Mapping of Snow Melt in Chenab Basin using Microwave Remote Sensing
S. Surya Teja1, D.L Sai Teja2, Mehanaz Fathima J3, Rajashree Vinod Bothale4, D.S Chandra5
1S.Surya Teja, Geo-Informatics, Department of Civil Engineering, KL Deemed to be University, Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), India.
2D.L Sai Teja, Geo-Informatics, Department of Civil Engineering, KL Deemed to be University, Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), India.
3Mehanaz Fathima J, Aerial Services, Digital Mapping & Outreach Area, National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO, Hyderabad (Telangana), India.
4Rajashree Vinod Bothale, Aerial Services, Digital Mapping & Outreach Area, National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO, Hyderabad (Telangana), India.
5D.S Chandra, Department of Civil Engineering, KL Deemed to be University, Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), India.
Manuscript received on 04 May 2019 | Revised Manuscript received on 16 May 2019 | Manuscript Published on 28 May 2019 | PP: 785-789 | Volume-7 Issue-6C2 April 2019 | Retrieval Number: F11450476C219/2019©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Snow is considered to be the largest source of fresh water in the world with almost seventy percent of it in the form of ice. Himalaya’s are largest snow covered mountains and the source of ten major rivers in the Asian region. Chenab basin in Indian Himalayas is the area under analysis for our current study. For an effective coverage of the basin characteristics, remote sensing data is the key element. Passive microwave remote sensing which has its roots deep in the field of Cryospheric studies is being used in many applications, which involve snow study and the same is being used in this research. Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR2) gives the global product of Brightness Temperature (Tb) in seven different band frequencies 6, 7, 10, 18, 23, 36, 89GHz. Frequencies of 18GHz and 36GHz are used in our study to determine the cross polarization gradient ratio (XPGR). XPGR gives us clear indication of where the melt is being observed in the region, by plotting a time series of XPGR values we can get a clear understanding of melting trend in the region and the results show that the melt has been mostly observed from end of April to mid July and in some regions extending up to August. The variations of melt depend upon the climatic conditions and also on the elevation of the region.
Keywords: Glacial Hydrology, Remote Sensing, Brightness Temperature, XPGR, GIS, AMSR2.
Scope of the Article: Remote Sensing