COMPARISON OF ICE VELOCITY AND MELTING PATTERN IN THE EASTERN HIMALAYA AND NEW ZEALAND ALPS USING ASTER SATELLITE DATA

Glaciers in Himalayas and New Zealand Alps are in a state of general retreat since the last century with accelerated losses in the last few decades, but their overall fluctuations, especially ice velocity, have yet to be adequately characterized or understood in terms of climate-glacier dynamics. The objective of this study is to use ASTER (Advanced Spacebourne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) satellite imagery to determine glacial ice velocities and produce ice flow models. Our study indicates control of debris cover and hydrological system in regulating velocity.