Application of Remote Sensing in the Field of Glaciology in Pakistan

This report was an effort for compilation of the research that had been held in the past in the field of glaciology using remote sensing as a technique. For this purpose, results of different research papers and projects in the chronological order have been discussed and a debate on the comparisons is presented. On the basis of thorough literature review, normalized difference snow index (NDSI) has been identified as a quick way to assess snow and glacial extent in the study area. Satellite data captured through Landsat MSS, TM and ETM+ in 1977-79, 1989-1992 and 1999-2001 respectively, have been used to conduct this study, providing us with a temporal window of 24 years. With the application of NDSI, different thresholds have been used to identify and hence quantify the extent of snow/glacial cover in Northern Areas of Pakistan. Northern Area of Pakistan has 5 districts consists of Ghizer, Ghanche, Skardu, Diamer and Gilgit Districts. Most of the Glaciers are found in the high altitude of Northern Areas. Glaciers in Pakistan cover 13,680 sq. km area which is 13% of mountain regions of the Upper Indus Basin (UIB).