рус eng
«IZVESTIYA IRKUTSKOGO GOSUDARSTVENNOGO UNIVERSITETA». SERIYA «NAUKI O ZEMLE»
«THE BULLETIN OF IRKUTSK STATE UNIVERSITY». SERIES «EARTH SCIENCES»
ISSN 2073-3402 (Print)

List of issues > Series «Earth Sciences». 2026. Vol 56

Using GIS-Technologies to Create Thematic Maps (on the Example of the Munku-Sardyk Mountain Range as a Training Ground)

Author(s)

A. D. Kitov1, S. N. Kovalenko2

1 V. B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS, Irkutsk, Russian Federation

2 Irkutsk State University, Irkutsk, Russian Federation

Abstract
The Munku-Sardyk mountain range with the largest peak of the Eastern Sayan Mountains, 3491 m, and with a variety of natural zones, is most successfully suited as a landfill for stationary studies, which have positively proven themselves for in-depth comprehensive research of individual territories. Considering that glaciological studies began more than 100 years ago, it is of interest to continue studying the territory of the landfill, which is presented in this work. The purpose of this work is to continue a number of studies begun in the century before last, mainly glaciological, thematically expand and detail the study of this area using modern GIS technologies, weather recorders, GPS-metry, etc. Attracting students, mainly from Irkutsk State University, and graduate students for research and educational practices allows you to use the landfill as an educational, scientific and educational and tourist site. Using modern GIS technologies and data from remote sensing of the Earth, databases of glaciers have been created that reflect their dynamics for more than 100 years. GIS mapping of the territory of the landfill is carried out for various components (nival-glacial objects, geology, changes in mountain geosystems, etc.). This article presents some thematic maps of the main part of the landfill: Areas of distribution of glacial formations, river orders and river aufeis distribution. A diagram of the location of places for episodic observation of the weather and recording of temperature at different altitude levels using thermochrons is presented. According to the results of observation on the minimum Peretolchin thermometer, the minimum temperatures 120 years ago practically did not change and amount to -34.5° C. The degree of change in the Peretolchin and Radde glaciers is shown. According to Landsat remote data, it is possible to track changes in glaciers with a frequency of 5 years. Observations have shown that the reduction of glaciers occurs at an average rate of 0.009 km2/year, and the glaciers themselves have decreased over the area of the open part by more than 4 times in more than 100 years. So the Peretolchina glacier decreased from 0.83 to 0.15 km2, and Radde from 0.48 to 0.07 km2. Analysis of the temperature recording series showed that negative average annual temperatures prevail throughout the area. The average annual temperature at the highest point of the ridge is about -12° C, which contributes to the preservation of glaciers. There is also a change in other highland zones, the forest border in the form of woodlands moved up the valley by 100 m. A forecast of the reduction of the Munku-Sardyk glaciers is presented.
About the Authors

Kitov Aleksandr Danilovich, Candidate of Sciences (Technical), Senior Research Scientist V. B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS 1, Ulan-Batorskaya st., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation e-mail: kitov@irigs.irk.ru 

Kovalenko Sergey Nikolaevich, Candidate of Sciences (Geology and Mineralogy), Associate Professor of the Department of Dynamic Geology Irkutsk State University 1, K. Marx st., Irkutsk, 664003, Russian Federation e-mail: igpug@mail.ru

