Insights in Science and Technology
Open AccessRemote Sensing-Based Assessment of Glacier Change in Hunza Valley Using Google Earth Engine and NDSI Approach
Authors: Moaz Zafar, Basir Ali, Daud Khan, Zeenat Khan, Abdullah Ikram
DOI: -
Abstract
This study investigates the spatio-temporal changes in glacier extent in the Hunza District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, over a ten-year period from 2015 to 2025. Utilizing Google Earth Engine (GEE), multi-temporal satellite imagery from Landsat and Sentinel missions was processed to evaluate glacier dynamics using the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI). The analysis focused on four major glaciers: Batura, Passu, Gulmit, and Ghulkin. Results indicate a consistent reduction in glacier area across all study sites, with Batura Glacier decreasing from 420 km² to 409 km², Passu from 60.9 km² to 60.6 km², Gulmit from 17.1 km² to 16.9 km², and Ghulkin from 26.8 km² to 25.5 km². The observed glacier retreat shows a strong association with rising regional temperatures and variable precipitation patterns derived from NASA POWER climate data. Spatial analysis further revealed that lower elevation zones are more susceptible to glacier melt, while topographic factors such as elevation, slope, and aspect significantly influence glacier stability and resilience. These findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring of glacier dynamics in northern Pakistan due to their direct implications for freshwater availability, agriculture, and hydropower resources. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of Google Earth Engine as a robust platform for large-scale cryospheric monitoring and provides valuable insights into climate-driven glacier changes in high mountain environments. Climatic analysis indicates that glacier loss is closely linked to regional temperature increase and irregular precipitation trends. NASA POWER data show that mean annual temperature increased from 25.5°C in 2015 to 31°C in 2025, while precipitation exhibited temporal variability with an overall declining trend toward the end of the study period. These climatic changes contributed to accelerated glacier melting, particularly in lowelevation zones between 2800–3500 meters, where exposure to solar radiation intensifies ablation processes. Topographic assessment using SRTM-based digital elevation models further confirms that elevation, slope, and aspect play a crucial role in controlling glacier response, with north-facing slopes exhibiting comparatively lower rates of retreat due to reduced solar radiation exposure.
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