Glacier in Ala-Archa loses about 1.4 meters of ice in a month

From August 16 to 19, an expedition to the Adygene Research Station in Ala-Archa Gorge took place. Together with a glaciologist, the expedition studied the glaciers, took measurements, and collected data for the documentary Mongilordun Unu (The Voice of Glaciers).

The expedition was organized by the project’s director and producer, Tynymgul Eshieva. Over the course of two weeks, she assembled a team of seven women of varying ages and backgrounds. Many of them had never participated in high-altitude treks before.

On the first day, the participants walked about 11 kilometers from Ala-Archa to the Adygene Research Station. For some, this was their first long climb to such an altitude. Despite the physical strain, the group reached the station in one piece.

The scientific part of the expedition began the next day. Together with glaciologist Gulbara Omorova, a researcher at the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, the participants traveled to the glacier, where they learned about its structure, melting processes, and ongoing geomorphological changes.

One of the practical tasks was installing three ablation rods—specialized instruments that measure melting intensity and changes in the glacier’s surface.

According to Gulbara Omorova, melting of approximately 1.4 meters was recorded in just one month near the glacier’s tongue. Over the entire ablative melting season, melting in lower-lying areas can reach 4–5 meters.

According to specialists, the period of most active melting lasts from approximately May to the end of September. During the expedition, glacier movement was also measured using GPS.

The scientists paid special attention to the lakes at the foot of the glacier. There are four large and several smaller bodies of water in the area of ​​the station, including glacial and thermokarst lakes. Experts consider two of these to be potentially dangerous if they burst.

The condition of these bodies of water is regularly monitored. During the expedition, the participants went out onto the large lake by boat and conducted bathymetric measurements using an echo sounder. This device allows to determine the depth at various points within the body of water and subsequently map its relief.

The expedition participants not only observed the glaciologist at work but also learned how to use scientific equipment, conduct measurements, and collect data. They also learned how specialists assess the stability of the dam located below the lake.

«It was important for us not just to bring the participants to the mountains. We wanted to give them the opportunity to see scientific work from the inside—to understand how specialists monitor glaciers, record changes, and collect data,» said expedition organizer Tynymgul Eshieva.

«The voice of glaciers must be heard not only by scientists, but by each of us. After all, their history is the history of our shared future,» she noted.

The expedition was part of the production of the documentary Mongilordun Unu. The film focuses on a female scientist researching Kyrgyzstan’s glaciers, changes in high-mountain ecosystems, and the role of women in nature conservation.

The organizers reported that the Union of Hiking Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic provided the participants with hiking equipment, the National Insurance Company provided insurance, and the Park of Creative Industries provided partial financial support. The French Embassy in Kyrgyzstan also provided financial assistance for the film’s production. Part of the costs were covered through crowdfunding and support from friends of the project.

The expedition concluded on August 19. The materials and observation results collected in the mountains will be used in further work on the documentary film.