Impact of Regional Climate Variability on the Geosystems of the Kuznetsky Alatau Mountains
M.M. Adamenko1, M.D. Ananicheva2, A.A. Abramov2, I.P. Trenkov3, I.A. Korneva2
1Siberian State Industrial University, Novokuznetsk, Russia
2Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
3Federal State Unitary Enterprise ‘Kuznetskiy Alatau’, Mezhdurechensk, Russia
Keywords: snow cover, small glaciers, climate change, seasonal freezing
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive analysis of regional climate dynamics - specifically, solid precipitation - and its impact on mountain geosystems in the Kuznetsk Alatau. The research integrates long-term field observations with ERA5-Land reanalysis data, focusing on snowpack measurements across the Kanym Highlands (2011-2025). We detail the spatial distribution, parameters, and temporal variability of snow cover, including avalanche hazards and maximum snow redistribution volumes. Additionally, we provide new UAV-based monitoring results (2024) for the Iyus-Tersa glacier group, alongside a detailed assessment of six major glaciers’ retreat since the 1980s. The surface temperatures in the different landscapes (900-1500 m a.s.l.) were investigated. The well-documented snowpack dynamics of the Kanym Highlands and Iyus-Tersa glaciers enable a comparative analysis, shedding light on local geosystem responses to climate warming and associated physiographic changes. Our validation shows that while ERA5-Land reliably estimates ten-day mean snow depth at the foothills, it underestimates snowpack thickness in high-altitude cryosphere zones, underscoring the critical role of in situ measurements.
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