The compilation of the Atlas was based on the concept of glacio-nival systems (and the fields of these systems), developed in the U.S.S.R. It became possible to map glacionival systems by using all available data and by the development of indirect methods of obtaining regime parameters, characterising the glacio-nival zones. This, in turn, made it possible to show, on maps of different scales, properties relating to glacio-nival phenomena and processes, such as air temperature in a glacierized zone, the amount of solid and liquid precipitation, snow storage, the accumulation and surface ablation of glaciers and melt run-off.
The compilation of these maps has demonstrated their conformity and complementary nature, the principles of which were worked out in the course of creating the Atlas.
Based on the experience of compiling hundreds of various maps, the paper describes some peculiarities of depicting different elements of glacio-nival systems on maps of different scales and shows ways to overcome shortages of data in preparing the maps.