Modelling glaciers’ melting in Central Caucasus (the Djankuat and Bashkara Glacier case study)

¹ Water Problems Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Gubkina, 119333, Moscow, Russia
² Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia

^* Corresponding author: egora1000@mail.ru

Abstract

The A-melt model was applied to assess the contribution snow and ice melting to river flow during the summer period of 2017 for the Bashkara and Djankuat glaciers located in the Caucasus. During the study period, the Djankuat river runoff amounted to 120 thousand m³, while the peak value of snow and ice melting was 300-400 thousand m³ per day, and on average 189 thousand m³. The significant influence of groundwater on the river flow is traced. The melt water contribution to the glacial lake Bashkara outburst manifested in the gradual accumulation of water large volumes over the summer period. The melting of snow and ice the day before the lake outburst reached 31 thousand m³, with an average value of 192 thousand m³ for the Bashkara basin. The total melting volume of the Djankuat basin was 0.016 km³, and of the Bashkara basin – 0.017 km³. As a result, the A-Melt model demonstrates the evaluation ability of glaciers’ impact on mountain rivers runoff.