MITICA : Mining Impacts on Tien Shan glaciers in Central Asia
ETH Zurich
Lay summary
While climate change is the main driver of glacier retreat globally, human activity can also play a significant role locally. The MITICA project explores how the Kumtor Gold Mine, one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia, may be accelerating glacier melt in Kyrgyzstan’s Central Tien Shan region. The project focuses on the idea that mining operations, especially truck traffic and rock blasting, produce dust that settles on nearby glaciers. This dust can darken the glacier surface, lowering its albedo (reflectivity), which causes the ice to absorb more sunlight and melt faster. MITICA combines fieldwork and remote sensing to better understand this impact. Using drones (UAVs), we create detailed maps of glacier surfaces and compare them to older data to track changes in ice thickness. We also collect mass balance measurements and take surface samples for lab analysis to identify dust. By linking dust levels with changes in glacier reflectance and melt, MITICA aims to quantify the impact of mining on glacier retreat. The findings will help improve glacier models and provide important insights for managing mining practices in mountain regions under pressure from both climate and human influence.
Details
| Regional focus | High-altitude |
| Location | Tien Shan - Kyrgyzstan - Central Asia |
| Funded amount | 18,975 CHF |
| Project dates | 1st July 2025 – 30th November 2025 |
| Category | Polar Access Fund |