Glacial lake outburst floods threaten millions globally

Type of content
Journal Article
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
en
Date
2023
Authors
Taylor C
Carr JR
Dunning S
Westoby M
Robinson, Tom
Abstract

jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pGlacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) represent a major hazard and can result in significant loss of life. Globally, since 1990, the number and size of glacial lakes has grown rapidly along with downstream population, while socio-economic vulnerability has decreased. Nevertheless, contemporary exposure and vulnerability to GLOFs at the global scale has never been quantified. Here we show that 15 million people globally are exposed to impacts from potential GLOFs. Populations in High Mountains Asia (HMA) are the most exposed and on average live closest to glacial lakes with ~1 million people living within 10 km of a glacial lake. More than half of the globally exposed population are found in just four countries: India, Pakistan, Peru, and China. While HMA has the highest potential for GLOF impacts, we highlight the Andes as a region of concern, with similar potential for GLOF impacts to HMA but comparatively few published research studies.</jats:p>

Description
Citation
Robinson T, Taylor C, Carr JR, Dunning S, Westoby M (2023). Glacial lake outburst floods threaten millions globally. Nature Communications. 14(1).
Keywords
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Fields of Research::37 - Earth sciences::3709 - Physical geography and environmental geoscience::370902 - Glaciology
Fields of Research::41 - Environmental sciences::4101 - Climate change impacts and adaptation::410103 - Human impacts of climate change and human adaptation
Fields of Research::37 - Earth sciences::3709 - Physical geography and environmental geoscience::370903 - Natural hazards
Fields of Research::37 - Earth sciences::3707 - Hydrology::370704 - Surface water hydrology
Rights
All rights reserved unless otherwise stated