Occurrence and Characteristics of Rock Glaciers in Western Tien Shan

Merekeyev A. Nurakynov S. Bolch T. Iskaliyeva G. Talgarbayeva D. Sydyk N.
February 2026 Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

Water (Switzerland)
2026 #18 Issue 3

Rock glaciers are key indicators of mountain permafrost and act as climatically resilient water reservoirs in arid mountains. This study presents the first inventory and kinematic classification of rock glaciers in Western Tien Shan (Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan), combining geomorphological mapping with InSAR time-series analysis. Using high-resolution optical imagery (Google Earth Pro (version 7.3.6.10441), Bing Maps, SAS Planet (version 200606.10075), digital elevation models, and Small Baseline Subset InSAR processing, 741 rock glaciers covering more than 70.5 km² were identified. Activity classification revealed 232 transitional and 509 active forms, with mean seasonal displacement rates of ~15 cm yr⁻¹ calculated based on August and September observations. Spatial analysis showed a strong rock glacier concentration on north-facing slopes (>66% of total area) with reduced potential incoming solar radiation. Rock glaciers mainly occur between 2800 and 3800 m a.s.l., with a mean elevation of 3340 m a.s.l. However, their kinematic activity varies across mid-altitudinal ranges, underscoring the influence of slope, aspect, shading, and local topography. Integration with the Global Permafrost Zonation Index (PZI) indicated a lower permafrost boundary at ~1922 m a.s.l., with the largest and most active glaciers occurring at intermediate PZI values (0.5–0.7). This first rock glacier inventory for the Western Tien Shan establishes a benchmark dataset that supports the validation and refinement of global models at a regional scale, guides priorities for permafrost monitoring, and provides a replicable framework for inventory development in other data-scarce mountain regions.

climate change , cryosphere , InSAR , remote sensing , rock glacier inventory , Western Tien Shan

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Institute of Ionosphere, Almaty, 050000, Kazakhstan
Department of Cartography and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Institute of Geodesy, Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), Graz, 8010, Austria

Institute of Ionosphere
Department of Cartography and Geoinformatics
Institute of Geodesy

10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель

Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026