More than 12,000 deaths have already been attributed to glacial lake outburst floods worldwide
An increasing number of people are being threatened by flooding caused by glacial lakes bursting, scientists have warned.
As the planet warms and glaciers recede, meltwater accumulates and forms lakes, often as a result of ice or moraine acting as a dam. Since 1990, the volume, area and number of these glacial lakes has increased by 50% globally. When these lakes become too full there is a risk that they may breach or overflow, releasing huge volumes of water and causing catastrophic flooding.
Related: Climate change has turned Peru’s glacial lake into a deadly flood timebomb
Written by Neelima Vallangi in Kathmandu
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/02/glacial-lakes-threaten-millions-with-floods-as-planet-heats-up under the title “Glacial lakes threaten millions with flooding as planet heats up”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
