This paper presents a method for deriving the snowline altitude using a combined analysis of terrain elevation and multispectral Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) data from the RESOURCESAT-1 satellite, launched by India on 17 October 2003. AWiFS is a unique instrument capable of acquiring imagery of the world repeatedly every 5 days with very high radiometric resolution.

The Himalayas has one of the largest concentrations of glaciers and permanent snowfields outside the polar region. Snow and glacier melt forms an important source for many rivers originating in the Himalayas. Numerous studies suggest that global warming has started affecting snow melt and stream run-off in the Himalayan region.