Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Risk Research Articles

Deep learning-based GLOF modelling for hazard assessment and risk management

ABSTRACT Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) has become a crucial aspect as the increase in the meltdown of glaciers results in the breach of unstable debris dams. Hence, it is essential to understand the nature of the glacial lakes for proper planning and development of the region in the long term. In this paper, a deep learning network is developed for GLOF hazard and risk assessment. The Shepard Convolutional Neural Network Fused Deep Maxout Network (ShCNNFDMN) is developed by fusing the Shepard Convolutional Neural Networks (ShCNN) and the Deep Maxout Network (DMN) based on regression analysis. Here, various data and feature attributes, like geometric properties, location properties, lake-based properties, and global properties are determined from the glacial lake data. Afterthat, hazard assessment is carried out based on these parameters by the ShCNNFDMN. Then, risk assessment is performed based on the hazard levels and the feature attributes. The ShCNNFDMN is analyzed based on metrics, such as Hazard modelling error, Risk prediction error, Mean Average Error (MAE), and R-Squared are found to produce values of 0.462, 0.423, 0.358, and 0.288, respectively. The proposed method is useful in applications, like infrastructure planning, taking preventive and mitigative actions in downstream areas of glacier lakes.

A glacial lake outburst flood risk assessment for the Phochhu river basin, Bhutan

Abstract. The melting of glaciers has led to an unprecedented increase in the number and size of glacial lakes, particularly in the Himalayan region. A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is a natural hazard in which water from a glacial or glacier-fed lake is swiftly discharged. GLOFs can significantly harm life, infrastructure, and settlements located downstream and can have considerable ecological, economic, and social impacts. Based on a dam breach model, BREACH, and a hydrodynamic model, HEC-RAS (Hydrologic Engineering Centre's River Analysis System), we examined the potential consequences of a GLOF originating from the Thorthomi glacial lake, located within the Phochhu river basin, one of Bhutan's largest and rapidly expanding glacial lakes. Our analysis revealed that following a breach the Thorthomi glacial lake will likely discharge a peak flow of 16 360 m3 s−1 within 4 h. Such a discharge could potentially cause considerable damage, with an estimated 245 ha of agricultural land and over 1277 buildings at risk of inundation. To mitigate ecological, economic, and social impacts on downstream areas, our results emphasise an urgent need for understanding and preparing for the potential consequences of a GLOF from Thorthomi lake. Our findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders involved in disaster management and preparedness.

Retrospective Analysis of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Using AI Earth InSAR and Optical Images: A Case Study of South Lhonak Lake, Sikkim

On 4 October 2023, a glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF) occurred at South Lhonak Lake in the northwest of Sikkim, India, posing a severe threat to downstream lives and property. Given the serious consequences of GLOFs, understanding their triggering factors is urgent. This paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of optical imagery and InSAR deformation results to study changes in the surrounding surface of the glacial lake before and after the GLOF event. To expedite the processing of massive InSAR data, an InSAR processing system based on the SBAS-InSAR data processing flow and the AI Earth cloud platform was developed. Sentinel-1 SAR images spanning from January 2021 to March 2024 were used to calculate surface deformation velocity. The evolution of the lake area and surface variations in the landslide area were observed using optical images. The results reveal a significant deformation area within the moraine encircling the lake before the GLOF, aligning with the area where the landslide ultimately occurred. Further research suggests a certain correlation between InSAR deformation results and multiple factors, such as rainfall, lake area, and slope. We speculate that heavy rainfall triggering landslides in the moraine may have contributed to breaching the moraine dam and causing the GLOF. Although the landslide region is relatively stable overall, the presence of a crack in the toparea of landslide raises concerns about potential secondary landslides. Our study may improve GLOF risk assessment and management, thereby mitigating or preventing their hazards.

