Remote sensing based assessment of hazards from glacier lake outbursts: a case study in the Swiss Alps

2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 316-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Huggel ◽  
Andreas Kääb ◽  
Wilfried Haeberli ◽  
Philippe Teysseire ◽  
Frank Paul
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Hazard Assessment ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Runout Distance ◽  
Hazard Potential ◽  
Empirical Relations ◽  
Scale Levels ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques

Glacier lakes are a common phenomenon in high mountain areas. Outbursts from glacier lakes have repeatedly caused the loss of human lives as well as severe damage to local infrastructure. In several high mountain ranges around the world, a grave uncertainty about the hazard potential of glacier lakes still exists, especially with respect to the effects of accelerating rates of glacier retreat as a consequence of atmospheric warming. Area-wide detection and modeling of glacier lake hazard potentials is, therefore, a major challenge. In this study, an approach integrating three scale levels allows for the progressive focus on critical glacier lakes. Remote sensing methods for application in glacier lake hazard assessment are presented, and include channel indexing, data fusion, and change detection. Each method matches the requirements of a certain scale level. For estimating potential disaster amplitudes, assessments must be made of maximum discharge and runout distance of outbursts floods and debris flows. Existing empirical relations are evaluated and complementary ones as derived from available data are proposed. Tests with observations from a recent outburst event from a moraine-dammed lake in the Swiss Alps show the basic applicability of the proposed techniques and the usefulness of empirical relations for first hazard assessments. In particular, the observed runout distance of the debris flow resulting from the outburst does not exceed the empirically estimated maximum runout distance. A list of decision criteria and related remote sensing techniques are discussed in conclusion. Such a list is an essential tool for evaluating the hazard potential of a lake. A systematic application of remote sensing based methods for glacier lake hazard assessment is recommended.Key words: glacier lake outburst, hazard potential, remote sensing, empirical parameters.

scholarly journals Slope Activity Analysis in the Rogun Catchment Area, Tajikistan, using Remote Sensing Techniques

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Jones ◽  
Andrea Manconi ◽  
Alexander Strom
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Catchment Area ◽  
Surface Displacement ◽  
Tien Shan ◽  
Slope Failures ◽  
Ground Acceleration ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Hazard Potential ◽  
Slope Instabilities ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques

<p>The stability and lifetime of construction projects in mountain areas are strongly dependent on local slope activity. Hydropower projects in particular are often affected and endangered by landslide damming and flood wave generation due to slope failures, and thus extensive studies of ground surface instability are vital to assess associated hazards. The Rogun Hydropower Project HPP located in Tajikistan in the Vakhsh – Surkhob River network is currently under construction. The site lies within the seismically active Tien Shan and Pamir Mountain ranges of Central Asia and in particular the Peter the First Range. This region is marked by extreme topography, steep slopes and extensive valley networks and has experienced large and catastrophic slope failures in the past, of which a multitude have been triggered by earthquakes of magnitude M≥4. Co-seismic failures are thus common in the area and present a high geotechnical hazard; however, to date no information on active slope instabilities in its catchment area exists.</p><p>Here we present an inventory of slope instabilities in the Rogun Dam catchment area based on optical and synthetic aperture radar differential interferometry (DInSAR) remote sensing techniques. Sentinel-1 multi–temporal differential interferograms are generated for summer periods of 2016 – 2018 to detect surface displacements. Slope velocities are estimated based on a comparison between differential interferograms, while landslide types are identified based on a geomorphological classification. A likelihood analysis is developed to understand the state of activity of slopes and provide a semi-quantitative confidence thereof. The collected data is subsequently integrated to perform spatial and statistical analyses in order to perform a proximity analysis, assess a co-seismic link and evaluate the damming hazard potential to the Rogun HPP. Results show that a clear majority of detected features are located within 10 km of major faults and in zones of high peak ground acceleration, indicating a potential seismic influence or triggering. Some active slopes show an increase in surface displacement after a particular earthquake event and equally suggest a potential link. Moreover, we developed a damming hazard analysis for slopes detected as active in Sentinel-1 differential interferograms, considering the likelihood of movements, their distance to rivers and faults, as well as estimated volume and velocity per year. The results indicate that a total of 29.6 % of all features constitute a high damming hazard potential in case of catastrophic failure, with 4.5 % located within 1 km of the Rogun Dam reservoir. Although many potential sites are not directly on the slopes rising above the future reservoir, hazardous locations in the catchment upstream pose a threat due to possibility of significant outburst floods in case of the dammed lake outburst.</p>

scholarly journals Remote Sensing Calculation of the Influence of Wildfire on Erosion in High Mountain Areas

