Integrating Satellite and Field Data for Glacier Melt Modeling in High-Mountain Asia: A Case Study on Passu Glacier.
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| Title: | Integrating Satellite and Field Data for Glacier Melt Modeling in High-Mountain Asia: A Case Study on Passu Glacier. |
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| Authors: | Barbagallo, Blanka1 (AUTHOR), Fugazza, Davide1 (AUTHOR), Diolaiuti, Guglielmina Adele1 (AUTHOR), Senese, Antonella1 (AUTHOR) antonella.senese@unimi.it |
| Source: | Remote Sensing. Dec2025, Vol. 17 Issue 23, p3907. 25p. |
| Subjects: | Glacial melting, Albedo, Climate change adaptation, Metadata, Glaciers, Stream measurements, Remote-sensing images |
| Geographic Terms: | Karakoram Range, Pakistan |
| Abstract: | Highlights: What are the main findings? A simplified melt model accurately estimated bare ice melt on Passu Glacier (error = 0.48 m w.e., 9%). Satellite-derived albedo variability significantly influenced melt estimates. Elevation was the dominant topographic factor controlling ice melt, exceeding the influence of slope or aspect. What is the implication of the main finding? The melt model is reliable and scalable for estimating bare ice melt in remote, data-scarce regions. Using multi-date satellite imagery for albedo improves the accuracy of ice melt simulations. The approach supports effective glacier monitoring in the Karakoram with minimal field data. Glaciers in High-Mountain Asia, the so-called "Third Pole," are critical water sources but remain poorly monitored due to rugged topography and limited accessibility. We present an integrated approach that combines remote sensing with ground-based observations to model ice melt of the Passu Glacier (Pakistan) from 5 August to 13 October 2023. Meteorological data from two automatic weather stations and ablation measurements from four stakes were used together with satellite-derived albedo (Landsat 8 OLI), surface temperature (Landsat 9 TIRS), and topography (ALOS AW3D30 DSM) to implement an enhanced T-index melt model accounting for net shortwave and longwave radiation. Model performance was evaluated against station and satellite data and ablation stake measurements using leave-one-out cross-validation. The estimated total ice melt volume was 16 million m3 w.e. during the monitoring period, with an average melt of 3.60 m w.e. The model reproduced observed stake ablation with an uncertainty of 0.48 m w.e. (9% of average measured melt). Elevation was identified as the dominant melt driver (β = −0.501, unique R2 = 0.199), with aspect and slope exerting secondary influences through their effect on solar radiation and shading. Our findings demonstrate that combining minimal but strategically located field data with satellite products provides a physically consistent and scalable framework for glacier melt estimation in data-scarce regions of the Third Pole, with relevance for hydrological monitoring and climate adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 190517359 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Integrating Satellite and Field Data for Glacier Melt Modeling in High-Mountain Asia: A Case Study on Passu Glacier. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Barbagallo%2C+Blanka%22">Barbagallo, Blanka</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fugazza%2C+Davide%22">Fugazza, Davide</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Diolaiuti%2C+Guglielmina+Adele%22">Diolaiuti, Guglielmina Adele</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Senese%2C+Antonella%22">Senese, Antonella</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> antonella.senese@unimi.it</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Remote+Sensing%22">Remote Sensing</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 17 Issue 23, p3907. 25p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Glacial+melting%22">Glacial melting</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Albedo%22">Albedo</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Climate+change+adaptation%22">Climate change adaptation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Metadata%22">Metadata</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Glaciers%22">Glaciers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stream+measurements%22">Stream measurements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Remote-sensing+images%22">Remote-sensing images</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Karakoram+Range%22">Karakoram Range</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pakistan%22">Pakistan</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Highlights: What are the main findings? A simplified melt model accurately estimated bare ice melt on Passu Glacier (error = 0.48 m w.e., 9%). Satellite-derived albedo variability significantly influenced melt estimates. Elevation was the dominant topographic factor controlling ice melt, exceeding the influence of slope or aspect. What is the implication of the main finding? The melt model is reliable and scalable for estimating bare ice melt in remote, data-scarce regions. Using multi-date satellite imagery for albedo improves the accuracy of ice melt simulations. The approach supports effective glacier monitoring in the Karakoram with minimal field data. Glaciers in High-Mountain Asia, the so-called "Third Pole," are critical water sources but remain poorly monitored due to rugged topography and limited accessibility. We present an integrated approach that combines remote sensing with ground-based observations to model ice melt of the Passu Glacier (Pakistan) from 5 August to 13 October 2023. Meteorological data from two automatic weather stations and ablation measurements from four stakes were used together with satellite-derived albedo (Landsat 8 OLI), surface temperature (Landsat 9 TIRS), and topography (ALOS AW3D30 DSM) to implement an enhanced T-index melt model accounting for net shortwave and longwave radiation. Model performance was evaluated against station and satellite data and ablation stake measurements using leave-one-out cross-validation. The estimated total ice melt volume was 16 million m3 w.e. during the monitoring period, with an average melt of 3.60 m w.e. The model reproduced observed stake ablation with an uncertainty of 0.48 m w.e. (9% of average measured melt). Elevation was identified as the dominant melt driver (β = −0.501, unique R2 = 0.199), with aspect and slope exerting secondary influences through their effect on solar radiation and shading. Our findings demonstrate that combining minimal but strategically located field data with satellite products provides a physically consistent and scalable framework for glacier melt estimation in data-scarce regions of the Third Pole, with relevance for hydrological monitoring and climate adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=190517359 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3390/rs17233907 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 25 StartPage: 3907 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Glacial melting Type: general – SubjectFull: Albedo Type: general – SubjectFull: Climate change adaptation Type: general – SubjectFull: Metadata Type: general – SubjectFull: Glaciers Type: general – SubjectFull: Stream measurements Type: general – SubjectFull: Remote-sensing images Type: general – SubjectFull: Karakoram Range Type: general – SubjectFull: Pakistan Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Integrating Satellite and Field Data for Glacier Melt Modeling in High-Mountain Asia: A Case Study on Passu Glacier. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Barbagallo, Blanka – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Fugazza, Davide – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Diolaiuti, Guglielmina Adele – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Senese, Antonella IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 12 Text: Dec2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 20724292 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 17 – Type: issue Value: 23 Titles: – TitleFull: Remote Sensing Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
