Earth’s Cryosphere, 2017, Vol. XXI, No. 5, p. 82-88

LONG-TERM AVERAGE ANNUAL PRECIPITATION AT THE BELUKHA MOUNTAIN KNOT (CENTRAL ALTAI)

V.P. Galakhov1,3, R.T. Sheremetov2, S.Yu. Samoilova1, E.V. Mardasova3

1Institute for Water and Environmental Problems, SB RAS,
1, Molodezhnaya str., Barnaul, 656038, Russia; galahov@iwep.ru
2Institute of Human Ecology, SB RAS, 10, Leningradsky ave., Kemerovo, 650065, Russia
3Altai State University, 61, Lenina ave., Barnaul, 656049, Russia

The paper presents results of the calculation of long-term average annual precipitation in the Belukha mountain knot. The evaluation was carried out using the developed methodology which included collection and processing of available hydro-meteorological data, as well as calculation of precipitation at the equilibrium line altitude of glaciers. The calculation results allowed to construct a map of long-term average annual precipitation distribution in the Belukha knot. The revealed spatial features of precipitation distribution demonstrated, in particular, that precipitation amount increases in proportion to the absolute height on the windward slope, while on the leeward slope it is governed by the distance to the orographic barrier. The atmosphere’s moisture content (humidification) is found to be reducing with the increasing distance from the axial parts of the mountain ranges. The results validation by the hydrological monitoring showed their reliability and possibility of the method application to other mountain glacier regions.

Altai, Belukha, glaciers, precipitation, humidification, surface runoff

DOI: 10.21782/EC1560-7496-2017-5(82-88)