Appraisal of Spatiotemporal Variations in Snow Cover Dynamics using Geospatial Techniques: A paradigm from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Hania Arif (), Syed Amer Mahmood, Munawar Sabir and Saira Batool
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Hania Arif: Centre for Integrated Mountain Research, (Punjab University Lahore, Pakistan)
Syed Amer Mahmood: Department of Space Science (Punjab University Lahore, Pakistan)
Munawar Sabir: Centre for Integrated Mountain Research, (Punjab University Lahore, Pakistan):
Saira Batool: Centre for Integrated Mountain Research, (Punjab University Lahore, Pakistan)

International Journal of Innovations in Science & Technology, 2020, vol. 2, issue 4, 209-223

Abstract: Snow and glaciers in the mountain ranges of Hindu-Kush, Karakoram, and Himalayas (HKH), are supposed to be shrinking. Consequently, serious significances occur in respect of water accessibility for inhabitants of down streams. This investigation is an effort o identify the temporal variation in snow covers of Gilgit Baltistan (GB), northern Pakistan. For the calculation of the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) and estimation of snow-covered area (SCA), MODIS images for the period of 2000 to 2020 were used. Hunza, Astore, Gilgit, Diamir, Shyok, Ghanche, Skardu and Shigar are major sub-basins lying in GB with Hunza and Skardu being the mostly glaciated areas. Annual fluctuation in snow cover within GB was 10 to 80%. In accumulation season, from December to February, snow cover was almost 80% while in melting season, from July to September this area was reduced to 65-75%. The maximum and minimum Snow-Covered Area (SCA) detected in 2009 was almost 57687.85 km2 and 12083.40 km2 respectively. These results show fluctuations in SCA within the time duration of the last two decades.

Keywords: Gilgit Baltistan (GB); Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI); Annual fluctuation; Snow-Covered Area (SCA); MODIS images (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:abq:ijist1:v:2:y:2020:i:4:p:209-223

DOI: 10.33411/IJIST/2020020408

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