Applications of SPOT-7 tri-stereo imagery in deriving the surface topography and mass changes of glaciers in Indian Himalaya

The present study describes the application of satellite images of SPOT 7, acquired on 10 October 2014 for producing the high spatial resolution digital elevation models of five glaciers in the Indian Himalaya. For data processing, we applied a Semi-Global Matching algorithm deployed in LPS- ERDAS. Ground control points were also used for validation, which were obtained during the autumn of 2014. Then, precise estimate are derived for the glacier area, the terminus elevation, the areas of supraglacial debris and the areas of proglacial lakes. Further, the ASTER (obtained in 2011) and SRTM V3 (of 2000) elevation models were used in conjunction with the generated SPOT-7 DEM to estimate the glaciers mass balance between 2000, 2011 and 2014. Mass balance was observed negative for all five glaciers, but the mass loss decreased from the mean of –0.99 ± 0.27 m.w.e.a⁻¹ in 2000–2011 to –0.61 ± 0.31 m.w.e.a⁻¹ from 2011 to 2014.