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An integrated field and remote sensing based approach for estimating influence of debris thickness on glacier surface elevation changes

This article uses an integrated field and remote sensing based approach to estimate the debris thickness and its influence on glacier down-wasting. The Panchhi Nala glacier, western Himalaya was selected as test site. The spatial distribution of debris thickness (1–50 cm) was obtained by correlating field measured debris thickness and remotely acquired surface temperatures. The surface elevation changes were deduced by differencing 2004 and 2013 ASTER DEMs which revealed an average surface lowering of −1.97 ±0.30 m/y. Further, a significant control (r2= 0.68) of debris thickness was observed on surface lowering. Debris-covered areas with a thickness of > 15–18 cm were found to experience lesser lowering whereas debris thickness < 5 cm was found to accelerate the melting process and hence surface lowering. This emphasizes that debris thickness must be considered while studying a debris-covered glacier to have a better understanding about their response to climate change.