Using Feature-Tracking of ALOS PALSAR Images to Acquire the Yengisogat Glacier Surface Velocities

In this paper, the surface velocities of Yengisogat Glacier in the Karakoram were acquired using Feature-Tracking of the Japan Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) images. Four pairs of ALOS PALSAR images were processed and then the annual average velocities were calculated. The accuracy of calculation was discussed, and the results were compared with the previous measurements and found that they are well consistent. Two fast moving glacier flows are found. From the glacier surface flow velocity field, one can see that the south tributary (Skamri Glacier) contributes to the main flow of the glacier more in summer and were putting the glacier trunk forward. The features of the transverse profile velocity exhibit that the south tributary had evident block slide, which is an important sign of surging. The reason is probably the glacier response to precipitation increasing in winter and temperature decreasing in summer.