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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2016

Anshuman Bhardwaj ,
Lydia Sam ,
Shaktiman Singh  and
Rajesh Kumar
Anshuman Bhardwaj*
Affiliation:
TERI University, New Delhi, India Sharda University, Greater Noida, India
Lydia Sam
Affiliation:
Sharda University, Greater Noida, India Defence Research & Development Organisation, New Delhi, India
Shaktiman Singh
Affiliation:
Sharda University, Greater Noida, India
Rajesh Kumar
Affiliation:
Sharda University, Greater Noida, India
*
Correspondence: Anshuman Bhardwaj <anshuman.teri@gmail.com>
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Abstract

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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.

Keywords

crevassesglacier mechanicsmountain glaciersremote sensing
Type
Paper
Information
Annals of Glaciology , Volume 57 , Issue 71 , March 2016 , pp. 81 - 91
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2016

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