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Why are most Greater Caucasus glaciers found on the northern slopes?

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Snow-covered peaks and ridges of the Caucasus Mountains in Russia stretch across the landscape under a pale sky. — Caucasus Caucasus Mountains in Russia.

The Greater Caucasus range contains more than 2,000 glaciers, and approximately 70 percent of them are located on the northern slopes. This distribution is primarily due to the cooler temperatures found on the northern face of the mountains compared to the southern side.12

While the southern and southwestern slopes actually receive the heaviest precipitation due to their orientation toward prevailing westerly air currents, the northern slopes provide a more favorable environment for the preservation and accumulation of ice because of their cooler climate. The glaciers are most concentrated on the higher central slopes, including the flanks of Mount Elbrus, where the combination of high elevation and lower temperatures supports their existence.312