Glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs)-mapping the hazard of a threat to high Asia and beyond

Manfred F. Buchroithner*, Tobias Bolch

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Lakes are scenic assets for any high-mountain landscape. They can, however, also be dangerous. This applies particularly to lakes in the immediate neighbourhood of or even on glaciers. These lakes are known to be prone to outbursts due to various reasons, and these high-energy events can be signifi cant threats to life, property and infrastructure and rather disastrous along the stretches further down the valleys (Ives 1986, Richardson and Reynolds 2000, Ives et al. 2010, Han et al. 2013). Globally, the glaciers are in a general state of retreat, most probably because of climatic warming (WGMS 2008). They often leave behind voids fi lled by melt water called glacial lakes which tend to burst because of internal instabilities in the natural moraine dams retaining the lakes (e.g., as a result of hydrostatic pressure, erosion from overtopping, or internal structural failure) or as a result of an external trigger such as a rock or ice avalanche, or even earthquake.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationImpact of Global Changes on Mountains
Subtitle of host publicationResponses and Adaptation
PublisherCRC Press
Pages324-345
Number of pages22
ISBN (Electronic)9781482208917
ISBN (Print)9781482208900
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2014

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