Analysis of spatiotemporal variation in the snow cover in Western Hindukush-Himalaya region

Abstract

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) products were used in this study which covers a period of 2000–2014. Comparison of the SCA derived from MODIS and Landsat NDSI showed a significant correlation, the resultant coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.85. For analyzing the trend in the SCA, the Mann-Kendall test was applied; the results show an increasing non-significant trend in the mean annual SCA with a Sen's slope value of +16.99 (km2/year), and a significant increasing trend in the winter SCA was identified. The annual mean SCA was 8.92 km2 and 564 km2 for elevation ranges of 5001–5694 m and 4001–4500 m respectively. The spatial extent of snow cover was maximum in 70°–78.3° slope class and minimum in 30°–40° slope class. The results highlight the MODIS snow cover products' capability to assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of snow cover in complex mountainous watersheds.