BALANCE AND KINEMATICS OF THE MASS OF CENTRAL TUIYKSU GLACIER, NORTHERN SLOPE OF ILE ALATAU

Based on direct observations of the Central Tuiyksu glacier for the period 2006…2023, calculations of the components of external and internal mass transfer are presented and comparison of the obtained values for the periods 1958…1972 and 1977…1992 is provided. To determine the kinematic components of the mass balance, stakes drilled into the ice with geodetic reference on the ground were used. During the considered period, the glacier retreated by 420 meters, the mass balance on average was -0,54 m w.e., for the entire observation period, since 1958, the glacier retreated by 1190 m with the average mass balance value of -0,42 m w.e. for 1956…2023. The annual mass balance in the kinematic accumulation area for the period 2006...2023 was +0,13 m, for the same period the ice replacement from accumulation area to kinematic ablation area was -1,24 m, while kinematic accumulation area increased by 17 %, and kinematic ablation area decreased by 46,3 %. The inflow of ice from kinematic accumulation area compensated losses in kinematic ablation area in the period 1977/78…1991/92 only by half (49,5 %) and in the period from 2006/07 to 2022/23 already by 75,9 %. The maximum ice movement rates of the Central Tuiyksu glacier of 22…24 m/year were observed in the period 1956…65, they decreased to 16 m/year in the period 1977…1992 and in the period 2006…2023 were 12,8 m/year