2001-2010 GLACIER CHANGES IN THE CENTRAL KARAKORAM NATIONAL PARK: A CONTRIBUTION TO EVALUATE MAGNITUDE AND RATE OF THE “KARAKORAM ANOMALY”

摘要

We use Landsat images to quantify recent (2001-2010) glaciers area coverage within the Central Karakoram National Park, CKNP, Northern Pakistan, recently established and subject of scientific investigation concerning ice cover and water resources. We study thirty years climate trend (1980-2009) from weather stations nearby the CKNP to gather knowledge of possible effect of climate upon the ice bodies in the area. Our findings suggest substantial stability of ice cover, consistently with recent literature highlighting the so called Karakoram Anomaly. Climate data suggest that slight decrease of Summer temperature, and increase of wet days during Winter, possibly providing snow for ice sheltering against solar radiation, may have resulted into stable ice cover, in spite of generalized warming.