Environment & We An International Journal of Science & Technology
	ISSN: 0975-7112 (Print)	ISSN: 0975-7120 (Online)

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Dutta et al., 2021 / Environ. We Int. J. Sci. Tech. 16, 41-52

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© Society for Environment and Development, (India)

Approaches for Mapping Debris Covered Glaciers by Geospatial Techniques: A Review with Reference to Indian Himalaya

Shruti Dutta^1*, Rakesh K. Ranjan², Amit Prakash³

¹Amity School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram, India

²Department of Geology, Sikkim University, Gangtok, India

^3*Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Sonitpur, Assam

*Email Id:shrutidutta2020@gmail.com

Keywords Debris covered glaciers; Debris mapping; Supra glacial debris; Spectral indices; Thermal remote sensing

Abstract The debris cover on the glaciers has a profound role in the alteration of thermal regime of the glacier surface and influences the debris-glacier-climatic relationship. The multi-spectral and multi-temporal satellite images have become potentially invaluable tools for the mapping, regular monitoring and systematic assessment of the debris covered glaciers. However, similar spectral signatures of debris and adjacent bedrock become a limitation in its mapping. Since the conventional method of manual delineation on the satellite imageries is much time consuming and cumbersome, a number of methods using various algorithms and spectral indices have gradually evolved in the assessment of debris covered glaciers supplemented with field-based observations. The present work is an attempt to document various approaches and techniques used in the study of debris at the global level along with a focus on Indian Himalayan region. It also deals with the limitations and future challenges associated with these methods.

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