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1459
Author(s):  
Yolanda Sánchez Sánchez ◽  
Antonio Martínez Graña ◽  
Fernando Santos- Francés
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
High Severity ◽  
Natural Reserve ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques ◽  
Normalized Burn Ratio ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Very High

Soil erosion is one of the most important environmental problems of the moment, especially in areas affected by wildfires. In this paper, we study pre-fire and post-fire erosion using remote sensing techniques with Sentinel-2 satellite images and LiDAR. The Normalized Burn Ratio is used to determine the areas affected by the fire that occurred on 18 August 2016 in the Natural Reserve of Garganta de los Infiernos (Cáceres). To calculate the erosion, the multi-criteria analysis is carried out from the RUSLE. Once all calculations were performed, there was a considerable increase in sediment production from 16 June 2016 (pre-fire) with an erosion of 31 T/ha·year to 16 June 2017 of 74 T/ha·year for areas of moderate fire severity, and an increase from 11 T/ha·year in 2016 to 70 T/ha·year for areas with a very high severity. From the NDVI, it was possible to verify that this also affected the recovery of post-fire vegetation, decreasing the NDVI index 0.36 in areas of moderate severity and 0.53 in areas of very high severity.

scholarly journals Changes in vegetation cover on Stara planina: Towards sustainable management of ski resorts in sensitive areas

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Potic ◽  
Marko Joksimovic ◽  
Rajko Golic
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Landsat 7 ◽  
Multispectral Analysis

Tourism is an indicator and the consequence of the development of many countries. Among the priority areas of the tourism strategy are high mountain areas with complex ecosystems. Mountain tourism in Serbia, as well as continental country is one of the leading forms of tourism through various projects stimulated by the state. In the last ten years, build up and expand the ski slopes of Stara planina in eastern Serbia, leading to various, mostly negative changes in the environment. This paper analyzes the changes in the forest areas of the site Babin Zub in years 2000 and 2013, using satellite imagery (Landsat 7 and Landsat 8) and remote sensing software. We used unsupervised multispectral analysis resolution 30 m and obtained data on forest areas. The aim is to draw attention to the change of vegetation cover and degradation of forest areas. Following to the experiences of the world's ski resorts, the paper presents the opportunities and examples of restoration of ski runs, and sustainable forest management in the studied highland area.

scholarly journals Assessment of Imja Glacier Lake outburst Flood (GLOF) Risk in Dudh Koshi River Basin using Remote Sensing Techniques

1970 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal P Budhathoki ◽  
OR Bajracharya ◽  
BK Pokharel
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Statistical Methods ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Lake Area ◽  
Decision Criteria ◽  
Outburst Flood ◽  
Hazard Potential ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques

Glacier lakes are common phenomena in the Himalaya region of Nepal. Glacier lake outburst floods have repeatedly caused the death tolls and severe damage to downstream infrastructures. In Himalayas, a vital uncertainty about the glacier lake hazard potential still exists, thereby the effects of accelerating rates of glacier retreat and expansion of Glacier Lake could be the wake of recent global warming and resulting climatic changes. The paper, first describes the general different-level approach upon which the study is based. Then, in the methodological part, applicable remote sensing techniques, geographic information system (GIS) and statistical methods are presented. Observed data of lake area, volume, and depth having similar lake characteristics reported in the different literature are used to develop empirical equations by using statistical methods. The values of r2 (coefficient of determination) - obtained are very high (r2=0.939 for depth – area relationship and r2= 0.990 for volume – area relationship). The comparison of the empirical expression clearly indicated that there is more than 90% variation in the dependent variable, lake volume,as explained by the linear regressions in both cases. Area of Imja glacier lake for different years are determined from the available satellite imagery and volume of the Imja glacier lake are estimated using the expression: V = 0.094A1.453.developed from linear regression analysis of the observed data. Similarly, mean depth can be estimated by using the expression: D = 0.94A0.452. After the preparation of maps and data, a scheme of decision criteria for the evaluation of hazard potential of Imja glacier lake is established. A list of decision criteria is a documented set of factors that are used to examine and compare for evaluating the hazard potential of a glacier lake. The empirical scores are given in terms of hazard magnitude for hazard rating. Analysis of Imja glacier lake based on the empirical scoring system clearly indicated that GLOF risk of the possible outburst from Imja glacier lake is MODERATE. A systematic application of remote sensing based methods for glacier lake outburst flood risk assessment is applicable and thus recommended. Keywords: Glacier lake outburst; remote sensing; risk assessment; hazard potential; empirical parameters; climate change DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jhm.v7i1.5618 JHM 2010; 7(1): 75-91