Glacial Lake Changes and Risk Assessment in Rongxer Watershed of China–Nepal Economic Corridor

Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are one of the most severe disasters in alpine regions, releasing a large amount of water and sediment that can cause fatalities and economic loss as well as substantial damage to downstream infrastructures. The risk of GLOFs in the Himalayas is exacerbated by glacier retreat caused by global warming. Critical economic corridors, such as the Rongxer Watershed, are threatened by GLOFs, but the lack of risk assessment specific to the watershed hinders hazard prevention. In this study, we propose a novel model to evaluate the risk of GLOF using a combination of remote sensing observations, GIS, and hydrological models and apply this model to the GLOF risk assessment in the Rongxer Watershed. The results show that (1) the area of glacial lakes in the Rongxer Watershed increased by 31.19% from 11.35 km2 in 1990 to 14.89 km2 in 2020, and (2) 18 lakes were identified as potentially dangerous glacial lakes (PDGLs) that need to be assessed for the GLOF risk, and two of them were categorized as very high risk (Niangzongmajue and Tsho Rolpa). The proposed model was robust in a GLOF risk evaluation by historical GLOFs in the Himalayas. The glacial lake data and GLOF risk assessment model of this study have the potential to be widely used in research on the relationships between glacial lakes and climate change, as well as in disaster mitigation of GLOFs.

Glacial lakes of Sikkim Himalaya: their dynamics, trends, and likely fate—a timeseries analysis through cloud-based geocomputing, and machine learning

In the background of ongoing climate change, it is important to monitor the spatial and temporal changes of glacial lakes (GLs) since they influence snowmelt runoff, stream discharge, water resources, and glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF). However, accurate identification and mapping of GLs in the background of snow-clad mountains through visual interpretation of satellite data is a tedious and challenging assignment when multiyear time-series analysis is considered. To overcome this challenge, automated extraction of GLs in satellite images has been carried out in this study with the help of machine learning (ML). The novelty of this study is identification and tracking of GLs over three decades using ML and geospatial analysis using pixel-based image classification. For this, Random Forest Classifier (RFC) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) were employed. The methodology is demonstrated here for the identification and mapping of GLs in the Sikkim Himalaya from 1987 to 2020 and for forecasting the possible fate of these GLs through time-series modelling. The geospatial time-series analysis using Google Earth Engine, ML classifiers, and GIS framework, has captured the dynamics of GLs in Sikkim and has revealed the spatial and temporal patterns in GLs’ dimensions as well as GLOF risk.

A conceptual model for glacial lake bathymetric distribution

Abstract. The formation and expansion of glacial lakes worldwide due to global warming and glacier retreat have been well documented in the past few decades. Thousands of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) originating from moraine-dammed and ice-dammed lakes were reported, causing devastating impacts on downstream lives and properties. Detailed glacial lake bathymetry surveys are essential for accurate GLOF simulation and risk assessment. However, these bathymetry surveys are still scarce as glacial lakes located in remote and high-altitude environments hamper a comprehensive investigation. We developed a conceptual model for glacial lake bathymetric distribution using a semi-automatic simulation procedure. The basic idea is that the statistical glacial lake volume–area curves conform to a power-law relationship indicating that the idealized geometric shape of the glacial lake basin should be hemispheres or cones. First, by reviewing the evolution of various types of glacial lakes, we identified nine standard conceptual models to describe the shapes of lake basins. Second, we defined a general conceptual model to depict the continuum transitions between different standard conceptual models for those specific glacial lakes that lie between two standard conceptual models. Third, we nested the optimal conceptual model in the actual glacial lake basin to construct the water depth contours and interpolate the glacial lake bathymetric distribution. We applied the conceptual model to simulate six typical glacial lakes in the Third Pole with in situ bathymetric surveys to verify the algorithm's applicability. The results show a high consistency in the point-to-point comparisons of the measured and simulated water depths, with a total volume difference of approximately ±10 %. The conceptual model has significant implications for understanding glacial lake evolution and modeling GLOFs in the future.

