Data pre-processing

In the pre-processing stage, selection of the most suitable satellite scenes, as well as geometric correction, were the most important tasks. For data selection, some limitations existed in terms of cloud cover at high altitudes and snow Table 1.Optical satellite imagery used in the Iran Glacier Inventory 2008. ETM+: Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus; IRS: Indian Remote-sensing Satellite; SPOT: Système Probatoire pour l’Observation de la Terre; ASTER: Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer cover, which had to be taken into consideration. Hence, images acquired at the end of the ablation period, around September, were chosen. Having selected suitable satellite imagery (level 1 data that had already been radiometrically corrected), geometric correction and georeferencing of images were carried out.

DEM generation

Several series of aerial photographs at scales of 1 : 40 000 and 1 : 50 000 were selected over the five glacier zones in Iran. These photographs were provided by Iran’s National Cartographic Center. The ~23 cm x23cm negatives were scanned at a resolution of 14 mm.

Firstly, the digital images were oriented through photogrammetric processing. The required ground-control points (GCPs) were acquired using the ’bundle-block aerial triangulation‚ technique, which enables global restitution of a block of photographs and reduction of GCPs. Bundle-block adjustment is an iterative method based on the use of photographic coordinates as observations. Application of the central projection method enables the conversion of these observations into terrain coordinates in one step Reference Trouvé(Trouvé and others, 2007). This requires a block of photographs with at least 60% overlap and 20% side-lap (often there is more) Reference Trouvé(Trouvé and others, 2007). Moreover, sets of GPS points located on both sides of the glaciers in different study areas were required for the orientation process. The number of points used in each study area varied, depending on data availability. The matching procedure was carried out both automatically and manually. Wherever automatic correlation was problematic

due to factors such as snow-cover conditions or poor contrast, stereoscopic measurement was required. Eventually, DEMs and ortho-photographs of glacier zones were produced using Virtozou NT photogrammetric software. Later, orthoimage mosaics of the glacier areas were also generated.

Takhte–Soleiman region

The largest glaciers in Iran exist in the western part of the Alborz mountain range, in the region of the Takhte–Soleiman massif (36^°22^'N, 50^°57^'E). The highest peak of this region, Alamkuh (4850ma.s.l.), is the second highest peak in Iran. The region consists of 45 peaks >4000m in elevation that are joined by high, narrow summit ridges. The glaciers are found mostly on the steep, northward-facing slopes of these peaks and ridges Reference Vaziri(Vaziri, 2003).

In this inventory, the glaciers in Takhte–Soleiman region were comprehensively studied through the use of aerial and satellite imagery. The largest glacier was found to occupy an area of ~3.3 km². It is called Northern Glacier, previously known to researchers as Sarchal Glacier. It is formed from the confluence of three unequal segments (Fig. 2). The surface of the glacier tongue is covered with debris 0.5–1.5m thick. According to Vaziri, each of these segments is considered to be a glacier, and 1, 2, 3 in Figure 3 were named Alamchal, Patakht and Takhte–Soleiman, respectively. The height of the snowline is estimated to be ~4000–4150 m. The thickness of ice on this glacier varies from 50m in the lower part of the glacier to 80 m on the cirque (Fig. 4a) Reference Vaziri(Vaziri, 2003). Several crevasses are observed on the surface of this glacier (Fig. 4b).

Fig. 2.

Three-dimensional visualization of Northern Glacier with its digitized outline (QuickBird image 2005). (Takhte–Soleiman region.)

Fig. 3.

QuickBird image of the Takhte–Soleiman region. 1. Alamchal Glacier; 2. Patakht Glacier; 3. Takhte–Soleiman Glacier; 4. Western Glacier; 5. Haft-Khan Glacier; 6. Khersan Glacier; 7. Merjikesh Glacier.

Fig. 4.

Close-range photographs of Alamchal Glacier (October 1995): (a) the glacier’s cirque; (b) a crevasse on the surface of the glacier. (Photographs taken by F. Vaziri.)

In Figure 3, four other mountain glaciers can be noted in the Takhte–Soleiman region: Haft-Khan, Merjikesh, Khersan and Western Glaciers.

