Dynamics of Surge Glaciers in the Karakoram Region: Analyzing Elevation Change, Velocity, and Glacier Front Advances Using 30 Years of Remote Sensing Data

This study investigates the dynamics of three glaciers in the Karakoram region over a 30 -years period, utilizing a range of remote sensing datasets. The study focuses on glacier frontal changes, elevation variations, and velocity alterations. Landsat imagery from 1994 to 2024 was used to track frontal length changes, revealing complex patterns of advance and retreat across the glaciers, with a net frontal length increase. From 2000 to 2014, diverse patterns of mass loss and gain were observed in the elevation changes, as evaluated through the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and TanDEM-X Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). Additionally, velocity data from Inter-Mission Time Series of Land Ice Velocity and Elevation (ITS LIVE) (1992-2022) highlight significant temporal fluctuations in glacier movement, emphasizing periods of accelerated flow. The findings underscore the intricate interactions between glaciers and their environmental conditions, providing critical insights into glacier behavior in this climatically sensitive region.