Doctoral Dissertation Research: Developing and Field Testing New Remote Sensing and GIS Tools to Assess Decadal Changes in Glacier Parameters Across the Himalayas

由于难以在崎岖的地形中开展实地活动，缺乏后勤支持，以及政治和文化冲突，在喜马拉雅山高地进行实地冰川测量的工作非常缺乏。 这限制了对冰川动态的时间和空间模式以及冰川对整个喜马拉雅山脉气候变化的敏感性的基本了解。 这个博士论文研究项目将联合收割机数据从先进的星载热发射和反射辐射计（ASTER）传感器与地理信息系统和现场技术，以获得质量平衡测量和冰川测绘大面积的喜马拉雅山使用多尺度的方法。 博士生的具体目标是（1）开发和现场验证遥感方法估计冰川参数（2）建立冰川地理空间清单，分析区域冰川变化;（3）了解山脉尺度上冰川波动与气候变化的空间格局。 与图像采集同时进行的现场测量将是本研究的重点。 在实地要完成的具体任务是：（1）获得对整个喜马拉雅地区的ASTER景象进行正射校正所需的地面控制点;（2）验证用于对碎片覆盖的冰川进行绘图的算法;（3）利用不同地点的实地测量验证遥感质量平衡估计。 将在印度西部拉豪尔-斯皮提地区的Chhota Shigri冰川和尼泊尔Solu-Khumbu的冰川AX 010进行实地核查。 这些活动应使学生能够开发将应用于整个喜马拉雅山脉，特别是锡金未经调查的地点的方法，这一项目将导致对整个喜马拉雅山脉的冰川参数进行系统和全面的评估，这将有助于更全面地了解全世界冰川的现状。 这项研究的结果将为区域和地方规划者提供宝贵的信息，以制定水资源管理战略、水电站规划以及冰川相关灾害的检测和管理，如冰湖溃决洪水、冰崩和泥石流。 喜马拉雅冰川数据集将通过储存在博尔德国家冰雪数据中心的全球冰川信息管理系统冰川数据库及时提供给更广泛的科学界。 该项目将促进与印度和尼泊尔的遥感实验室和大学的互动。 它将向加德满都大学的研究生提供地理信息系统和遥感方法方面的培训和援助以及第一手实地经验。 作为博士论文研究改进奖，该奖项还将提供支持，使有前途的学生建立一个强大的独立的研究生涯。 该奖项由NSF国际科学与工程办公室共同资助。

Because of the difficulty of conducting field campaigns in rugged terrain, the lack of logistical support, and political and cultural conflicts, there is a paucity of field-based glacier measurements in the high Himalayas. This limits basic understanding of the temporal and spatial patterns of glacier dynamics and the sensitivity of glaciers to climate variability across the Himalayas. This doctoral dissertation research project will combine data from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) sensor with GIS and field techniques to derive mass-balance measurements and glacial mapping over large areas of the Himalayas using a multi-scale approach. The doctoral candidate's specific objectives are (1) to develop and field validate remote sensing methods for estimating glacier parameters (area, length, mass balance, and equilibrium-line altitude) at the basin scale; (2) to construct a geospatial glacier inventory for analysis of glacier changes at the regional scale; and (3) to understand spatial patterns of glacier fluctuations in relation to climatic variability at the mountain-range scale. Field measurements conducted at the same time with the image acquisition will be the focus of this study. Specific tasks to be accomplished in the field are (1) obtaining ground control points (GCPs) needed for orthorectification of ASTER scenes for the entire Himalaya; (2) validating algorithms for mapping of debris-covered glaciers; and (3) validating remote sensing mass-balance estimates with field measurements at various sites. Field verification will be conducted at Chhota Shigri glacier in the Lahaul-Spiti region of western India, and Glacier AX010 in Solu-Khumbu, Nepal. These activities should enable the student to develop methods that will be applied to unsurveyed sites throughout the Himalayas, with an emphasis on Sikkim.This project will result in a systematic, comprehensive assessment of glacier parameters across the Himalayas, which will serve to provide a more complete picture of the current state of glaciers worldwide. The results of this study will provide regional and local planners with valuable information to develop strategies for water management, planning of hydroelectric stations, and detection and management of glacier-related hazards like glacial-lake outburst floods, ice avalanches, and debris flows. The Himalayan glacier datasets will be made available to the broader scientific community in a timely manner by means of the GLIMS Glacier Database, which is stored at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder. This project will facilitate interactions with remote sensing laboratories and universities in India and Nepal. It will provide graduate students from Kathmandu University with training and assistance in GIS and remote sensing methods as well as with first-hand field experience. As a Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement award, this award also will provide support to enable a promising student to establish a strong independent research career. This award is jointly funded by NSF's Office of International Science and Engineering.