Remote sensing of glacier distribution and change over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Linghong Ke, Xiaoli Ding, Lei Zhang, C. K. Shum, Hwang Cheinway, Luo Yuanni

Research output: Chapter in book / Conference proceedingConference article published in proceeding or bookAcademic researchpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Glacier change over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) provides an important clue to climate change in the remote high-altitude areas, and impacts various aspects of regional environment. Observations of mountain glaciers over the QTP are yet far from sufficient. Remote sensing techniques enable mapping and monitoring glaciers over an extensive region, from different dimensions and with regular revisit time. At present, mapping debris-covered glaciers and estimating glacier mass balances are one of the most challenging issues. This study illustrates the use of remote sensing techniques for glacier mapping and change detection, with multi-temporal and multi-source data. We show contrasting behavior of different type glaciers (temperate, semi-continental and continental) in three typical densely glacierized sub-regions of the plateau, mainly based on elevation data from ICESat and Landsat imagery. Glacier-climate interaction is analyzed further. Here we stress the challenges of applying remote sensing techniques for mapping and monitoring glaciers over the QTP, and prospects in future studies.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication4th International Workshop on Earth Observation and Remote Sensing Applications, EORSA 2016 - Proceedings
PublisherIEEE
Pages442-446
Number of pages5
ISBN (Electronic)9781509014798
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Aug 2016
Event4th International Workshop on Earth Observation and Remote Sensing Applications, EORSA 2016 - Guangzhou, China
Duration: 4 Jul 20166 Jul 2016

Conference

Conference4th International Workshop on Earth Observation and Remote Sensing Applications, EORSA 2016
Country/TerritoryChina
CityGuangzhou
Period4/07/166/07/16

Keywords

  • glacier
  • glacier change
  • mapping
  • Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
  • remote sensing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Signal Processing
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Earth-Surface Processes
  • Instrumentation

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