Abstract
Study of snow dynamics is an essential parameter for scientific studies such as climate change, cryospheric hazard mapping, energy budget assessment, management of water assets, etc. In this paper, an analysis of snow dynamics in the Beas river basin, Western Himalaya, India has been carried out using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite images and in situ data during more than a decade winter period (November–April) from 2003–2017. MODIS sensor images and 8-days composite snow products have large uncertainty in mountain regions because of cloud cover and sensor limitation. Therefore, in this paper, a combined Terra–Aqua MODIS satellite-derived improved snow product version 6 (MOYDGL06*) has been used for the estimation of snow cover area (SCA) during the years 2003–2017. SCA in the study area varied from ~19% (November, 2016) to ~98% (February, 2015) during the era. It was found that SCA and total precipitation are decreasing at the rate of 3.2 km2 and 64.7 cm, while the mean temperature is increasing at the rate of 0.16 °C, respectively, for the period 2003–2010. However, a similar trend was found during 2010–2017, SCA and total precipitation are decreasing at the rate of 25.39 km2 and 44.9 cm, while the mean temperature is increasing at the rate of 0.35 °C, respectively. The satellite-extracted SCA trend was in correlation with in situ observed climate parameters. Moreover, SCA variability has been explored for different winter season months. The paper highlights the decreasing SCA and total perception trend, while increasing mean temperature trend during the twenty-first century and indicates that climate change is probably one of the major factors.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to Director, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) for providing facilities to carry out this work. We are also thankful to all SASE’s persons responsible for snow-meteorological data collection and management. The MODIS improved snow cover product (MOYDGL06*) is provided by https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/ PANGAEA.901821 and we duly acknowledged this website.
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Singh, D.K., Gusain, H.S., Dewali, S.K., Tiwari, R.K., Taloor, A.K. (2021). Analysis of Snow Dynamics in Beas River Basin, Western Himalaya Using Combined Terra–Aqua MODIS Improved Snow Product and in Situ Data During Twenty-First Century. In: Taloor, A.K., Kotlia, B.S., Kumar, K. (eds) Water, Cryosphere, and Climate Change in the Himalayas. Geography of the Physical Environment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67932-3_7
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