Unique Surges of Medvezhy Glacier

Abstract

The results of 20 years of field data (1963–1982) and 50 years of remote observations (1963–2012) on Medvezhy Glacier in the Pamirs by the Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, are considered. The prevalence of the influence of climatic factors over internal ones (features of ice deformation) on glacial surges is shown. A conclusion is made about the uniqueness of the surge regime of Medvezhy Glacier connected with the structure of its bed. There are no analogues of this structure of the bed on any of the 82 surging glaciers in the Pamirs.