Agency: Tufandag glacier shows rapid melting and structural changes

Research has been conducted on the Tufandag Glacier, located in the Gusarchay basin on the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus, the Azerbaijani State Water Resources Agency’s Service for State Control over the Use and Protection of Water Resources told Report.

A joint expedition was carried out from August 18 to 23 by experts from the State Control Service and the National Hydrometeorology Service under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.

During the research, data was collected on the glacier's coordinates, elevation, and exposure and photographs were taken. Detailed descriptions were made of the surrounding valleys, slope positions, direction, depth and steepness, surface crevasses, their directions and dimensions, moraine cover, and the condition and structure of the glacier tongue.

The findings showed a noticeable decrease in glacier area and an accelerated melting process. At altitudes between 3,500 and 3,800 meters, researchers observed an increase in both the number and size of crevasses. Additionally, the water level and discharge of the Mahmuddara River, which originates from the glacier tongue, have risen.

These changes are attributed to global climate change and abnormal heatwaves, which have intensified crevasse expansion and caused the glacier tongue to retreat to higher elevations, reducing the glacier’s overall volume.

The Tufandag Glacier is the largest in the area and lies north of Tufan Peak. It tends to move northward under the influence of gravity but often remains suspended. Morphologically, the Tufandag glaciers are classified as cirque and hanging glaciers.