Yesha Tharwala

This research study investigates the changes in the glacier terminus areas of the Hubbard and Columbia Glaciers from 2017 to 2023, focusing on seasonal variations and their link to climate variables. Using Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery and ECMWF ERA5-Land climate data, we analyzed glacier terminus dynamics in June and December of each year. The methodology involved preprocessing SAR data to enhance glacier visibility, creating masks for glacier areas, and integrating climate data to assess its impact on terminus changes. Google Earth Engine (GEE) enabled the analysis of seasonal temperature, precipitation, and snowfall trends. Results show significant seasonal and interannual variations: the advancing Hubbard Glacier had increased terminus extent during specific periods, while the retreating Columbia Glacier experienced considerable retreat. Climate data revealed that temperature and precipitation fluctuations significantly influence these changes, improving our understanding of the relationship between climate change and glacier behaviour.
Keywords: Glacier Terminus Dynamics, Climate Variables, Seasonal Variations, Hubbard
Glacier, Columbia Glacier, Sentinel-1, ERA5-Land Climate Data, Google Earth Engine