GLOF hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and risk assessment of potentially dangerous glacial lakes in the Bhutan Himalaya

Deglaciation due to atmospheric warming has led to the formation and expansion of numerous glacial lakes, especially in the eastern Himalaya. Many of these glacial lakes are susceptible to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), which can cause far-reaching impacts on downstream infrastructure and livelihoods. This study is a comprehensive assessment of GLOF susceptibility, hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and risk for four potentially dangerous glacial lakes (Bechung Tsho, Raphstreng Tsho, Thorthomi Tsho, and Lugge Tsho) located in the Lunana glacier complex of the Phochu basin in Bhutan. Exposure and risk assessments were based on modelled GLOF hydrodynamics, infrastructure data, population and housing census data. Among the four glacial lakes, Thorthormi Tsho and Lugge Tsho are relatively more susceptible to outburst floods than Raphstreng Tsho and Bechung Tsho. Outflow flood volumes from these lakes range between 6 × 105 and 3 × 108 m3 which can potentially impact over 16,000 people, two hydropower projects, numerous other infrastructures, and agricultural land up to 150 km downstream of the lakes. The GLOF exposed elements are largely in Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang districts, which are located 90 and 100 km downstream of the Lunana glacier complex respectively. Among 17 subdistrict blocks within the basin, one (Lunana) lies in a very high GLOF risk area, while 9 others are in the high GLOF risk zone. The study highlights the importance of multi-source data in improving the knowledge of downstream GLOF risk and serves as a base for improving GLOF risk reduction strategies in high mountain regions.

Glacial lake outburst flood risk assessment using remote sensing and hydrodynamic modeling: a case study of Satluj basin, Western Himalayas, India.

Glacier-associated hazards are becoming a common and serious challenge to the high mountainous regions of the world. Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are one of the most serious unanticipated glacier hazards, with the potential to release a huge amount of water and debris in a short span of time, resulting in the loss of lives, property, and severe damage to downstream valleys. The present study used multi-temporal Landsat and Google earth imageries to analyze the spatio-temporal dynamism of the selected glacial lake (moraine-dammed) in the Satluj basin of Western Himalayas. Furthermore, GLOF susceptibility of the lake was assessed using a multi-criteria decision-based method. The results show that the lake area has increased from 0.11 to 0.26 km2 over the past 28years from 1990 to 2018. The susceptibility index value for the lake was calculated as 0.75, which indicates that the lake is highly susceptible to the GLOF. The depth and volume of the lake were estimated to be 16m and 57 × 105 m3, respectively, using an empirical formula. HEC-RAS, HECGeo-RAS, and Arc-GIS software were utilized in this study to perform unsteady flow analysis and to determine the GLOF impact on the downstream area. The worst-caseGLOF scenario(breach width of 75m) was revealed during an overtopping failure of the moraine dam, resulted in a peak discharge of 4060 m3/s and releasing a total watervolume of 57 × 105 m3. The breach hydrograph has been routed to calculate the spatial and temporal distribution of peak flood, inundation depth, velocity, water surface elevation, and flood peak arrival time along the river channel. The analysis further reveals that the routed flood waves reach the nearest settlement, i.e., Rajpur town, situated at a distance of 102km in the downstream valley of the lake at 6h after the beginning of the lake breach event with a peak discharge/flood of 1757 m3/s and maximum flow velocity of 1.5m/s. With the ongoing climate warming and glacier retreat, moraine-dammed lakes are becoming more hazardous and thus increasing the total threat. Therefore, it is mandatory to monitor and assess such lakes at regular intervals of time to lessen the disastrous impacts of GLOFs on the livelihood and infrastructure in the downstream valleys. The findings of this study will aid in the creation of risk management plans, preparatory tactics, and risk reduction techniques for GLOF hazards in the region.

Retrospective analysis and hazard assessment of Gega glacial lake in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis

The frequency of glacier related hazards like Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is increasing in the High Mountain Asia due to global climate warming. The extreme floods generated by glacial lake outburst aggravate the risk to people, towns and infrastructure in downstream regions. However, little attention is paid to the destructive potential of the lakes in the southeastern margin of the Tibet in spite of recent rapid increases in population, infrastructure, and economic investment. With retrospective investigation of the Gega lake, we found historical overtopping flood(s) impacted by landslides based on the lake dam consists of landslide deposits on both sides and bedrock in the middle, manifesting the GLOF risk in future. BRCH-J model is used to simulate the flow hydrographs after dam break, then, the HEC-RAS software is used to simulate the propagation of outburst floods. Finally, the GLOF risk is evaluated with a semi-quantitative approach considering overtopping and piping failure scenarios. The peak discharge after dam failure would reach up to 17,000 ​m3 ​s−1 (at dam site), which is about two times greater than the average seasonal flood peak near Gega village in the trunk river. Piping failure attains a larger peak discharge and quicker peak time (∼0.13 ​h) compared to the overtopping failure (∼0.5 ​h). The sensitivity analysis of materials properties (like internal friction angle and porosity etc.) shows geotechnical properties of the dam material affect the magnitude of peak discharge. The 1D steady flood routing of the peak flow indicates the flow depth is larger than 35 ​m at the Yarlung Tsangpo - Gega confluence. The extreme flow through narrow and steep terrain could even trigger debris flow along the Gega stream. The results can be useful for mitigating risk of GLOFs in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis and neighboring alpine areas.

