Spatial and Temporal Variations of Snow Accumulation on the Western Elbrus Plateau, the Central Caucasus

The data of ground-based high-frequency radar survey on the Western Elbrus plateau (Central Caucasus) in the summer of 2017 showed that snow accumulation in the summit area is characterized by great variability and also has seasonal differences. Analysis of the accumulation fields showed that less snow accumulates in the middle part of the plateau than in the eastern and western parts, and that its distribution over the plateau area is similar. In the warm period of the year, snow accumulation is on average higher than in the cold period, occurs more uniformly over the plateau area, and its distribution is more stable from year to year.