scholarly journals Influence of surface and subsurface heterogeneity on observed borehole temperatures at a mountain permafrost site in the Upper Engadine, Swiss Alps

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 517-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Schneider ◽  
M. Hoelzle ◽  
C. Hauck
Keyword(s):  
Swiss Alps ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Temperature Changes ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Temperature Trends ◽  
Thermally Driven ◽  
Borehole Temperatures

Abstract. Compared to lowland (polar) regions, permafrost in high mountain areas occurs in a large variety of surface and subsurface materials and textures. This work presents an eight-year (2002–2010) data set of borehole temperatures for five different (sub-) surface materials from a high alpine permafrost area, Murtèl-Corvatsch, Switzerland. The influence of the material on the thermal regime was investigated by borehole temperature data, the temperature at the top of the permafrost (TTOP-concept) and the apparent thermal diffusivity (ATD). The results show that during the last eight years, material-specific temperature changes were more significant than climate-induced temperature trends. At coarse blocky, ice-rich sites, no changes in active layer depth were observed, whereas the bedrock and the fine-grained sites appear to be highly sensitive to changes in the microclimate. The results confirm that the presence and growth of ice as well as a thermally driven air circulation within the subsurface are the key factors for the occurence and preservation of alpine permafrost.

Geologic Hazard Assessment of Slopeland Villages Using Remote Sensing Techniques

2015 ◽  
Vol 764-765 ◽  
pp. 1095-1099
Author(s):  
Shu Rong Yang ◽  
Yi Lung Yeh
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Hazard Assessment ◽  
Image Interpretation ◽  
Remote Sensing Image ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Geologic Hazard ◽  
Susceptibility Maps ◽  
Hazard Zone ◽  
Geologic Maps ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques

This study focuses on 53 villages located in the slopelands of Pingtung County. Remote sensing image interpretation techniques are used to identify geologic hazard areas. GIS map overlay analysis of environmental geologic maps, landslide susceptibility maps and potential debris flow torrent maps provided by local and regional governments are used to further interpret and correctly identify the extent of the geologic hazard zone. This study successfully combines both GIS and GPS techniques, and according to data analysis results, constructs a slopeland village geologic hazard assessment method.

scholarly journals Influence of surface heterogeneity on observed borehole temperatures at a mountain permafrost site in the Upper Engadine, Swiss Alps

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 2629-2663 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Schneider ◽  
M. Hoelzle ◽  
C. Hauck
Keyword(s):  
Surface Heterogeneity ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Thermally Driven ◽  
Subsurface Material ◽  
Borehole Temperatures

Abstract. Compared to lowland (polar) regions, permafrost in high mountain areas occurs in a large variety of surface and subsurface material and texture. This work presents an eight-year (2002–2010) data set of borehole temperatures for five different (sub-) surface materials from a high alpine permafrost area, Murtel-Corvatsch, Switzerland. The influence of the material on the thermal regime was investigated by borehole temperature data, the TTOP-concept and the apparent thermal diffusivity (ATD). The results show that during the last eight years material specific temperature changes were more significant than for all boreholes consistent, climate-induced temperature trends. At coarse blocky, ice-rich sites no changes in active layer depth were observed, whereas the bedrock and the fine-grained sites appear to be highly sensitive to changes in the microclimate. The results confirm that the presence and growth of ice as well as a thermally driven air-circulation within the subsurface are the key factors for the occurence and preservation of alpine permafrost.

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