Articles | Volume 15, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4557-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4557-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
29 Sep 2021
Research article |
| 29 Sep 2021
| 29 Sep 2021
Surface composition of debris-covered glaciers across the Himalaya using linear spectral unmixing of Landsat 8 OLI imagery
Adina E. Racoviteanu
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth,
UK
Lindsey Nicholson
Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences, University
of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Neil F. Glasser
Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth,
UK
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Cited
22 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Debris-covered glacier systems and associated glacial lake outburst flood hazards: challenges and prospects A. Racoviteanu et al. https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2021-084
- Four decades of glacier changes in Karzok, Ladakh regulated by climatic and non-climatic drivers (1980–2023) M. Prajapati et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2025.105275
- Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Glacial Lakes in the Tibetan Plateau over the Past 30 Years X. Dou et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15020416
- An integrated deep learning and object-based image analysis approach for mapping debris-covered glaciers D. Thomas et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsen.2023.1161530
- Cryosphere Remote Sensing Using Multisource Satellite Data: Sensor Technologies, Current Status, Challenges, and Opportunities J. Bu et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2026.3690565
- Glacier and Snow Cover Dynamics and Their Affecting Factors on the Pamir Plateau Section of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor Y. Han et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040880
- Current and Near-Term Earth-Observing Environmental Satellites, Their Missions, Characteristics, Instruments, and Applications S. Ustin & E. Middleton https://doi.org/10.3390/s24113488
- Evolution of Supraglacial Lakes from 1990 to 2020 in the Himalaya–Karakoram Region Using Cloud-Based Google Earth Engine Platform R. Sahu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-023-01773-2
- Non-linear spectral unmixing for monitoring rapidly salinizing coastal landscapes M. Sarupria et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2025.114642
- Spatial Validation of Spectral Unmixing Results: A Systematic Review R. Cavalli https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15112822
- Mass Balance of Maritime Glaciers in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau during Recent Decades X. Lyu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16167118
- Conventional and deep learning approaches for glacial lake mapping using remote sensing data: a comprehensive review R. Sahu & D. Singh https://doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2025.2496001
- Spatiotemporally Heterogeneous Impact of Proglacial Lake on Himalayan Glacier Dynamics Revealed by Multisource Remote Sensing X. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2026.3664708
- Controls on Ice Cliff Distribution and Characteristics on Debris‐Covered Glaciers M. Kneib et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL102444
- Seasonal to decadal dynamics of supraglacial lakes on debris-covered glaciers in the Khumbu region, Nepal L. Zeller et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-525-2024
- A novel optical satellite based non-debris-covered glacier mapping based on visible reflectance characteristics of ice and snow J. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104764
- Spatial Distribution and Characteristics of Debris-Covered Glaciers in Xinjiang Based on CGI-XJ2020 Z. Zhan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18010106
- Multispectral Characteristics of Glacier Surface Facies (Chandra-Bhaga Basin, Himalaya, and Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard) through Investigations of Pixel and Object-Based Mapping Using Variable Processing Routines S. Jawak et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14246311
- Contrasting short-term dynamics of supraglacial ponds along the Hindu Kush-Himalaya revealed by PlanetScope imagery and deep learning X. Xu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2025.104949
- Land surface modeling informed by earth observation data: toward understanding blue–green–white water fluxes in High Mountain Asia P. Buri et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/10095020.2024.2330546
- Interannual spatio-temporal evolution of the supraglacial lakes on the Belvedere Glacier between 2000 and 2023 L. Brodský et al. https://doi.org/10.14712/23361980.2024.24
- Rapid dynamics of paraglacial vegetation under temperate deglaciating environments in Mt. Gongga, southeastern Tibetan Plateau J. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-025-2399-z
22 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Debris-covered glacier systems and associated glacial lake outburst flood hazards: challenges and prospects A. Racoviteanu et al. https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2021-084
- Four decades of glacier changes in Karzok, Ladakh regulated by climatic and non-climatic drivers (1980–2023) M. Prajapati et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2025.105275
- Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Glacial Lakes in the Tibetan Plateau over the Past 30 Years X. Dou et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15020416
- An integrated deep learning and object-based image analysis approach for mapping debris-covered glaciers D. Thomas et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsen.2023.1161530
- Cryosphere Remote Sensing Using Multisource Satellite Data: Sensor Technologies, Current Status, Challenges, and Opportunities J. Bu et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2026.3690565
- Glacier and Snow Cover Dynamics and Their Affecting Factors on the Pamir Plateau Section of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor Y. Han et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040880
- Current and Near-Term Earth-Observing Environmental Satellites, Their Missions, Characteristics, Instruments, and Applications S. Ustin & E. Middleton https://doi.org/10.3390/s24113488
- Evolution of Supraglacial Lakes from 1990 to 2020 in the Himalaya–Karakoram Region Using Cloud-Based Google Earth Engine Platform R. Sahu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-023-01773-2
- Non-linear spectral unmixing for monitoring rapidly salinizing coastal landscapes M. Sarupria et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2025.114642
- Spatial Validation of Spectral Unmixing Results: A Systematic Review R. Cavalli https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15112822
- Mass Balance of Maritime Glaciers in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau during Recent Decades X. Lyu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16167118
- Conventional and deep learning approaches for glacial lake mapping using remote sensing data: a comprehensive review R. Sahu & D. Singh https://doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2025.2496001
- Spatiotemporally Heterogeneous Impact of Proglacial Lake on Himalayan Glacier Dynamics Revealed by Multisource Remote Sensing X. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2026.3664708
- Controls on Ice Cliff Distribution and Characteristics on Debris‐Covered Glaciers M. Kneib et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL102444
- Seasonal to decadal dynamics of supraglacial lakes on debris-covered glaciers in the Khumbu region, Nepal L. Zeller et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-525-2024
- A novel optical satellite based non-debris-covered glacier mapping based on visible reflectance characteristics of ice and snow J. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104764
- Spatial Distribution and Characteristics of Debris-Covered Glaciers in Xinjiang Based on CGI-XJ2020 Z. Zhan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18010106
- Multispectral Characteristics of Glacier Surface Facies (Chandra-Bhaga Basin, Himalaya, and Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard) through Investigations of Pixel and Object-Based Mapping Using Variable Processing Routines S. Jawak et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14246311
- Contrasting short-term dynamics of supraglacial ponds along the Hindu Kush-Himalaya revealed by PlanetScope imagery and deep learning X. Xu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2025.104949
- Land surface modeling informed by earth observation data: toward understanding blue–green–white water fluxes in High Mountain Asia P. Buri et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/10095020.2024.2330546
- Interannual spatio-temporal evolution of the supraglacial lakes on the Belvedere Glacier between 2000 and 2023 L. Brodský et al. https://doi.org/10.14712/23361980.2024.24
- Rapid dynamics of paraglacial vegetation under temperate deglaciating environments in Mt. Gongga, southeastern Tibetan Plateau J. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-025-2399-z
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 14 Jul 2026
Short summary
Supraglacial debris cover comprises ponds, exposed ice cliffs, debris material and vegetation. Understanding these features is important for glacier hydrology and related hazards. We use linear spectral unmixing of satellite data to assess the composition of map supraglacial debris across the Himalaya range in 2015. One of the highlights of this study is the automated mapping of supraglacial ponds, which complements and expands the existing supraglacial debris and lake databases.
Supraglacial debris cover comprises ponds, exposed ice cliffs, debris material and vegetation....
