A One Century Record of Changes at Nenskra and Nakra River Basins Glaciers, Causasus Mountains, Georgia

Abstract

The article considers the variability of Nenskra and Nakra River basins glaciers’ parameters in the years of 1911-2014. Nenskra and Nakra River basins are located on the southern slope of the Great Caucasus, between the Kharikhra, Shdavleri and Tsalgmili ranges, in Georgia, in particular in the Enguri River basin. In our research we used the catalogue of the glaciers of Georgia compiled by K. Podozerskiy in 1911. We also used the military topographic maps with the scale of 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 drawn up in 1960 (in former Soviet Union), where there are the glaciers mapped in detail and the ends of their ice tongues on the southern slope of Great Caucasus of those times. We also used the remote sensing method, which is the best modern way for the study of the dynamics of glaciers and this method is remarkable by a quick obtaining of results. The spectral images of the Landsat L8 OLI/TIRS (Operational Land Imager and Thermal Infrared Sensor) (USGS) received from the “Landsat” artificial satellite are the necessary materials for our study. We also used the field survey materials of 2014 (GPS data). The latest statistical information is also given about the glaciers located in the individual river basins; their morphological types, exposition and the dynamics are considered according to the individual years.