Understanding the drivers of glacier growth in central Asia using declassified satellites – DIVERGENCE

Glacier retreat is one of the most iconic impacts of ongoing climate change, affecting sea level and water resources. Yet, many glaciers in central Asia (Pamirs, West Kunlun, and Karakoram ranges) have shown stable or positive mass changes since 2000, in contrast to global trends of glacier wastage. This is known as the “Karakoram anomaly.” Two main explanations are debated: local climate conditions favorable to glacier growth (cooler summers and increased snowfall) and a lower sensitivity of glaciers in the region to climatic changes.
In this project, we propose to unravel some of the unknown causes of the glacier anomaly in the region using archives of declassified and modern satellite imagery. We will document glacier changes (extent, volume, velocity and surface mass balance) since the 1960s. These outputs will then be used in a modeling framework to separate the contribution of climate trends and geomorphological factors (supraglacial debris cover, proglacial lakes, avalanches) that may drive the observed mass changes.