Changes in Glaciers in the Pskem River basin, Uzbekistan: 1942 – 2020

Abstract

In response to climate change, most glaciers in Central Asia are losing mass, hence the raised attention due to their impact on the downstream river runoff. This study considers the analysis of glaciers changes in area and elevation in the Pskem River basin, the Western Tien-Shan mountains, using aerial photographs, satellite data of Landsat series, KH-9, and TanDEM-X missions as well as the catalogues data issued since 1960s. Our results revealed a decrease in the glacierized area by 2000 and no significant changes from 2000 to 2020 in the basin. Annual mass balance for 10 investigated glaciers is about -1.08 m w.e. for the period from 2012 to 2014.