Abstract ID: 28.7270 | Accepted as Poster | Poster | 2025-02-27 13:00 - 14:30 | Ágnes‐Heller‐Haus/Small Lecture Room

Surface albedo is a critical parameter influencing glacier energy balance and melt processes, particularly in debris-covered and clean-ice glaciers. In this study, we focus on glaciers in the Karakoram Range, assessing the performance of the Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLSL30) albedo product against Landsat 8 for the period 2017–2019. We chose this period because of the different snow coverage on the study area. Following methodologies adapted from previous cross-comparison studies, we analyze spatial and temporal variability in surface albedo across debris-covered (e.g., Dook Pal, Hinarche, Biafo) and clean-ice glaciers (e.g., Barpu, Passu). We selected glaciers of different sizes also to better test the spatial variability of the HLSL30 product. The study employs Google Earth Engine to generate and correct the albedo images of the two products, later analyzed thought R and GIS software. Preliminary results indicate a general agreement between the two datasets, with exceptions influenced by seasonal and glacier-specific conditions, with differences in debris-covered versus clean-ice surfaces. These insights highlight the importance of high-quality albedo products for monitoring glacier responses to climate change in regions with complex terrain and significant glaciological heterogeneity. This study underscores the critical role of satellite-derived albedo data for advancing our understanding of the energy balance in glacierized regions. Future work will further refine the analysis, incorporating broader datasets. These efforts aim to enhance the applicability of harmonized albedo products for long-term glacier monitoring in remote high-mountain environments where in situ measurements are not always available.