Glacial lake outburst flood hazard under current and future conditions: worst-case scenarios in a transboundary Himalayan basin

Abstract. Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are a major concern throughout High Mountain Asia, where societal impacts can extend far downstream. This is particularly true for transboundary Himalayan basins, where risks are expected to further increase as new lakes develop. Given the need for anticipatory approaches to disaster risk reduction, this study aims to demonstrate how the threat from a future lake can be feasibly assessed alongside that of worst-case scenarios from current lakes, as well as how this information is relevant for disaster risk management. We have focused on two previously identified dangerous lakes (Galongco and Jialongco), comparing the timing and magnitude of simulated worst-case outburst events from these lakes both in the Tibetan town of Nyalam and downstream at the border with Nepal. In addition, a future scenario has been assessed, whereby an avalanche-triggered GLOF was simulated for a potential large new lake forming upstream of Nyalam. Results show that large (>20×106 m3) rock and/or ice avalanches could generate GLOF discharges at the border with Nepal that are more than 15 times larger than what has been observed previously or anticipated based on more gradual breach simulations. For all assessed lakes, warning times in Nyalam would be only 5–11 min and 30 min at the border. Recent remedial measures undertaken to lower the water level at Jialongco would have little influence on downstream impacts resulting from a very large-magnitude GLOF, particularly in Nyalam where there has been significant development of infrastructure directly within the high-intensity flood zone. Based on these findings, a comprehensive approach to disaster risk management is called for, combining early warning systems with effective land use zoning and programmes to build local response capacities. Such approaches would address the current drivers of GLOF risk in the basin while remaining robust in the face of worst-case, catastrophic outburst events that become more likely under a warming climate.

Climate change and glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) risk perceptions: An empirical study of Ghizer District, Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan

Risk perception is gaining attention in disaster risk reduction and climate change-related studies. It plays a role in shaping the preparedness, adaptation, response, and resilience of vulnerable communities. However, the literature suggests that risk perception is contextually sensitive. There are limited studies that offer insights on the risk perception of climate change and related disaster events in an integrated manner. This study investigates the climate change and associated glacial lake outburst floods risk perceptions of the remotely located vulnerable communities in the northern mountainous region of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. The study employed the quantitative method of household surveys in vulnerable communities for data collection. An extensive literature review was conducted to select the key indicators to determine the risk perception in the selected communities. Indexing and multiple regression analyses were performed to draw the results of the study. GLOF risk perception has been found higher as compared to the climate change risk perception. Fear has been found as the most significant determinant of the GLOF risk perception, whereas socio-economic variables of gender, education, duration of living, and past hazard experiences have been found to be predictors of climate change risk perception. Also, most people did not believe in a link between climate change and GLOF events. The study also provides an important finding for an effective policy formulation that communities are aware of the life-threatening impacts of GLOFs, which may be used to increase community resilience against GLOFs through risk communication, preparedness campaigns, and climate change adaptation measures.

