ABSTRACT
Snow cover is an essential land surface variable which contributes significantly to the water budget of planet Earth. Consistent snow cover monitoring greatly influences the sustainability of fresh water supplies, agriculture, and hydropower generation for the population living in downstream regions. The impact of climate change variability at the regional scale in high-altitude regions can be studied by observing the extent and trend of snow cover over time using geospatial techniques. The chapter aims at the spatio-temporal analysis of snow cover area (SCA) by observing topographical parameters (elevation, slope, and aspect) for 16 years (2001-2016). Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) MOD10A2 snow cover product for the Beas river basin was used, and zone-wise snow cover maps were generated after pre-processing of the snow cover data products. The falling trend in snow cover extent is observed in the altitude zone above 4000 m due to the presence of cloud cover in the winter season. Maximum SCA is reported in the area with <15° slope. Areas with North-East and North-West slope direction in the Beas river basin are reported to have maximum SCA. A significant drop in SCA is observed for January, while there is a rise in November. This shows the changes in snowfall trend and peak winter seasons, which indicates the influence of climate change at the regional scale.
