ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT STATE OF SOUTH SYGYKTINSKY GLACIER – ONE OF THE LARGEST GLACIERS OF KODAR RANGE

In this paper we present some results of studies of Southern Sygyktinsky Glacier, the largest glacier of Kodar Ridge. The glacier is located at altitude 2340–2690 m, its area is 0.48 km 2 and length 1.26 km. Firn line at the end of August was 2485±35 m. Since the end of Little Ice Age the glacier tongue retreated by 800 m and its area decreased by 0.44 km 2 (by 48%). Ice surface is asymmetric due to snow redistribution in local topography conditions. There are two ice formation zones on the glacier: firn-ice zone and superimposed ice zone. Snow cover on the glacier surface is thin and its chemical (ion) composition reflects atmospheric aerosol features and intensity of percolation processes. Air temperature measured over ice surface from 9.07 to 21.08 (every hour) varies from −1.5 to +18.0 ºC with mean value of 2.9 ºC. Summer balance in 2009 was estimated by value of 980 mm w.e. with positive-degree-day factor 5.1 mm ºC -1 day -1 .