Trend of snow cover under the influence of climate change using Google Earth Engine platform: A case study of Astore (Western Himalayas) and Shigar (Karakoram region)

Freshwater resources present in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) supply water to Pakistan’s irrigation. Half of annual discharge UIB is contributed from glacier and snow-fed basins Hindu Kush, Karakoram, Himalaya (HKH) region, it currently under threat climate change. Therefore, very necessary study monitor spatiotemporal changes snow cover area (SCA) its response variables efficiently manage reservoirs. Thus, keeping this problem mind, we conducted using Google Earth Engine Application Programming Interface (GEE API) for Astore Shigar. We used mean Landsat data between 1991 2021 derive SCA normalized difference index (NDSI). ASTER GDEM was extract elevation analyze distribution on different zones. Eventually, research unit (CRU) (rainfall temperature) them with SCA. The results revealed that Shigar has an increasing trend a rate 11.16 km 2 /year 4.27 /year, respectively. Mean precipitation temperature also confirmed because decreasing both regions. analysis foothills while at valley top. This zone 1 3 vice versa 4. It found have are not affected by global warming. conduct studies large scale evaluate impact change