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Glaciers area in Azerbaijan reduced by 45 per cent

19 November 2013 10:39 (UTC +04:00)

According to him, on an average, 0.02 square meters glacier melts every year.

“Glaciers in the territory of Azerbaijan are located in the northeastern part of the Great Caucasus and at the basin of the Gusarchay River. There are eight glaciers. Catalogue of those glaciers was compiled in 1890. Total area of those glaciers was 4.9 square meters. Moreover, the studies carried out by the expedition of the Institute of Geography of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences in 1960 confirmed the existence of 8 glaciers. In 1965, the area of those glaciers reduced to 3.2 square meters. In 1890-2000, area in Azerbaijan reduced by approximately 45 per cent,” said Verdiyev.

Verdiyev said that the glaciers are melting due to climate change and temperature rise. Fresh water resources mainly melt in July-August: “The lack of rainfall and high temperature during this period leads to slow melting of glaciers. That's why in July and August the water level in the rivers, which originate from glaciers, rises sharply.”

According to the senior hydrologist, since 2004 the expedition has been conducting studies of glaciers in summer every year: “The glaciers are melting gradually.”