Spatial and temporal variabilities of maximum snow depth in the Northern and Central Kazakhstan

This article examined the dynamics of maximum snow cover in the Northern and Central Kazakhstan for the period from 1935 to 2012. Certain number of data from weather stations was collected for both regions (Northern and Central Kazakhstan) of the country in order to observe the spatial and temporal changes in glaciers. Mann-Kendall test along with sequential version of MK test and simple linear regression was used in the analysis. The analysis revealed regularities of the changes in maximum snow depth over spatial and temporal scales. Cumulative sum uncovered a change in trend, which indicated the data of global warming possibly affected the glacier. Periodicities in glacier changes were weakly related to the weather patterns like North Atlantic Oscillation and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillations. Obtained results, regularities, and inferences can be used in further studies of snow cover and water flow of the rivers, as well as for practical purposes. Recent changes in climate and hydrological flow of the observed catchment became evident for contemporary glaciations evolving hydrological implications of the cryosphere alterations in the study area. Findings of the study are useful in examining the differences in water availability on spatial and temporal scales due to limited availability of the glaciers in the region.