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Rising temperatures have increased the risk of glacial lake bursts of the kind that devastated the Kedarnath valley in 2013 and parts of Chamoli in 2021. Uttarakhand has commissioned a GLOF risk-assessment study
Warming temperatures and altered rainfall patterns have caused more than 10,000 glaciers in the region to retreat over the past three decades, facilitating the formation of thousands of glacial lakes, the researchers said.
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 18, 2023 - In a compelling illustration of the escalating impacts of climate change, a recent study has brought into sharp focus the growing threat posed by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the Third Po
In this study, the researchers identified and classified all glacial lakes in the Third Pole region based on their position and characteristics in relation to their source glacier, using satellite images taken between 2018 and 2022. They then analysed the changes in GLOF activity over the past decades, using data from as far back as 1900. The researchers predicted the observed "worrisome" trend of yearly increase in GLOF instances to continue, which they said underscored the need for developing better analytical methods and datasets to stay ahead of potential disasters.
<p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Glacial lakes outburst floods (GLOFs) pose a serious threat to people and economic activities in the Third Pole, but most studies have used inconsistent methods to gather data and assess risks. Overcoming this limitation, researchers from China conducted an in-depth analysis of thousands of glacial lakes, estimating the risk of GLOF-related disasters and their destructive potential. Their efforts can help countries implement more effective preventive measures against such disasters in the future. </strong></p>