Geomorphometric Characterization of Topographic Structure for Evaluation of Glaciers in the Central Karakoram Himalaya
Abstract
The spatial organization of the topography governs climate-glacier dynamics and provides insight into the nature of mountain geodynamics. Topographic forcing is known to regulate climate-glacier dynamics, although quantifying topographic-glacier feedbacks can be notoriously difficult, given that topographic structural geometry and parameters of glacier surface and basins are not usually accounted for. Of particular interest are structural controls on glacier dynamics, related to topographic stress, erosion, tectonics and relief production. Consequently, we characterized the topographic structure of glaciers and their basins within the geologic structural context of the central Karakoram Himalaya. Topographic structure was evaluated from a Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation model (SRTMv3, 30 m) using object-oriented analysis and spatial topology to identify the hierarchical spatial structure of the topography. Morphometric parameters and spatial frequency analysis were also used to characterize glacier surfaces. Specifically, we characterized glacier altitudinal property profiles, valley geometry, and basin hierarchical structure. Furthermore, we evaluated glacier morphometry along glacier tributary networks to better understand sources of mass loading and topographic controls on glacial surging at high altitudes. Preliminary results indicate that surge-type glaciers, in relation to stable glaciers, exhibit unique profile geometry, steeper slopes, greater relief and unique surface morphometry. Glacier state conditions are also related to terrain orientation with respect to the Kilik and Karakoram fault systems. Formal characterization of topographic structure using our approach has the potential to improve monitoring and understanding of glacier process-form relationships for more objective glacier assessment and inventory.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFM.C31B1494Y
- Keywords:
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- 0720 Glaciers;
- CRYOSPHERE;
- 0758 Remote sensing;
- CRYOSPHERE;
- 0762 Mass balance;
- CRYOSPHERE;
- 0776 Glaciology;
- CRYOSPHERE