Assessment of the current state and temporal changes of glacial-moraine lakes in the Central and Eastern part of the northern slope of the Ile Alatau, Kazakhstan

Retreat of glaciers and partial melting of permafrost moraines recorded since the 1970s, led to the formation and rapid accumulation of glacial-moraine lakes in Ile Alatau, Kazakhstan. For its part, there was a necessity to analyse hydrometeorological and morphometric data on the current state and temporal changes of moraine lakes. Maps provided comprehensive information about the state of moraine-glacial lakes to prevent and protect objects from the negative effects of mudflow hazards. In this regard, the purpose of the article is to prepare a systematic inventory as a result of the study, compare and analyse the changes and evolution of the lakes. The findings of this study show that the total number of moraine lakes increased over the study period from 20 in 1978 to 77 in 2021. It is visible that the glacial-moraine lakes are increasing in number and area, thereby posing possible mudflow hazards to the densely populated downstream land. The study on glacial-moraine lakes in the Ile Alatau region has practical value in several areas: it helps assess the risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and enables authorities to develop effective strategies for disaster management; it informs planners and developers about potential hazards; it provides valuable information for protecting sensitive ecosystems and maintaining the ecological balance of mountainous regions.