An international team of scientists has conducted a study showing that a glacier at an altitude of about 5,810 meters, located on the ice cap of Kon-Chukur-Bashi, is increasing in size, while most glaciers on the planet are shrinking due to climate change. This was reported by the international popular science magazine Popular Mechanics.
During the expedition, the scientists extracted two ice cores, each over 100 meters long. One of the samples was sent to the underground storage of the Ice Memory Foundation in Antarctica for long-term storage of climate data, while the other was sent to the Low Temperature Research Institute of Hokkaido University in Japan. Professor Yoshinori Iizuka will analyze the second core to determine the reasons for the unusual stability of this glacier.
The researchers hope that the information contained in these cores, covering up to 30,000 years of climate data, will help shed light on the reasons for the growth of Kon-Chukur-Bashi and its possible significance for the future of other glaciers on the planet.
The ice cap of Kon-Chukur-Bashi, located in the Sarykol Ridge of the Pamir Mountains in eastern Tajikistan, is situated near the border with China. The height of the peak is 5,811 meters above sea level.
The region is a high-altitude plateau with a harsh continental climate and minimal human intervention. Due to its remoteness and difficult access conditions, the ice cap is mainly accessible only for scientific expeditions.
