Different researchers have also estimated various values of ELA in this terrain (Table 6) using other methods. For example, Gardelle et al. (2013) used approximately 2000 Landsat images to estimate the ELA in the Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountains. Our calculations are in general agreement with the values listed in Table 6. However, our estimates of ELA for each of the individual watersheds within UIB show that with the exception of the Shyok watershed, the ELA is in the general range of 5,000–5,500 m. In the case of the Shyok watershed, the ELA is in the range of 6,000–6,200 m. This higher range of ELA in this watershed, compared to the other watersheds of the basin, can be ascribed to the greater aridity of this watershed compared to the other watersheds of the basin (Immerzeel et al. 2015, Figure 5).
ELA in different parts of UIB as estimated variously
| Region . | ELA (m) . | Source . |
|---|---|---|
| Karakoram (central and western) | 4,200–4,800 | Young & Hewitt (1993) |
| Karakoram–southern slopes | 4,600–5,300 | Owen & Benn (2005) |
| Karakoram | 4,750–5,310 | Gardelle et al. (2013) |
| Karakoram (central) | 5,200 | Mayer et al. (2010) |
| Hindu Kush | 4,890–5,210 | Gardelle et al. (2013) |
| Nanga Parbat, Western Himalayas | 4,500–4,700 | Owen & Benn (2005) |
| Zanskar Range, Western Himalayas | 5,500–5,800 | Osmaston (1994) |
| Region . | ELA (m) . | Source . |
|---|---|---|
| Karakoram (central and western) | 4,200–4,800 | Young & Hewitt (1993) |
| Karakoram–southern slopes | 4,600–5,300 | Owen & Benn (2005) |
| Karakoram | 4,750–5,310 | Gardelle et al. (2013) |
| Karakoram (central) | 5,200 | Mayer et al. (2010) |
| Hindu Kush | 4,890–5,210 | Gardelle et al. (2013) |
| Nanga Parbat, Western Himalayas | 4,500–4,700 | Owen & Benn (2005) |
| Zanskar Range, Western Himalayas | 5,500–5,800 | Osmaston (1994) |