The DEM of this region was used to obtain three-dimensional (3-D) glacier attributes, such as minimum and maximum height of ice occurrence. Glacier area was provided within the GIS automatically for each glacier, and glacier length was obtained from digitized central flowlines. Further 3-D parameters (e.g. slope and aspect) were obtained from DEM-derived products.

Two 3-D DEM parameters are displayed in Figure 5 for the Takhte–Soleiman region. In Figure 5a, grey shades from black to white denote slope from high to low values. A mean slope for each glacier is also provided in Table 2.The aspect values in Figure 5b are coded as eight grey levels, representing eight aspect sectors.

Fig. 5.

Illustration of products from the DEM of the Takhte–Soleiman region: (a) slope, (b) aspect.

Table 2.

Physical attributes of glaciers in Takhte–Soleiman region

In Table 2a list of the glaciers in the Takhte–Soleiman region, along with their physical attributes extracted from 2005 QuickBird panchromatic imagery (spatial resolution 0.6 m) and the DEM, are presented. Two close-range photographs of the glaciers in the Takhte–Soleiman region are shown in Figure 4.

Sabalan region

This glacier region lies in the northwestern part of the country and is located 85 km from the city of Ardebil in eastern Azerbaijan province. The area has a continental climate with hot, relatively dry summers and extremely cold, snowy winters. The precipitation, which falls almost exclusively as snow in the late autumn, winter and spring, nourishes the glaciers on the highest peaks; however, during the arid summer, there is considerable ablation Reference Schweizer(Schweizer, 1970). The height of the snowline is estimated to be 4000 m. The highest peak in this region, Mount Sabalan (38^°16^'N, 47^°50^'E), is an inactive stratovolcano that rises to a height of 4811 ma.s.l. Reference Vaziri(Vaziri, 2003). It has a permanent crater lake formed at its summit, which is covered with ice from September through to June the next year. This freshwater lake occupies an area of 0.01 km²and is 15 m deep.

The glaciers on Sabalan are often characterized by a thick, continuous debris cover, and many glaciers appear to grade into or continue as rock glaciers Reference Ferrigno and Williams(Ferrigno, 1991). As can be seen inFigure 6, penitents are found on the summit of Sabalan: they are an annual phenomenon of snow sublimation, related to solar radiation in an arid climate Reference Ferrigno and Williams(Ferrigno, 1991). Although penitents form on the highest peaks in Iran, climate is more important than elevation to their formation. The incidence angle of the Sun, the intensity of the radiation, the dryness of the air in late summer and early autumn, and the time of maximum development, determine the occurrence, size and shape of the penitents Reference Ferrigno and Williams(Ferrigno, 1991).

Fig. 6.

Penitents on the summit of Mount Sabalan. (Photograph taken by F. Vaziri.)

The main active glacier of this region, Northern Glacier (Fig. 7a), is a cirque glacier and includes three parts with special characteristics. The steep first part extends from the top of the glacier down to 4300ma.s.l., where a large crevasse crosses the whole glacier. In the second part, spanning elevations from 4300 to 3900ma.s.l., surface moraines of different sizes can be found, as well as linear crevasses in which water flows. The third part, continuing down to 3540m in elevation, consists of coarse glacial sediments, including big cobblestones. In the northern part of Sabalan region, in Shirvan Valley, a big valley glacier exists which is a continuation of Northern Glacier. Five glaciers (Fig. 8) are identified in this region. Table 3 presents the related physical attributes, extracted from aerial photographs. Three rivers, namely, Anar-chai, Ghoori-chai and Darvish-chai, originate from the glaciers in the Sabalan region Reference Vaziri(Vaziri, 2003).

Fig. 7.

Close-range photograph of Sabalan glaciers (July 1995). (a) Northern Glacier. (b) Glaciers around Herame-kasra summit: 1. Herame-kasra Glacier; 2. Herame-kasra Southeastern Glacier; 3. Southern Glacier. (Photographs taken by. F. Vaziri.)

Table 3.

Physical attributes of glaciers in Sabalan region

Fig. 8.

QuickBird image of Sabalan region (Google Earth). 1. Sabalan summit crater; 2. Northern Glacier; 3. Northwestern Glacier; 4. Herame-kasra Glacier; 5. Herame-kasra Southeastern Glacier; 6. Southern Glacier.

