MONITORING OF THE RATE OF THERMAL DENUDATION AND THERMAL ABRASION ON THE WESTERN COAST OF KOLGUEV ISLAND, USING HIGH RESOLUTION SATELLITE IMAGES
New data on thermocirque and coastal bluff retreat rates within a key site on Kolguev Island have been obtained using high resolution satellite images covering the period of 2002 to 2012. It was revealed that the modern (2002–2012) thermocirque retreat rates (thermal denudation of frozen steep slopes with tabular ground ice exposures) amount to an average of 2.6 m/year, which is close to the rates established for the period of 1948 to 2002 (2.4 m/year). Modern maximum retreat rates have reached up to 14.5–15.1 m/year. During the period of 1948–2012 the maximum coastal bluff retreat rates (thermal abrasion) 4 m/year.