Abstract ID: 3.10613 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Glacier fluctuations driven by climate change have exhibited increasing variability on a global scale, with diverse behaviour observed across different glacier systems. This variability in glacier responses is primarily influenced by the complex interplay of topography and localized climatic conditions, particularly in High Mountain Asia. This research focuses on Batura Glacier located in the Karakoram region. With the use of multi-temporal satellite imagery, we studied its area changes and the position changes of its snout from 1990 to 2022. Glacial boundary delineation was supported by high-resolution satellite data and field observations validated remote sensing information and enabled us to obtain localized glacier motion. Our analysis detected heterogeneous responses of Batura Glacier to climate change. The lateral translocation of the glacier snout between 1990 and 2022 is particularly marked. Shifts were noted from a left position in 1990 to a middle position in 2013 and further right by 2022. The field observations carried out in 2016 showed that the snout was covered by debris, although it had an average thickness of around 0.656 meters. The debris in the ablation zone of Batura Glacier is a mix of fine sand, coarse pebbles, and large boulders, with distinct differences on either bank of the glacier. On the left bank, granite boulders dominate, evidence of the glacier’s interaction with the underlying rock formations as it advanced and retreated over time. Field-based survey of the snout’s periphery was established in 2016 as a baseline for future comparisons. A follow-up in 2024 showed that the terminus had receded by approximately 120 meters over 8 years, reflecting a broader trend of glacier shrinkage across the Karakoram due to rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns. Such field-based observations are crucial for understanding Batura Glacier’s dynamics and predicting its future behavior, which impacts local water resources. These results underscore the importance of combining satellite-based analyses with field data to understand glacier behavior in the context of regional climate dynamics. The Batura Glacier’s unique response highlights the necessity for localized studies to inform broader glaciological models in High Mountain Asia.