Measuring Thickness and Area change using Old DEM, SRTM DEM and Landsat Images of Parbati and Pin Glaciers in Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Temporal change in Digital Elevation Models observed in 1962 and 1999 were used to determine the elevation change over Pārbati and Pin glacier. The results suggest that the average - area thickness decreased over Parbati and Pin glacier with rate of 0.39m /yr and 0.22 m/y. Thickness loss resulted in extreme retreat of snout of Parbati glacier from 4157amsl to 4205 amsl and snout of Pin glacier retreat 4452 amsl to 4582 amsl during 1962 - 2005. The comparative areal coverage of glaciers in 1962 and 2005 suggests the areal shrinkage of 17% and 13% for Pārbati and Pin glacier. Thickness losses, areal shrinkage in lower and middle ablation accompanied with rapid snout retreat consequently resulting in the formation of the hummocky type of terminal moraine and fragmentation of the tributary glaciers from main valley glacier in recent times.