Yevgeniy A. Zolotarev1 and Yevgeniy G. Kharkovets*2 1 Senior scientist of the Laboratory for Remote Sensing, Department of Cartography, Faculty of Geography, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University 2 Research Associate of the Laboratory for Remote Sensing, Department of Cartography, Faculty of Geography, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University e-mail
[email protected] * Corresponding author GEOGRAPHY EVOLUTION OF THE ELBRUS GLACIATION 13 SINCE THE MID XIX CENTURY UNDER CHANGING CLIMATE. KEY FINDINGS OF THE GLACIO-CARTOGRAPHICAL MONITORING ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Changes in the area and volume that have Numerous studies conducted recently been occurring from the middle of the XIX by climatologists suggest global climate century within the largest in Europe Elbrus warming, which started in the second half of glaciation were studied using lichenometry the XX century as a result of greenhouse gases and digital cartography methods. There were effect. A number of global climate warming cyclical, approximately 55 years long, frontal models have emerged in Russia and the fluctuations of glaciers Bolshoi Azau (the world [World..., 2003; Climate Change, 2001]. largest Elbrus glacier) and Dzhankuat (which Mountain glaciers are sensitive to climate is representative of all Central Caucasus change. Increase in global temperatures glaciation). should affect their regimes and parameters, specifically, the area and volume. This hypothesis Quantitative data on changes in the area and can be tested through cartographic and aerial- volume of the Elbrus glaciation indicated that satellite monitoring of the largest in Europe the greatest rates of its retreat coincided with Elbrus glaciation which physical surface exceeds the 1850–1887 period. Beginning in 1887, 140 km2.