Active Glacier Degradation Detected on Chelektor in Kyrgyzstan

Signs of intense degradation are evident on the Chelektor moraine-glacier complex, located on the northern slope of the Kyrgyz Ridge. A recent scientific expedition, involving specialists from the Hydrometeorological Service, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the University of Central Asia, assessed the glacier's current state and potential hazards.

Researchers utilized satellite data, drone photography, and on-site observations to track changes over the past decade. The findings reveal a significant reduction in the glacier's exposed area, which has decreased from 25.1 to 14.8 hectares, a 41% decline. The glacier front has also receded by 146 meters, and the once-unified glacier massif is now fragmenting into separate parts.

“

These processes indicate the destruction of buried ice, which is not always reflected in estimates of the exposed glacier area alone.

Beyond the visible retreat, experts noted that some exposed ice is becoming "armored," meaning it is covered by a thick layer of moraine deposits. The expedition also discovered ice cliffs, thermokarst sinkholes, internal tunnels, and newly forming lakes within the moraine. These features indicate the destruction of buried ice, a process not always captured by measurements of exposed glacier area alone.

According to the experts, the continued melting of this buried ice poses a risk. It could decrease the stability of the moraine massif, potentially leading to the formation of high-altitude lakes. Should these lakes breach, there is a significant risk of mudflows inundating the valleys below, posing a threat to downstream communities and infrastructure.

“

Further melting of the buried ice could reduce the stability of the moraine massif and lead to the formation of high-altitude lakes. If these lakes break through, there is a risk of mudflows forming in the valleys below.