For citation
Kitov A.D., Kovalenko S.N. Using GIS-Technologies to Create Thematic Maps (on the Example of the MunkuSardyk Mountain Range as a Training Ground). The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Earth Sciences, 2026, vol. 56, pp. 70-88. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3402.2026.56.70 (in Russian)
Keywords
GIS, glacier, relief, training ground, Munku-Sardyk mountain range.
UDC
912.4+910.2(079.3)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3402.2026.56.70
References
  1. Arefyev V., Mukhametov R. Na lednikah Altaja i Sajan [On the glaciers of Altai and Sayan]. Barnaul, Poligrafist, 1996, 176 p. (in Russian)
  2. Geoinformacionnaja sistema upravlenija territoriej [Geographic information system for territory management]. Irkutsk, Institute of Geography SB RAS Publ., 2002. 151 p. (in Russian)
  3. Danilov F.A., Prelovsky V.A. Zakonomernosti vertikalnogo rasprostranenija mlekopitajushhih gornogo massiva Munku-Sardyk [Regularities of vertical distribution of mammals of the Munku-Sardyk mountain range]. Izvestiya Irkutskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta. Seriya "Nauki O Zemle" [The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Earth Sciences], 2021, vol. 37, pp. 28-41. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3402.2021.37.28 (in Russian)
  4. Ivanov E.N., Silaev A.V. Geoinformacionnoe modelirovanie osnovnyh jetapov razvitija merzlotnyh i lednikovyh geosistem juga Vostochnoj Sibiri [Geoinformation modeling of the main stages of the development of permafrost and glacial geosystems in the south of Eastern Siberia]. Regional Geosystems, 2020, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 198-209. https://doi.org/10.18413/2712-7443-2020-44-2-198-209 (in Russian)
  5. Kotlyakov V.M., Chernova L.P., Muravyev A.Ya. et al. Izmenenie gornyh lednikov v Severnom i Juzhnom polusharijah za poslednie 160 let [Change of mountain glaciers in the Northern and Southern hemispheres over the past 160 years]. Ice and Snow, 2017, vol. 57, no. 4, pp. 453-467. https://doi.org/10.15356/2076-6734-2017-4-453-467 (in Russian)
  6. Katalog lednikov SSSR [Catalogue of glaciers of the USSR]. Leningrad, Gidrometeoizdat, 1973, vol. 16, iss. 1, part. 3-5, iss. 2, part 1, 64 p. (in Russian).
  7. Komarov V.L. Poezdka v Tunkinskij kraj i na oz. Kosogol v 1902 g.: Izbrannye sochineniya [Trip to the Tunkinsky Territory and to the Lake Kosogol in 1902: Selected Works.]. Moscow, Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1953, vol. 9, pp. 217-291 (in Russian).
  8. Khromova T.Y., Nosenko G.A., Glazovsky A.F. et al. Novyj Katalog lednikov Rossii po sputnikovym dannym (2016–2019 gg.) [New Inventory of the Russian glaciers based on satellite data (2016–2019)]. Ice and Snow, 2021, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 341–358. https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673421030093 (in Russian)
  9. Obruchev S.V. Orografija i geomorfologija vostochnoj poloviny Vostochnogo Sajana [Orography and Geomorphology of the Eastern Half of the Eastern Sayan]. Izvestiya VGO [News VGO], 1946, vol. 78, iss. 5-6, pp. 478-498 (in Russian)
  10. Peretolchin S.P. Ledniki hrebta Munku-Sardyk [Glaciers of the Munku-Sardyk ridge]. Tomsk, 1908, 47 p. (in Russian)
  11. Radde G.I. Puteshestvie v Jugo-Vostochnuju Sibir (1855-1859) [Journey to South-Eastern Siberia (1855-1859)]. Notes of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society, 1861, vol. 4, pp. 1-78. (in Russian)
  12. Sakai A., Nuimura T., Fujita K. et al. Climate regime of Asian glaciers revealed by GAMDAM glacier inventory. The Cryosphere, 2015, vol. 9, pp. 865-880. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-865-2015
  13. Kruk N.N., Rudnev S.N., Vladimirov A.G. et al. Early-middle Paleozoic granitoids in Gorny Altay, Russia: implications for continental crust history and magma sources. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 2011, vol. 42, no. 5, pp. 928-948.
  14. Fedotov A.P., Margold M. Glacier fluctuation in northern and High Asia: historica and methods perspective. Environ Earth Science, 2015, vol. 74, pp. 1845-1849. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4659-1
  15. Orkhonselenge A., Krivonogov S.K., Mino K. et al. Holocene Landform Evolution of Lake Khuvsgul basin, Mongolia. Géomorphologie: relief, processus, environnement, 2014, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 343-354. https://doi.org/10.4000/geomorphologie.10781
  16. Kitov A.D., Kovalenko S.N., Plyusnin V.M. The results of 100-year-long observations of the glacial geosystem dynamics in the Munku-Sardyk massif. Geography and natural resources, 2009, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 272-278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gnr.2009.09.012
  17. Deev E., Dublyansky Y., Kokh S. et al. Large Holocene paleoseismic events and synchronized travertine formation: a case study of the Kurai Fault Zone (Gorny Altai, Russia). Intern. Geol. Rev, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2022.2145510
  18. Kitov A.D., Kovalenko S.N., Plyusnin V.M. et al. Modern changes of the high-mountain landscapes and glaciation in Southern Siberia (Russia) by the example of the Eastern Sayan mountains. Environ Earth Science, 2015, vol. 74, pp. 1931-1946. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4455-y
  19. Orkhonselenge A. Glacial Geomorphology of Mt. Munkh Saridag in the Khuvsgul Mountain Range, Northern Mongolia. Géomorphologie: relief, processus, environnement, 2016, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 387-396. https://doi.org/10.4000/geomorphologie.11596
  20. Osipov E.Yu., Osipova O.P. Mountain glaciers of southeast Siberia: current state and changes since the Little Ice Age. Annals of Glaciology, 2014, vol. 55 (66), pp. 167-176. https://doi.org/10.3189/2014AoG66A135
  21. Stepanova O.G., Trunova V.A., Zvereva V.V. et al. Reconstruction of glacier fluctuations in the East Sayan, Baykalsky and Kodar Ridges (East Siberia, Russia) during the last 210 years based on high-resolution geochemical proxies from proglacial lake bottom sediments. Environ Earth Science, 2015, vol. 74, pp. 2029-2040. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4457-9
  22. Semenov Yu.M. Landscape-Geographical Support of the Ecological Policy of Nature Management in Regions of Siberia. Geography and natural resources, 2014, vol. 35, iss. 3, pp. 208-212.

Full text (russian)