GLOFs in the WOS: bibliometrics, geographies and global trends of research on glacial lake outburst floods (Web of Science, 1979–2016)

Adam Emmer

doi:10.5194/nhess-18-813-2018

Abstract

Abstract. Research on glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) – specific low-frequency, high-magnitude floods originating in glacial lakes, including jökulhlaups – is well justified in the context of glacier ice loss and glacial lake evolution in glacierized areas all over the world. Increasing GLOF research activities, which are documented by the increasing number of published research items, have been observed in the past few decades; however, comprehensive insight into the GLOF research community, its global bibliometrics, geographies and trends in research is missing. To fill this gap, a set of 892 GLOF research items published in the Web of Science database covering the period 1979–2016 was analysed. General bibliometric characteristics, citations and references were analysed, revealing a certain change in the publishing paradigm over time. Furthermore, the global geographies of research on GLOFs were studied, focusing on (i) where GLOFs are studied, (ii) who studies GLOFs, (iii) the export of research on GLOFs and (iv) international collaboration. The observed trends and links to the challenges ahead are discussed and placed in a broader context.

Highlights

Glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is a term used to describe a sudden release of water retained in a glacial lake, irrespective of the cause, mechanism and glacial lake subtype involved (e.g. Evans and Clague, 1994; Richardson and Reynolds, 2000)
A total of 892 GLOF research items were published in the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection database as of the end of 2016
GLOF research has been published under 256 diverse source titles indexed in the WOS, of which 26 journals/proceedings have published 10+ GLOF research items each (515 items in total; 57.7 %) and 10 journals/proceedings have published 20+ items each (297 items in total; 33.3 %)

Summary

Introduction

Glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is a term used to describe a sudden release of (part of the) water retained in a glacial lake, irrespective of the cause (trigger), mechanism (dam failure or dam overtopping) and glacial lake subtype involved (e.g. Evans and Clague, 1994; Richardson and Reynolds, 2000). The Islandic term jökulhlaup is frequently used to refer to GLOFs originating in ice-dammed lakes and often (but not necessarily) induced by volcanic activity (Björnsson and Pálsson, 2008). In Spanish-speaking countries, the term aluvión is often used to described flowtype processes of various origins, including GLOFs (Lliboutry et al, 1977). The occurrence of GLOFs is commonly tied to periods of glacier ice loss (Clague and Evans, 2000), and GLOFs are considered among the most significant geomorphological as well as the most hazardous consequences of retreating glaciers (Clague et al, 2012). Facing ongoing and even accelerating climate change and the associated glacier retreat (Huss et al, 2017), research on past as well as potential future GLOFs represents a highly timely topic (Clague and O’Connor, 2015). A complex understanding of GLOFs and their related processes has significant implications for various fields such as risk management and disaster risk reduction (e.g. Hewitt, 2013), hydropower plant design (e.g. Schwanghart et al, 2016), and geomorphology and sediment yield (e.g. Korup and Tweed, 2007)

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