Detection of Onset of Melt and Freeze of Snow in the Upper Chenab Basin Using Remote Sensing Data

Snow cover and its changes play a significant role in influencing hydrological and climate processes. Each year, approximately one-third part of the land surface of earth undergoes seasonal snow coverage, highlighting its significant role as one of the most dynamic components of the cryosphere, alon...

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Main Authors: A. Santhosh, V. Garg, P. K. Thakur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2024-11-01
Series:The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
Online Access:https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLVIII-3-2024/477/2024/isprs-archives-XLVIII-3-2024-477-2024.pdf
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author A. Santhosh
V. Garg
P. K. Thakur
author_facet A. Santhosh
V. Garg
P. K. Thakur
author_sort A. Santhosh
collection DOAJ
description Snow cover and its changes play a significant role in influencing hydrological and climate processes. Each year, approximately one-third part of the land surface of earth undergoes seasonal snow coverage, highlighting its significant role as one of the most dynamic components of the cryosphere, alongside sea ice. In the cryosphere studies, identifying the onset and progression of snow accumulation and ablation is of utmost importance and critical significance. The present work highlights the importance of remote sensing (RS) data in detection and monitoring of melt and freeze of snow in different elevation zones in the Upper Chenab basin using synthetic aperture radar and albedo data along with temperature data . The detection of onset of melt and freeze of snow was carried out from 2015 to 2023. The optimal value for threshold was identified empirically by comparing air temperature time series data. The time series analysis of backscatter values and albedo values clearly depicts the melt and freeze of snow. As the surface air temperature increases above a particular value, there observed a consistent decrease in backscatter /albedo response. A short time delay in change in backscatter, albedo and temperature with the different elevation zones. As the temperature increases, the glacier starts melting and the water content increases, so the backscatter and albedo decreases and hence on the melting period the backscatter will be low and vice versa. Overall, the onset of melt of the snow will occur early in the lower elevation zone compared to the higher elevation zone. And the onset of freeze will occur early in the higher elevation zone compared to the lower elevation zone.
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spelling doaj-art-8192a90b614f448da192cc780292829b2025-08-20T02:12:41ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences1682-17502194-90342024-11-01XLVIII-3-202447748610.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-3-2024-477-2024Detection of Onset of Melt and Freeze of Snow in the Upper Chenab Basin Using Remote Sensing DataA. Santhosh0V. Garg1P. K. Thakur2Water Resources Department, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, 4, Kalidas Road, Dehradun – 248 001, Uttarakhand, IndiaWater Resources Department, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, 4, Kalidas Road, Dehradun – 248 001, Uttarakhand, IndiaWater Resources Department, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, 4, Kalidas Road, Dehradun – 248 001, Uttarakhand, IndiaSnow cover and its changes play a significant role in influencing hydrological and climate processes. Each year, approximately one-third part of the land surface of earth undergoes seasonal snow coverage, highlighting its significant role as one of the most dynamic components of the cryosphere, alongside sea ice. In the cryosphere studies, identifying the onset and progression of snow accumulation and ablation is of utmost importance and critical significance. The present work highlights the importance of remote sensing (RS) data in detection and monitoring of melt and freeze of snow in different elevation zones in the Upper Chenab basin using synthetic aperture radar and albedo data along with temperature data . The detection of onset of melt and freeze of snow was carried out from 2015 to 2023. The optimal value for threshold was identified empirically by comparing air temperature time series data. The time series analysis of backscatter values and albedo values clearly depicts the melt and freeze of snow. As the surface air temperature increases above a particular value, there observed a consistent decrease in backscatter /albedo response. A short time delay in change in backscatter, albedo and temperature with the different elevation zones. As the temperature increases, the glacier starts melting and the water content increases, so the backscatter and albedo decreases and hence on the melting period the backscatter will be low and vice versa. Overall, the onset of melt of the snow will occur early in the lower elevation zone compared to the higher elevation zone. And the onset of freeze will occur early in the higher elevation zone compared to the lower elevation zone.https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLVIII-3-2024/477/2024/isprs-archives-XLVIII-3-2024-477-2024.pdf
spellingShingle A. Santhosh
V. Garg
P. K. Thakur
Detection of Onset of Melt and Freeze of Snow in the Upper Chenab Basin Using Remote Sensing Data
The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
title Detection of Onset of Melt and Freeze of Snow in the Upper Chenab Basin Using Remote Sensing Data
title_full Detection of Onset of Melt and Freeze of Snow in the Upper Chenab Basin Using Remote Sensing Data
title_fullStr Detection of Onset of Melt and Freeze of Snow in the Upper Chenab Basin Using Remote Sensing Data
title_full_unstemmed Detection of Onset of Melt and Freeze of Snow in the Upper Chenab Basin Using Remote Sensing Data
title_short Detection of Onset of Melt and Freeze of Snow in the Upper Chenab Basin Using Remote Sensing Data
title_sort detection of onset of melt and freeze of snow in the upper chenab basin using remote sensing data
url https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLVIII-3-2024/477/2024/isprs-archives-XLVIII-3-2024-477-2024.pdf
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