Paleoclimatic analysis paleoglacial and permafrost-rock formations of the Munku-Sardyk mountain range (East Sayan)

Abstract

The study of the nival-glacial objects of the Munku-Sardyk Range (East Sayan) as good long-term indicators of climate development has been going on for more than 100 years. In addition to the most studied glaciers of the Peretolchin glacier and second largest the Radde glacier, found various transitional glacial-permafrost formations permafrost-ice-rock formations and buried glaciers, which in the area were virtually un explored. One such object is a probably buried glacier (active rock glacier). It represents a rock-ice landslide array of fragmentation material with an ice core (up to 20 m), 660 m long, 150–250 m wide and a total thickness of about 25 m (according to geo-radar research), with a height difference of 1810–2030 m above sea level, overgrown with “drunk” woods. It probably formed 5500–4300 years ago, at the same time as the modern glaciers of Peretolchin and Rudde. According to the genetic classification of A.A. Galanin, it corresponds to the kar tongue rock glaciers. According to the classification of Altai glaciologists, this object corresponds to rock-ice complexes. Because of the constant flow movement, at the exit to the Beliy Irkut river, it ends with a “living” scree, dangerous for passing tourists. There may also be a catastrophic descent of the breakage material into the riverbed with the consequences of the temporary overlap of the main channel. The study of such formations has an independent interest as a self-organized geosystem of long-term development.