Lakes near the glacier Maliy Azau on the Elbrus (Central Caucasus): dynamics and outbursts

The lake dynamics and the current state of them were analyzed on the basis of interpretation of aerial and satellite images of different years together with results of field surveys. Areas of six lakes existing in different years near the Maliy Azau Glacier had been determined. On August 22, 2011, t...

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Main Authors: M. D. Dokukin, A. V. Khatkutov
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Nauka 2016-12-01
Series:Лëд и снег
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Online Access:https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/335
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author M. D. Dokukin
A. V. Khatkutov
author_facet M. D. Dokukin
A. V. Khatkutov
author_sort M. D. Dokukin
collection DOAJ
description The lake dynamics and the current state of them were analyzed on the basis of interpretation of aerial and satellite images of different years together with results of field surveys. Areas of six lakes existing in different years near the Maliy Azau Glacier had been determined. On August 22, 2011, the maximum area of one of the lakes was equal to 25.5 thousand m2. The first outburst was caused by the landslide deformations of the moraine massif forming a part of the lake basin, while the second one was a result of degradation of the lake ice dam and the water overflow on top of it. The present‑day lake dams (terminal‑moraine ramparts and medial moraine ridges) are the result of the Maliy Azau Glacier advance in 1990s. The revealed feature of the lake dynamics on the mountain Elbrus was a drop of the water level and corresponding decrease of the lake areas in winter that was related to existence of the groundwater runoff into fractured volcanic rocks. At present, moraine dams of lakes and areas of the surface water runoff from the lakes are in stable condition due to which there is no threat of a lake outburst. However, the potential threat of outburst still remains because of high seismicity and possible volcanic activity in this region.
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spelling doaj-art-4ff7e72a00e845b7ae493ea18a57a6802025-08-20T03:37:50ZrusNaukaЛëд и снег2076-67342412-37652016-12-0156447247910.15356/2076-6734-2016-4-472-479288Lakes near the glacier Maliy Azau on the Elbrus (Central Caucasus): dynamics and outburstsM. D. Dokukin0A. V. Khatkutov1High‑Mountain Geophysical InstituteHigh‑Mountain Geophysical InstituteThe lake dynamics and the current state of them were analyzed on the basis of interpretation of aerial and satellite images of different years together with results of field surveys. Areas of six lakes existing in different years near the Maliy Azau Glacier had been determined. On August 22, 2011, the maximum area of one of the lakes was equal to 25.5 thousand m2. The first outburst was caused by the landslide deformations of the moraine massif forming a part of the lake basin, while the second one was a result of degradation of the lake ice dam and the water overflow on top of it. The present‑day lake dams (terminal‑moraine ramparts and medial moraine ridges) are the result of the Maliy Azau Glacier advance in 1990s. The revealed feature of the lake dynamics on the mountain Elbrus was a drop of the water level and corresponding decrease of the lake areas in winter that was related to existence of the groundwater runoff into fractured volcanic rocks. At present, moraine dams of lakes and areas of the surface water runoff from the lakes are in stable condition due to which there is no threat of a lake outburst. However, the potential threat of outburst still remains because of high seismicity and possible volcanic activity in this region.https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/335breakthrough floodsdegradation of glaciersglacial lakesmedial morainesoutburst of lakesatellite imagesunderground drainage
spellingShingle M. D. Dokukin
A. V. Khatkutov
Lakes near the glacier Maliy Azau on the Elbrus (Central Caucasus): dynamics and outbursts
Лëд и снег
breakthrough floods
degradation of glaciers
glacial lakes
medial moraines
outburst of lake
satellite images
underground drainage
title Lakes near the glacier Maliy Azau on the Elbrus (Central Caucasus): dynamics and outbursts
title_full Lakes near the glacier Maliy Azau on the Elbrus (Central Caucasus): dynamics and outbursts
title_fullStr Lakes near the glacier Maliy Azau on the Elbrus (Central Caucasus): dynamics and outbursts
title_full_unstemmed Lakes near the glacier Maliy Azau on the Elbrus (Central Caucasus): dynamics and outbursts
title_short Lakes near the glacier Maliy Azau on the Elbrus (Central Caucasus): dynamics and outbursts
title_sort lakes near the glacier maliy azau on the elbrus central caucasus dynamics and outbursts
topic breakthrough floods
degradation of glaciers
glacial lakes
medial moraines
outburst of lake
satellite images
underground drainage
url https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/335
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AT avkhatkutov lakesneartheglaciermaliyazauontheelbruscentralcaucasusdynamicsandoutbursts