Editing Djankuat Research Basin, Russia

Record Editor

Template

Alpine Research Site
Version 1.0

Advanced Options

Target Template

Overwrite record

Record Title

Related Information

Site Overview Data and Observations Map of Research Site

Section 1: Site Overview

Identity

Basin / Site Name
Country; Province/State
Website (if available)
Operational Management	Lomonosov Moscow State University Water problems institute Russian Academy of Sciences

Oversight/Contacts

Basin / Site Location (Centroid Coordinates)

Coordinate Format	Latitude	Longitude
Degrees Minutes Seconds
Decimal Degrees

Purpose / Scientific Focus

The Djankuat glacier was chosen as representative of the central North Caucasus during the International Hydrological Decade (IHD) - research program on water problems launched by UNESCO in 1965 -  and is one of 30 ‘reference’ glaciers in the world which has annual mass balance series longer than 50 years. The mass-balance measurements have been carried out on Djankuat glacier since 1967 till now regularly (www.wgms.ch) based on standard methods. Detailed hydrological and meteorological measurements were included in the monitoring program of the station during the IHD and came to an end in the late 1970s. The comprehensive hydrometeorological observation was resumed in the Djankuat research basin since 2007. Hydrometeorological measurements were done during the ablation season every year since 2007, all-year round hydrological gauge since 2021, and the observational program gradually expanded during 2007–2023 and now goes beyond the standard network hydrological and meteorological observations.

Basin / Site Characteristics

Location (Physiographic Region)
Area (km2)
Elevation (m; Mean, Maximum, Minimum)	between 2600 and 4000 m
Description (Physical–Ecological–Climatic Characteristics)	The Djankuat research basin is situated on the northern slope of the central part of the Main Caucasian Ridge. The climate is moderate continental to high-alpine
Drainage / River System	The Djankuat River is a source of the Adul-Su River – a tributary of the Baksan River which drains into the Caspian Sea via the Terek River.
Site History or Historical Context	The Djankuat glacier was chosen as representative of the central North Caucasus during the International Hydrological Decade (IHD) - research program on water problems launched by UNESCO in 1965 - and is one of 30 ‘reference’ glaciers in the world which has annual mass balance series longer than 50 years.
Years of Data

Other Information

Glacierized Area (% and year(s) measured)
Main Land Cover(s)	Alpine highlands with steep slopes and a wide development of coarse-grained deposits, with numerous outcrops of exposed rocks, with alpine lawns in the lower part of the basin and with glacial-nival landscapes in its middle and upper parts
Lithology / Soils	crystalline schists and gneisses; gravelly shallow humus soils
	J F M A M J J A S O N D A
Mean Monthly and Annual Temperature (°C)	-7.3; -6.4; -3.2; 2.1; 6.8; 10.0; 12.5; 12.2; 8.5; 3.9; ; -1.3; -5.2; 2.7 (According to the closest all-year round meteorological station in Terskol)
	J F M A M J J A S O N D A
Mean Total Monthly and Annual Precipitation (mm)	58; 45; 67; 86; 92; 93; 102; 94; 100; 85; 64; 59; 942 (According to the closest all-year round meteorological station in Terskol)
Snow Characteristics	Stable snow cover is generally observed on the whole basin area from October-November to May. In the accumulation zone of glaciers snow persists through the year. Mean measured snowdepth on the Djankuat Glacier is 3600 mm, Maximum is 11550 mm
Additional Noteworthy Characteristics of Basin/Site

Digital Elevation Model	Available on request
Landcover and Soils	Aleynikova, A. M. Struktura i dinamika prilednikovykh landshaftov Priel'brus'ya / A. M. Aleynikova, M. N. Petrushina // Lod i sneg. – 2011. – № 2(114). – S. 127-134. – EDN PJEMMH. (in Russian)
Stream/River Network	Available on request
Basin Delineation / Shapefile	Available on request