Elevation-dependent snow cover dynamics and associated topo-climate impacts in upper Indus River basin

In the present study, Improved Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) snow cover product (MOYDGL06∗) has been used to evaluate the snow cover area (SCA) in Kabul, Jhelum, and Indus river basins for the time period of 2003–2020 with available MODIS land surface temperature (LST), and CHIRPS (precipitation) with objectives to evaluate the spatio-temporal SCA, and climate variables with respect to different elevations analyzed from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Global Digital Elevation Model Version 3 (GDEM v3) and also to correlate the climatic variables with SCA. The results presented average annual SCA is around 50.7%–64.7% in sub-basins of UIB, further it has been observed that SCA is decreasing on annual and seasonal timescale in all three basins. Elevation-dependent SCA, temperature, and precipitation presented a mix of trend on annual, seasonal, and monthly timescale at lower and higher altitude in all selected basins. Moreover, it was noticed that topography (slope, & aspect) also influences the SCA in the region. Furthermore, it has been examined that temperature has significant inverse relationship with SCA at middle and higher altitude in Indus, while in Kabul, and Jhelum no significant relationship observed at extreme lower and higher altitudes. It is also evident from relationship between SCA and climate variable that temperature is significantly responsible for decreasing trend of SCA rather than intense precipitation in all three river basins. Thus, all these elevation-dependent changes can improve our hydrological understanding which can have a considerable implication for hydrology, climate science, water resource management and socio-economic activities. •Improved MODIS snow cover product used for the SCA distribution and trend.•Annual SCA is around 50.7%–64.7% in UIB with decreasing trend throughout the year.•Elevation dependent analysis revealed mix of SCA, temperature and precipitation trend.•Significant inverse relationship observed for temperature at middle altitude regions in UIB.