After comparing remotely sensed images of the Saas Fee region of Switzerland from 2013 to 2024 using several different methods, a few key conclusions were reached. Firstly, the change detection map showed a significant amount of change in the extent of the snow covered areas. To determine the nature of this change, a differenced Normalized Difference Snow Index image was calculated to show areas increased and decreased snowcover over the study period. Decreases in snow extent occurred largely around the edges of the snow covered area at lower elevations where temperatures are generally warmer. An increase in snow cover was observed nearer to the center of the snow covered area at higher elevation. These higher elevation areas that sometimes do not have snow coverage are more likely to be affected by annual differences in weather, compared to the longer term changes observed on the glaciated areas. From these results, it's clear that the Saas Fee region has experiened a significant reduction in the extent of glaciers and average snowpack from 2013 to 2024. Additionally, areas where snow was gained likely does not compensate for the amount of snow and ice lost in the lower elevation areas. These changes are not surprising due to the fact that carbon emissions from human activities continue to contribute to climate change around the globe. Furthermore, these findings unfortunately provide a stark outlook for the agriculture, communities, cities, and ecosystems that rely on the resources and processes that mountain glaciers and snowpack provides. If these glaciers continue to decline, it will pose real challenges for the communities living downstream. 

To continue this research further, there are many possibilities to find much detailed results are draw more specific conclusions. One approach would simply be to expand current methods to more imagery from as many years as possible. Currently, this analysis only compared two different images from roughly a decade apart. However, there is much more imagery available going farther back in time which could be helpful for understanding the changes taking place over several decades. 

Another approach would be to apply more detailed methods to individual glaciers. In this study, we looked at changes taking place across the entire Sass Fee region. However, this approach could be narrowed down to individual glaciers, such as the Allalin glacier. Boundary tracing methods could be used to calculate how much area the glacier lost over time. Differences in DEM elevation from across different years could help assess vertical changes in height of the glacier, and thus provide more detail of how much the glacier is shrinking (eros.usgs.gov/doi-remote-sensing-activities/2020/usgs/analyzing-north-american-glacier-change). 

In addition to DEM data, SAR data could be used to map the depth of the glacier. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), uses microwave radiation to penetrate through ice to the bedrock, and back to the sensor. This would be very useful for determining the exact size of the glacier, which could then be used to better predict how much longer it will last (Murfitt, 2021). This data would be especially useful for determining the current size of the glacier, but would likely not be available for previous years. 

Ground data would also be useful for assessing change. Scientists place probes on glaciers that measure the flow speed (very slow) which can be used for assessing how fast the glacier is melting. Temperature sensors on the ice surface are also useful, especially for assessing how debris on the ice impacts melting (Aubrey-Wake, 2015). 

This project has given me a new perspective on how remotely sensed imagery can be used to understand changes taking place on the Earth's surface.