Mass change of Gangotri glacier based on TanDEM-X measurements

We analyzed the surface elevation change and geodetic mass change of Gangotri glacier, over the period 2011 and 2013, utilizing high horizontal and vertical resolution topographic data, acquired by bistatic radar interferometry of the TanDEM-X/TerraSAR-X satellite formation. Short term investigation of surface elevation change of glaciers at reasonably good accuracy is possible by using multi temporal TanDEM-X data. The surface elevation change further can be converted into glacier volume change and mass change. The mass change of glaciers is direct response of climate change and hence can be taken as a proxy to study climate change. The study area includes the Gangotri group of glaciers, located in the Central Himalaya, India.