1, 05 Oct 2017
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RC2: 'Review of Tielidze et al.', Anonymous Referee #2, 12 Dec 2017
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EC1: 'Editor Comment for closing discussion phase', Reinhard Drews, 13 Dec 2017


-
SC1: 'Supraglacial debris cover assessment in the Caucasus Mountains, 1986-2000-2014', Alifu Haireti, 20 Sep 2017
-
RC1: 'Supraglacial debris cover assessment in the Caucasus Mountains, 1986-2000-2014', Anonymous Referee #1, 05 Oct 2017
-
RC2: 'Review of Tielidze et al.', Anonymous Referee #2, 12 Dec 2017
-
EC1: 'Editor Comment for closing discussion phase', Reinhard Drews, 13 Dec 2017
Levan G. Tielidze et al.
Levan G. Tielidze et al.
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