Institute of Hydrometeorology

Eastern Georgia

According to the catalogue, eastern Georgia counted 132 glaciers with a total area of 82.8 km² [25]. Distribution and other details are provided in Appendix 2. By 2010, the area had decreased to 63.1 km² (−23.8  %), by 2015 to 48.9 km² (−22.5  %), and by 2020 to 39.9 km² (−18.4  %). Overall, glacier area declined by 42.9 km² (−51.8  %) relative to the catalogue baseline.

Glacier area and number change

Glaciers number is not a representative characteristic, but it shows the process variability. Glacier numbers also declined sharply: from 132 in the catalogue to 114 in 2010 (−13.6  %), 82 in 2015 (−28.1  %), and 54 in 2020 (−34.1  %). Thus, by 2020, glacier numbers had fallen by 78 (−59.1 %).

These results indicate that, in eastern Georgia, both glacier area and number decreased more than twofold over the study period.

Liakhvi River Basin

Distribution of areas and number of glaciers in the Liakhvi River Basin according to size,
catalog and SRS data

[1] − Цомая В.Ш. Каталог Ледников СССР. Т. 9, вып. 3, ч. 1, Закавказье и Дагестан, Л.: Гидрометеоиздат, 1975. - 95 с.

Aragvi River Basin

Distribution of areas and number of glaciers in the Aragvi River Basin according to size,
catalog and SRS data

[1] − Цомая В.Ш. Каталог Ледников СССР. Т. 9, вып. 3, ч. 1, Закавказье и Дагестан, Л.: Гидрометеоиздат, 1975. - 95 с.

Tergi River Basin

Distribution of areas and number of glaciers in the Tergi River Basin according to size,
catalog and SRS data

[2] − Цомая В.Ш., Дробышев О.А. Каталог Ледников СССР. Т. 8, ч. 11, Северный Кавказ, Л.: Гидрометеоиздат, 1977. - 71 с.

Assa River Basin

Distribution of areas and number of glaciers in the Assa River Basin according to size,
catalog and SRS data

[3] − Панов В.Д., Боровик Э.С. Каталог Ледников СССР. Т. 8, ч. 12, Северный Кавказ, Л.: Гидрометеоиздат, 1977. - 51 с.

Arghuni River Basin

Distribution of areas and number of glaciers in the Arghuni River Basin according to size,
catalog and SRS data

[3] − Панов В.Д., Боровик Э.С. Каталог Ледников СССР. Т. 8, ч. 12, Северный Кавказ, Л.: Гидрометеоиздат, 1977. - 51 с

Pirikiti Alazani River Basin

Distribution of areas and number of glaciers in the Pirikiti Alazani River Basin according to size,
catalog and SRS data

[1] − Цомая В.Ш.. Каталог Ледников СССР. Т. 9, вып. 3, ч. 1, Закавказье и Дагестан, Л.: Гидрометеоиздат, 1975. - 95 с.