Progress and challenges in glacial lake outburst flood research (2017–2021): a research community perspective

Abstract. Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are among the most concerning consequences of retreating glaciers in mountain ranges worldwide. GLOFs have attracted significant attention amongst scientists and practitioners in the past 2 decades, with particular interest in the physical drivers and mechanisms of GLOF hazard and in socioeconomic and other human-related developments that affect vulnerabilities to GLOF events. This increased research focus on GLOFs is reflected in the gradually increasing number of papers published annually. This study offers an overview of recent GLOF research by analysing 594 peer-reviewed GLOF studies published between 2017 and 2021 (Web of Science and Scopus databases), reviewing the content and geographical focus as well as other characteristics of GLOF studies. This review is complemented with perspectives from the first GLOF conference (7–9 July 2021, online) where a global GLOF research community of major mountain regions gathered to discuss the current state of the art of integrated GLOF research. Therefore, representatives from 17 countries identified and elaborated trends and challenges and proposed possible ways forward to navigate future GLOF research, in four thematic areas: (i) understanding GLOFs – timing and processes; (ii) modelling GLOFs and GLOF process chains; (iii) GLOF risk management, prevention and warning; and (iv) human dimensions of GLOFs and GLOF attribution to climate change.

Projected 21st-Century Glacial Lake Evolution in High Mountain Asia

In High Mountain Asia (HMA), rising temperatures and retreating glaciers are leading to the formation of new glacial lakes and the expansion of existing ones. The sudden release of water from such lakes can lead to devastating glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) threatening people and infrastructure for many kilometers downstream. Therefore, information on future glacial lakes, e.g., their location, area and volume as well as the timing of their development, is vital for sustainable development of settlements and infrastructures. In this study, we present comprehensive estimates for future glacial lake development in HMA with unprecedented temporal resolution. We rely on an ensemble of fifteen global climate models using the newest CMIP6 data and employ a set of four Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios. With the Open Global Glacier Model (OGGM), we use a modeling framework that explicitly simulates glacier dynamics in order to model glacier change until 2100 and estimate the formation period for each of the 2,700 largest future glacial lakes (>0.1 km2) in HMA. We estimate the glacial lake area in the entire region to grow by 474 ± 121 km2 for SSP126 and 833 ± 148 km2 for SSP585. Following recent estimates of currently existing glacial lakes (>0.1 km2), this would constitute an increase in lake area of ∼120–∼210% in 2100 compared to 2018. The lake volume is expected to increase by 22.8 ± 6.7 km3 for SSP126 and 39.7 ± 7.7 km3 for SSP585. This range includes a drastic tenfold increase in lake volume, from estimated 3.9 km3 in 2018 to 43.6 ± 7.7 km3 in 2100. However, there is a considerable spread between total and relative increase in glacial lake area and volume for different sub-regions of High Mountain Asia. As both, lake area and lake volume, could to lead to an increase in GLOF risk, the results emphasize the urgent need for more localized, in-depth studies at especially vulnerable locations in order to enable local communities to adapt to emerging challenges, to implement risk minimization measures, and to improve sustainable development in High Mountain Asia.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Geodetic Mass Changes of Glaciers With Varying Debris Cover in the Pangong Region of Trans-Himalayan Ladakh, India Between 1990 and 2019

Glaciers across the Himalayan arc are showing varying signs of recession. Glaciers in the eastern and western parts of the Himalayan arc are retreating more rapidly as compared to other regions. This differential retreat is often attributed to climatic, topographic, and geologic influences. The glaciers in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh are believed to be relatively stable as compared to other parts of the western Himalaya. The present study ascertained the area changes and frontal retreat of 87 glaciers in the Pangong Region between 1990 and 2019 using satellite data. The geodetic mass changes were also assessed using SRTM and TanDEM-X digital elevation models of 2000 and 2012 respectively. Besides, the glacier outlines were delineated manually and compared with existing regional and global glacier inventories that are available over the region. The GlabTop model was used to simulate the glacier-bed overdeepenings of four glaciers that are associated with a proglacial lake. The study also analyzed the impact of topographic influences and varying debris cover on glacier recession. This analysis indicated deglaciation of 6.7 ± 0.1% (0.23% a−1) from 1990 to 2019 over the Pangong Region with clean-ice glaciers showing a higher retreat (8.4 ± 0.28%) compared to the debris-covered glaciers (5.7 ± 0.14%). However, the overall recession is lower compared to other parts of northwestern Himalayas. The glacier recession showed a positive correlation with mean glacier slope (r = 0.3) and debris cover (r = 0.1) with bigger size glaciers having retreated at a lesser pace compared to smaller ones. This underpins the need for in-situ data about debris thickness to precisely ascertain the role of debris on glacier recession in the Trans-Himalayan Ladakh where debris thickness data is absent. The mean glacier elevation did not indicate any influence on glacier recession. From 2000 to 12, the glaciers lost an ice mass amounting to 0.33 ± 0.05 m we. per year. The formation of four new proglacial lakes, although small (<6 ha), need to be monitored using remote sensing data while the infrastructure development activities should not be permitted given glacial lake outburst flood risk.

