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

由于在崎岖的地形上进行野外活动的困难，缺乏后勤支持，以及政治和文化冲突，在喜马拉雅山高海拔地区缺乏实地冰川测量。这限制了对喜马拉雅冰川动态的时空格局和冰川对气候变率的敏感性的基本理解。这个博士论文研究项目将把先进星载热发射和反射辐射计（ASTER）传感器的数据与地理信息系统和实地技术结合起来，利用多尺度方法得出喜马拉雅地区大片地区的质量平衡测量和冰川测绘。博士候选人的具体目标是：(1)在流域尺度上开发和实地验证用于估算冰川参数（面积、长度、质量平衡和平衡线高度）的遥感方法；(2)构建冰川地理空间清查，分析区域尺度上的冰川变化；(3)了解山脉尺度下冰川波动与气候变率的空间格局。与图像采集同时进行的现场测量将是本研究的重点。现场需要完成的具体任务是：(1)获取整个喜马拉雅地区ASTER场景正校正所需的地面控制点（gcp）；(2)碎屑覆盖冰川制图验证算法；(3)利用不同站点的实测数据验证遥感质量平衡估算。实地核查将在印度西部拉胡尔-斯皮提地区的Chhota Shigri冰川和尼泊尔梭罗-昆布的AX010冰川进行。这些活动应使学生能够发展适用于整个喜马拉雅山脉未调查地点的方法，重点是锡金。该项目将对整个喜马拉雅山脉的冰川参数进行系统、全面的评估，这将有助于更全面地了解全球冰川的现状。这项研究的结果将为区域和地方规划者提供有价值的信息，以制定水资源管理战略、水电站规划以及冰川相关灾害（如冰湖溃决洪水、冰崩和泥石流）的检测和管理。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GLIMS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的实地经验。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研究生涯。该奖项由美国国家科学基金会国际科学与工程办公室联合资助。

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.