High-tech flood warning systems for Himalayan glacial lakes

Disaster officials in India announce flood warning systems to be set up at nearly 200 Himalayan glacial lakes.

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High-tech flood warning systems for Himalayan glacial lakes

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Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) are the sudden release of water that has collected in former glacier beds. The glacier, having provided a natural dam, fails.

Whilst this is a naturally occurring process of lakes forming at the retreat of glaciers, the warmer temperatures of climate change are causing increasing and more frequent flash flooding.

India's Himalayas have around 7,500 glacial lakes, with many of them posing risk of dangerous flash flooding. Teams from India's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) have identified 190 high-altitude lakes deemed to be the most dangerous, and will be tackling these in a three year project to install early warning systems at the sites.

Teams include experts from the army and various government agencies including geologists, hydrologists, computing engineers, weather specialists and the Indian Space Research Organisation.

Climate change is a major contributing factor to melting glaciers, with half of the Earth's 215,000 glaciers projected to melt by the end of the century, even if warming can be capped at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Studies of satellite data have shown that the volume of glacial lakes has increased by 50% in 30 years. Nature Communications published a study that found 15 million people live within 1km of potential flooding from a breach. The research showed that more than half of the globally exposed population are found in just four countries: India, Pakistan, Peru and China.

By having warning systems in place, it will be possible to evacuate residents and avoid casualties.


[Image credit: Northumbria University]


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