Estimation of ICE Thickness Distribution Over Raikot Glacier in Nanga Parbat Region: A Geospatial Approach

The present study attempts to estimate the distribution of ice thickness over Raikot Glacier from 2014-2020 based on surface velocity and Laminar Flow model. Annual Surface velocities were estimated from Landsat 8 OLI Imagery using correlation image analysis (CIAS) algorithm ranging from a minimum of 0.7 m y
^-1
to maximum of 860 m y
^-1
at with mean of 340 m y
^-1
for the period of seven years. The velocities are higher in ablation zone as compared to accumulation zone. Annual ice thickness profile of Raikot Glacier estimated by laminar flow model depicted an average thickness ranging from 8 to 539 m with an average of around 47 m. The snout, ablation part and the accumulation part being approximately 21, 98 and 134 m thick respectively. Furthermore, the higher reaches of the accumulation zone which are quite steep is found to be thinner (~33 m).