Damavand region

At present, all of the glaciers in the eastern Alborz mountain range are located on Damavand (35^˚57⁰N, 52^˚06⁰E). Mount Damavand (5609ma.s.l.), a dormant stratovolcano located ~70km northeast of Tehran, is the highest peak in Iran Reference Vaziri(Vaziri, 2003). The summit crater is ~160m wide and 20m deep and has a small lake in it which is frozen most of the year.

Despite the low mean annual temperature and high level of precipitation in comparison with other glacial regions, due to the steep slope of the conical-shaped mountain and the heat induced by volcanic activities, glacial erosional features (e.g. glacial cirques) have not developed. However, there are at least five main glaciers around Damavand summit which fall within the category of hanging glaciers (Fig. 9). There are four glaciers on the north face of Damavand, called Siuleh, Dubi-sel, Speleh and Khurtabsar. On the eastern side of Mount Damavand, in the massive Yakhar Valley, there is a large glacier, Yakhar Valley Glacier, which is the main source of Talkhrood River (Fig. 10). There are also several other glaciers on the south and southeast faces of Damavand which are relatively small, such as Kafar-Dareh Valley Glacier and Sardagh Glacier. Some of Damavand’s glaciers cannot qualify as permanent glaciers, since they may disappear during a hot, dry summer.

Fig. 9.

QuickBird image of Mount Damavand (Google Earth). 1. Damavand summit crater; 2. Siuleh Glacier; 3. Dubi-sel Glacier; 4. Speleh Glacier; 5. Khurtabsar Glacier; 6. Yakhar Valley Glacier.

Fig. 10.

Yakhar Valley Glacier (July 2003). (Photograph taken by F. Vaziri.)

The average snowline in this region is ~4400ma.s.l. Due to the steep slopes of these glaciers, 26–40%, the thickness of ice does not exceed 20 m. The glaciers are covered with large penitents, 50–80cm or more in height, and series of crevasses Reference Vaziri(Vaziri, 2003), though there is not much debris cover. Table 4 lists the main glaciers around Damavand summit, along with related glacial attributes.

Table 4.

Physical attributes of glaciers around Damavand summit

Oshtorankuh region

In this glacier region, research was only conducted recently. Here we present the first results on the glaciers in the Oshtorankuh region.

Oshtorankuh region, with its highest peak, Sanboran summit, which rises to a height of ~4050ma.s.l., is located 33^°20^'N, 49^°18^'E, 38km from Doroud city in Lorestan province. There are several glaciers in this region that are formed on the north- and northeast-facing slopes, since the prevailing winds from the south and the intense solar radiation prevent snow accumulation on south-facing slopes Reference Vaziri(Vaziri, 2003). These glaciers provide a high percentage of the drinking water in the surrounding urban regions and are the origins of several rivers; for instance, Chal-mishan, Chal-kabud (Fig. 11) and Chal-boran glaciers are the main sources of the Ab-mishan, Alvand Valley and Mirzayi rivers Reference Vaziri(Vaziri, 2003).

Fig. 11.

Close-range photograph of Chal-kabud Glacier (July 1999). (Photograph taken by F. Vaziri.)

Due to the karstic nature of the glaciers’ bedrock, several sinkholes are observed on the surface of the glaciers Reference Vaziri(Vaziri, 2003). Mechanisms of formation may include the gradual dissolution of the bedrock, in this case limestone, by percolating snowmelt water. Generally, in karstic glaciers, the ice thickness is affected by water circulation, but it also depends on annual precipitation.

The glacial attributes of the glaciers in the Oshtorankuh region (Fig. 12)were initially extracted from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) imagery, but they were updated by processing aerial photographs. The results were also verified by extensive fieldwork. A list of the glaciers and their attributes is presented in Table 5.

Fig. 12.

SPOT image of Oshtorankuh region (Google Earth). 1. Big Gahar Lake; 2. Small Gahar Lake; 3. Kherseh dar Glacier; 4. Chal-mishan Glacier; 5. Chal-kabud Glacier; 6. Chal-boran Glacier; 7. Chal-fialeh-sun Glacier; 8. Shah-Takht Glacier; 9. Chal-piaro Glacier; 10. Chal-Homayun Glacier; 11. Chal-az-Nader Glacier; 12. Kul-Shakul Glacier.

