Automated delineation of debris-covered glaciers based on ASTER data

摘要: Large areas of the glacier tongues at Mt. Everest are heavily covered by supragla- cial debris. This hampers automated mapping actual ice snout means spaceborne imagery due to similar spectral signal surrounding The most significant features which differentiate glaciers typical surface characteristics like a rough or "cryokarst" and number ablation ponds. At first glance outline these debris-covered seems be stable. Looking in detail using multitemporal space it is obvious that recent shrinkage results an increasing debris coverage increas- ing and, hence, area supra-glacial lakes. In addition, surface, especially very distal part glacier, looks smoother shows no indications for movement. Hence, presently ASTER stereo-images represent ideal tool develop way outlining extents active inactive glacier. Combining ASTERs thermal infor- mation with various shape parameters derived from stereo-models, both beds marginal moraines could outlined. Mainly resolution DEM (30m) this concept only promising large such as Khumbu Glacier. future, when high DEMs will available, accuracy sufficient fully auto- mated monitoring, including smaller glaciers.