@article{fdi:010040616,
  title = {{R}emote sensing estimates of glacier mass balances in the {H}imachal {P}radesh ({W}estern {H}imalaya, {I}ndia)},
  author = {{B}erthier, {E}. and {A}rnaud, {Y}ves and {K}umar, {R}. and {A}hmad, {S}. and {W}agnon, {P}atrick and {C}hevallier, {P}ierre},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A}lthough they correspond to an important fraction of the total area of mountain glaciers (33,000 km(2) out of 546,000 km(2)), {H}imalayan glaciers and their mass balance are poorly sampled. {F}or example, between 1977 and 1999, the average area surveyed each year on the field was 6.8 km(2) only. {N}o direct mass balance measurement is available after 1999. {T}o contribute to fill this gap, we use remote sensing data to monitor glacier elevation changes and mass balances in the {S}piti/{L}ahaul region (32.2 degrees {N}, 77.6 degrees {E}, {H}imachal {P}radesh, {W}estern {H}imalaya, {I}ndia). {O}ur measurements are obtained by comparing a 2004 digital elevation model ({DEM}) to the 2000 {SRTM} ({S}huttle {R}adar {T}opographic {M}ission) topography. {T}he 2004 {DEM} is derived from two {SPOT}5 satellite optical images without any ground control points. {T}his is achieved thanks to the good onboard geolocation of {SPOT}5 scenes and using {SRTM} elevations as a reference on the ice free zones. {B}efore comparison on glaciers, the two {DEM}s are analyzed on the stable areas surrounding the glaciers where no elevation change is expected. {T}wo different biases are detected. {A} long wavelength bias affects the {SPOT}5 {DEM} and is correlated to an anomaly in the roll of the {SPOT}5 satellite. {A} bias is also observed as a function of altitude and is attributed to the {SRTM} dataset. {B}oth biases are modeled and removed to permit unbiased comparison of the two {DEM} on the 915 km(2) ice-covered area digitized from an {ASTER} image. {O}n most glaciers, a clear thinning is measured at low elevations, even on debris-covered tongues. {B}etween 1999 and 2004, we obtain an overall specific mass balance of -0.7 to -0.85 m/a (water equivalent) depending on the density we use for the lost (or gained) material in the accumulation zone. {T}his rate of ice loss is twice higher than the long-term (1977 to 1999) mass balance record for {H}imalaya indicating an increase in the pace of glacier wastage. {T}o assess whether these ice losses are size-dependant, all glaciers were classified into three samples according to 2 their areal extent. {A}ll three samples show ice loss, the loss being higher for glaciers larger than 30 kin. {I}n the case of the benchmark {C}hhota {S}higri glacier, a good agreement is found between our satellite observations and the mass balances measured on the field during hydrological years 2002-2003 and 2003-2004. {F}uture studies using a similar methodology could determine whether similar ice losses have occurred in other parts of the {H}imalaya and may allow evaluation of the contribution of this mountain range to ongoing sea level rise.},
  keywords = {glacier mass balance ; climate change ; sea level rise ; {DEM} ; {SPOT}5 ; {SRTM} ; {I}ndia ; {H}imalaya ; {H}imachal {P}radesh},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{R}emote {S}ensing of {E}nvironment},
  volume = {108},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {327--338},
  ISSN = {0034-4257},
  year = {2007},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.rse.2006.11.017},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010040616},
}