MEASUREMENT OF GLACIER VELOCITY AT P1K LENIN, TAJIKISTAN, BY FEATURE TRACKING

Abstract

Glaciers, especially in mountain area are sensitive indicators of climate fluctuations and also contribute to present rates of sea level rise. In Central Asia, these glaciers are the primary resource for fresh water. Understanding the seasonal behavior of these glaciers is the basis for assessing runoff. whose understanding would help to make efficient use of the available water reservoir and simultaneously allow to prepare protection against devastating glacial dilemmas if happens. Climate change and random energy fluxes at the earths surface like temperature and precipitation are directly affecting accumulation and melt along the surface of the glaciers. The glacier mass balance is of outstanding iml)ortance as it is sensitive indicator of climate change. Different methods have been employed to study glacier displacements in past. As we know the conventional ground survey techniques are very cost-intensive and highly depend on accessibility to high mountain glaciers. High altitude, restrictions imposed by local administrations and difficult weather conditions also directs us to look for new ways to study these areas. Here remote sensing comes in handy with freely available data and a good coverage with high spatial and temporal resolution. Optical satellite imagery is often restricted due to cloud covers but when available free from cloud cover can be effectively used for research purpose. The glacier in this region fed lake Karakul (380 km2). the largest Lake Tajikistan. The objective of the thesis is to study the displacement tendency of the Glacier in Pik lenin area using optical remote sensing satellite Landset 7 dataset. Normalised cross correlation algorithm has been implemented via CIAS to estimate the motion of glacier surface. The study derives a reliable set of data depicting the velocities in the glacier which after post processing shows peak velocity of. 121 m/yr of the glacier.