Overview of an early warning system for Glacial Lake outburst flood risk mitigation in Dudh-Koshi Basin, Nepal

Overview of an early warning system for Glacial Lake outburst flood risk mitigation in Dudh-Koshi Basin, Nepal

Analyzing glacial lake outburst flood triggers for sustainable disaster risk mitigation: an interpretive structural modelling based approach

PurposeClimate change and global warming pose a serious threat to the community as deglaciating environments trigger glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). The Sendai framework underpins the role of disaster risk reduction (DRR) for sustainable development, thereby calling for the development of GLOF hazard and risk assessment procedures. This study aims to delineate the enablers of GLOF risk and establish a contextual relationship between them.Design/methodology/approachThe risk enablers are identified from the extant GLOF literature, and the experts from disaster management area are consulted to explore the underlying contextual relationship among them. An interpretive structural model is developed from the responses to analyze the contextual relationships among the risk enablers.FindingsThe interpretive structural modeling results manifest that seismic activity, temperature and precipitation events, and proximity are key drivers that trigger flash floods from the lakes and an effective assessment of these triggers may contribute significantly to GLOF risk mitigation.Originality/valueThe study models the complex relationship among the risk enablers for a glacial flood hazard that find commonality across all geographic contexts. The findings provide the practitioners of DRR useful insights into these factors and their subsequent impact on others, while conducting hazard assessment of glacial lakes that may contribute to the sustainable development of settlements lying downstream to glacial lakes.

Future Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) hazard of the South Lhonak Lake, Sikkim Himalaya

The Teesta basin in Sikkim Himalaya hosts numerous glacial lakes in the high altitude glacierized region, including one of the largest and the fastest-growing South Lhonak Lake. While these lakes are mainly located in remote and unsettled mountain valleys, far-reaching glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) may claim lives and damage assets up to tens of kilometers downstream. Therefore, evaluating GLOF hazard associated with current and potential future glacier-retreat-driven changes is of high importance. In this work, we assess the future GLOF hazard of the South Lhonak Lake by integrating glacier and hydrodynamic modeling to calculate the lake's future volume and hydraulic GLOF characteristics and impacts along the valley. We identify the increased susceptibility of the lake to potential avalanche impacts as the lake grows in the future. Here we model six avalanche scenarios of varying magnitudes to evaluate the impact-wave generated in the lake and overtopping flow at the dam. Avalanche simulations indicate that the frontal moraine is susceptible to overtopping. The overtopping flow hydraulics is evaluated along the channel assuming no erosion of the moraine. Further, we consider three lake-breach scenarios to model GLOFs originating from the lake, flow propagation, and its downstream impacts. The uncertainty in the breach parameters including breach width and time of failure are calculated to estimate the upper and the lower hydraulic limits of potential future GLOF events. Further, the uncertainty in the flow hydraulics was evaluated using dynamic flood routing of six GLOFs that originate from the lake. Hydrodynamic GLOF modeling resulted in a predicted peak discharge of 4311 m3s−1, 8000 m3s−1, and 12,487 m3s−1 for breach depths of 20 m, 30 m, and 40 m respectively. The large-potential scenario suggests that maximum flow depth and flow velocity at Chungthang, a town proximally located to a major hydropower station built-in 2015, could reach up to 25–30 m and 6–9 m s−1, respectively. Mapping infrastructure exposed to GLOFs in the Teesta valley shows that many settlements and assets located along the river channel at Chungthang are potentially exposed to future GLOFs, indicating the need to conduct a full environmental impact assessment and potentially undertake GLOF risk mitigation measures.

