Comparison and Monitoring of Glacier Retreat using Satellite and Ground Methods
Asha Thapliyal1, M.M. Kimothi2
1Asha Thapliyal, Uttarakhand Space Application Centre, Dehradun, India
2Dr. M.M. Kimothi, Uttarakhand Space Application Centre, Dehradun, India.
Manuscript received on February 06, 2013. | Revised Manuscript received on February 28, 2013. | Manuscript published on March 05, 2013. | PP: 361-364 | Volume-3 Issue-1, March 2013. | Retrieval Number: A1288033113/2013©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: The study aimed to make the comprehensible thought about the actual recession over the Gangotri glacier using reiteration photographs of glacier. Here we summarizes the understanding and responding to glacier retreat during the period of 1866 to 2011, on the basis of scientific evidence for glacier retreat particularly at Goumukh snout. The ground photographs were taken from internet (http:// www.cseindia.org/userfiles/repeat_photography). Change in snout position was carried out by Elevation transfer method, interpretation of expedition photographs and panochromatic rectified images. Contours at 30 m resolution generated from ASTER satellite data and overlay on Cartosat DEM to locate the shift in snout position. Retreat over the glacier region is compared with the previous studies carried out in the region. Shift in demarcation also observed with overlaying DEM of Quick Bird Satellite data of 2011 and panchromatic image of Gaomukh. Interpretation was carried out of camera photographs over the Gangotri glacier for year-1866 and 2011 and it is concluded that Gaumukh has receded in between 3.25 to 3.5 km within 144 years, while on the basis of satellite data investigation the snout position shift is found to be 3.37 Km. This retreat may be due to direct or indirect effects of climate change and it is caused largely by human activity and may be other anthropogenic activities.
Keywords: Himalaya, Gaumukh Snout, DEM, Snow Retreat.