Table 5.

Physical attributes of glaciers in the Oshtorankuh region

Zardkuh region

The Zardkuh mountain chain lies along the central Zagros mountain range in the province of ChaharMahal–Bakhtiari. The highest peak of this mountain chain, Zardkuh (Shah-Shahidan) summit (4548ma.s.l.) is located at 32^°22^'N, 50^°04^'E.

There are several glaciers in this region, mostly cirque glaciers, from which two well-known rivers, Kuhrang and Bazoft (Karun river branches), originate. The greatest glacier concentration in this region is observed in two main areas: (1) around Joft-zarde and Shah-Shahidan (Zardkuh) summits (Fig. 13a) and (2) around Sirdan summit (Fig. 13b) Reference Rezaei(Rezaei, 2003). Since the underlying bedrock of these glaciers is karstic, several sinkholes are observed on the surfaces of the glaciers (Fig. 14aand b).

Fig. 13.

SPOT image of Zardkuh region (Google Earth). (a) Glaciers around Joft-zarde and Zardkuh summits: 1. Chal-mishan Glacier; 2. Joft-zarde Glacier; 3. Khersan Glacier; 4. Pursunan Glacier; 5. Zardkuh Southeastern Glacier. (b) Glaciers around Sirdan summit: 1. Kuhrang Glacier; 2. Kuhrang Glacier; 3. Kuhrang Glacier; 4. Kuhrang Glacier; 5. Haft-tanan (Iluk) Glacier. Note that north is down in these images.

Fig. 14.

Close-range photographs of Zardkuh region glaciers (October 1998): (a) sinkholes on the surface of Chal-mishan Glacier; (b) sinkholes on the surface of Zardkuh Southeastern Glacier; (c) Zardkuh Southeastern Glacier. (Photograph taken by F. Vaziri.)

The attributes of these glaciers were initially extracted from aerial photographs, Indian Remote-sensing Satellite (IRS) and ASTER imagery. The results are also supported by fieldwork. The list of the Zardkuh region glaciers and their attributes is presented in Table 6.

Table 6.

Physical attributes of glaciers in the Zardkuh region

GIS database

In this work we developed a GIS-based glacier database of Iran glaciers, carried out according to GLIMS standards. A GIS enables the automatic processing, integration, analysis and display of spatially oriented datasets (e.g. raster, vector, image), as well as storage and management of object-specific attributes, making it a preferred tool for conducting glacier inventories Reference Paul(Paul, 2003). GISs can contribute significantly to the monitoring and investigation of glaciers, since all the data are georeferenced and, consequently, facilitate management and control procedures.

Obtaining glacier attributes for a large number of glaciers by traditional methods is laborious and prone to errors Reference Paul(Paul, 2003). The use of GIS technology offers four essential improvements: (1) storage of two-dimensional glacier outlines in a vector layer for tracing geometry changes; (2) storage of corresponding glacier attributes in a relational database; (3) combination with a DEM for retrieval of 3-D glacier attributes and topographic indices; and (4) programming allows fully automatic processing of all data Reference Paul(Paul, 2003).

Having performed the analysis on various data sources, such as aerial and satellite imagery, and also historic maps, output with a compatible format (ESRI shapefile) was imported into a GIS environment. The database of the glacier inventory includes topographic information and specific glaciological attributes, as well as the metadata. Different spatial data layers, including digital boundaries of glaciers, DEMs, drainage basin limits, basin areas and georeferenced satellite imagery of different time intervals, constitute our GIS database. Attribute data were included, in accordance with GLIMS standards. In order to guarantee sustainable utilization of these resources for a wide range of scientific and administrative applications, it is necessary to provide detailed standardized descriptions of the various datasets Reference Braun, Rau and Simôes(Braun and others, 2001). In particular, these metadata records must comprise background information on data accuracy, and data sources should be compatible with a future data model for Iran glaciers Reference Braun, Rau and Simôes(Braun and others, 2001). Hence, we created the metadata in the course of the work.