| Popis: |
Concerns over greenhouse-gas forcing and warmer temperatures have initiated research into understanding climate forcing and associated Earth-system responses. Alpine glacier fluctuations are directly and indirectly related to climate change. Consequently, it is essential to be able to assess glacier fluctuations from space and determine the causal mechanisms responsible for change. Although satellite imagery and topographic information can be used for alpine glacier mapping, interpreting causal mechanisms for changing glacial boundary conditions and climate is difficult, as there is a significant disconnect between information on boundary conditions and process mechanics. Therefore, information integration and computer-assisted approaches to glacier mapping, parameter estimation, and numerical modeling are required to produce reliable results that go beyond traditional image interpretation and mapping. Only in this way can a multitude of forcing factors and interrelated processes be evaluated in an objective way to quantitatively ascertain the role of climate on glacier fluctuations in the Himalaya. |
