Automated detection and temporal monitoring of crevasses using remote sensing and their implications for glacier dynamics

Detailed studies on temporal changes of crevasses and their linkage with glacier dynamics are scarce in the Himalayan context. Observations of temporally changing surficial crevasse patterns and their orientations are suggestive of the processes that determine seasonal glacier flow characteristics....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of glaciology 2016-03, Vol.57 (71), p.81-91
Main Authors: Bhardwaj, Anshuman, Sam, Lydia, Singh, Shaktiman, Kumar, Rajesh
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
crevasses
glacier mechanics
mountain glaciers
remote sensing
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Detailed studies on temporal changes of crevasses and their linkage with glacier dynamics are scarce in the Himalayan context. Observations of temporally changing surficial crevasse patterns and their orientations are suggestive of the processes that determine seasonal glacier flow characteristics. In the present study, on a Himalayan valley glacier, changing crevasse patterns and orientations were detected and mapped on Landsat 8 images in an automated procedure using the ratio of Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) band 10 to Optical Land Imager (OLI) shortwave infrared (SWIR) band 6. The ratio was capable of mapping even crevasses falling under mountain shadows. Differential GPS observations suggested an average error of 3.65% and root-mean-square error of 6.32m in crevasse lengths. A year-round observation of these crevasses, coupled with field-based surface velocity measurements, provided some interesting interpretations of seasonal glacier dynamics.
ISSN:0260-3055
1727-5644
1727-5644
DOI:10.3189/2016AoG71A496