Topography extraction and topographic change measurements using PlanetScope data: Shisper Glacier (Pakistan)

The study area is located in the north flank of Hunza Valley in the Central Karakoram. Shisper glacier covers ~53.7 km2 at an elevation range of 2567-611 m a.s.l. It is a surge-type glacier, which has recently gained the attention of the scientific community and disaster response agencies during its surge. In 2018, the glacier surged beyond the confluence with the outlet stream of Mochwar glacier. The blockage resulted in the creation of a lake, which then drained causing a GLOF (Glacial Lake Outbreak Flood) and has recently begun reforming. The melt water from the two glaciers feeds hydropower plants in the Hunza valley and is a major source of fresh water for agriculture. Glacier-related hazards threaten both the town of Hassanabad and the Karakoram Highway, the only paved road through the mountain range. Here we show the potential of CubSat data to monitor such glaciers, which are not easily accessible to field observation and their potential impact on power generation, water resources and infrastructure.

We use multi-date L1B DOVE-C PlanetScope data to extract two DEMs in 2017 and 2019 over the study area in order to compute the elevation difference caused by the glacier surge.

Supplementary material for our paper: Optimization of optical image geometric modeling, application to topography extraction and topographic change measurements using PlanetScope and SkySat imagery.