Simulation and Assessment of Future Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in the Poiqu River Basin, Central Himalayas

A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is a typical glacier-related hazard in high mountain regions. In recent decades, glacial lakes in the Himalayas have expanded rapidly due to climate warming and glacial retreat. Some of these lakes are unstable, and may suddenly burst under different triggering factors, thus draining large amounts of water and impacting downstream social and economic development. Glacial lakes in the Poiqu River basin, Central Himalayas, have attracted great attention since GLOFs originating there could have a transboundary impact on both China and Nepal, as occurred during the Cirenmaco GLOF in 1981 and the Gongbatongshaco GLOF in 2016. Based on previous studies of this basin, we selected seven very high-risk moraine-dammed lakes (Gangxico, Galongco, Jialongco, Cirenmaco, Taraco, Beihu, and Cawuqudenco) to simulate GLOF propagation at different drainage percentage scenarios (i.e., 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%), and to conduct hazard assessment. The results show that, when any glacial lake is drained completely or partly, most of the floods will enter Nepal after raging in China, and will continue to cause damage. In summary, 57.5 km of roads, 754 buildings, 3.3 km2 of farmland, and 25 bridges are at risk of damage due to GLOFs. The potentially inundated area within the Chinese part of the Poiqu River basin exceeds 45 km2. Due to the destructive impacts of GLOFs on downstream areas, appropriate and effective measures should be implemented to adapt to GLOF risk. We finally present a paradigm for conducting hazard assessment and risk management. It uses only freely available data and thus is easy to apply.

Increasing risk of glacial lake outburst floods from future Third Pole deglaciation

Warming on Earth’s Third Pole is leading to rapid loss of ice and the formation and expansion of glacial lakes, posing a severe threat to downstream communities. Here we provide a holistic assessment of past evolution, present state and modelled future change of glacial lakes and related glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) risk across the Third Pole. We show that the highest GLOF risk is at present centred in the eastern Himalaya, where the current risk level is at least twice that in adjacent regions. In the future, GLOF risk will potentially almost triple as a consequence of further lake development, and additional hotspots will emerge to the west, including within transboundary regions. With apparent increases in GLOF risk already anticipated by the mid-twenty-first century in some regions, the results highlight the urgent need for forward-looking, collaborative, long-term approaches to mitigate future impacts and enhance sustainable development across the Third Pole. Global warming-driven deglaciation in high-mountain Asia raises the likelihood of natural dam failure and associated glacial lake outburst flood risk. This is estimated for lake development under present-day and future warming scenarios, highlighting emerging hotspots and transboundary impacts.

Expansion and hazard risk assessment of glacial lake Jialong Co in the central Himalayas by using an unmanned surface vessel and remote sensing

Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are a severe hazard in the Himalayas. Glacial lake expansion and the corresponding volume increase play major roles in GLOFs as well as climate change. Furthermore, mass movement and dam conditions play a major role in the GLOF initiation process. Recently, because of global warming, glacial lakes in the central Himalayas have been expanding rapidly. Owing to a lack of systematic assessment and meticulous field surveys, people living downstream are at great risk of GLOFs. Comprehensive investigations and assessment of the relationships among lake expansion, lake dam conditions, and GLOF risk are urgently needed. In this study, we surveyed Jialong Co, a typical end-moraine dammed lake in Poiqu River in the central Himalayas by using Landsat and Sentinel satellite images from the past 32 years, field work, and depth measurements using an unmanned surface vessel on August 28, 2020. The results showed that Jialong Co had experienced slow–quick–slow expansion, increasing in area from 0.13 ± 0.03 to 0.60 ± 0.02 km2. The lake bathymetric map revealed that the lake volume was (3.75 ± 0.38) × 107 m3 in 2020. Lake expansion occurred in the area from which the mother glacier retreated, indicating a close connection between the lake and its mother glacier and revealing that topography controlled the lake expansion process. Furthermore, thorough field work revealed that outlet dynamics and external water erosion are vulnerable elements in the disaster chain that initiate and affect the GLOF hazard of Jialong Co. Overall, this case study could help scholars understand the expansion mechanism of end-moraine dammed lakes and aid in hazard assessment of glacial lakes in the central Himalayas.