Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)

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About Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)

Glacial lakes are distinctive water sources that are strongly related to receding glaciers. These bodies of water can seriously harm the natural world and human populations because of their unpredictability.  A glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) occurs that happens when a glacier lake suddenly releases water.

Glacial Lakes: Timebombs that might go off

Glacier water bodies, like the South Lhonak Lake, may appear in various places, such as on top of, above, or below an evaporating glacier. As the glaciers evaporate, these reservoirs filled with water tend to grow over time, becoming more dangerous.

The main cause of this risk is that glacier-created lakes are frequently blocked by ice and debris made up of scattered stones and trash, both of which are volatile substances.

Large volumes of water can be quickly released when the barrier enclosing these glacier lakes falls away, rushing across the sides of the mountains.

The "Glacial Lake Outburst Flood," or GLOF, is an acronym for this unexpected precipitation because it can cause major floods in places below.

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Causes of GLOF

GLOF episodes are not only the product of the shifting patterns of glacial water that melts. A variety of resources can cause deadly floods caused by a variety of resources. The following are some of the common triggers:

·         Earthquakes: Earthquake activity can disturb the delicate balance surrounding glacier lakes, causing an abrupt water discharge. This may cause disastrous floods ahead.

·         Severe Rainfall: Extended and severe precipitation in the area has the potential to hasten the formation of lakes from glaciers, which raises the likelihood of a GLOF occurrence.

·         Ice Avalanches: In areas where glacial lakes are frequently tucked away in rugged, mountainous terrain, avalanches of ice can directly impact an immediate effect on the lakes. These snowstorms can shift water within the bodies of water, which may be barriers and result in flooding further.

More about South Lhonak Lake GLOF

Swift Floods Because of Severe Rain: The region's severe and persistent rainfall, which caused severe flooding, was the cause of the South Lhonak Lake's eruption.

Teesta River and Districts Affected: Four districts—Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong, and Namchi—were flooded due to the lake's outburst. This incident emphasizes how vulnerable areas further downriver are to floods caused by glacial lake outbursts (GLOFs).

Climate Alteration and Tracking Developments: The South Lhonak Lake, among eleven big glacier lakes, is being tracked by the Central Water Commission for environmental modifications. Environmental changes worth noting include:

·         Ice Age Departure: The Lhonak glacier has reduced from 6.4 km to 5.1 km throughout 29 years, showing the effects of warming temperatures.

·         Growing Lake: From 0.17 sq km in 1977 to 0.78 sq km in 2002 and 1.35 sq km in 2019, the Lhonak lake has grown. Between September 17 and September 28, recent growth that increased the size by around 5 acres of land, or about 3%.

 

NDMA Recommendations for GLOF Risk Prevention:

·      Monitoring and Locating Deadly Lakes: According to recommendations, discovering and documenting vulnerable glacial lakes is advised using field research, historical data, and terrain attributes to evaluate possible risks.

·      Timely Alert Techniques: By detecting fluctuations in the level of water and humidity, deploying monitors and tracking tools enables prompt notification of populations in danger and the planning of escape strategies.

·      Measures for Structure: Planned Lake water level elimination, water pumping, or diverting are used to avoid glacier dam breaks by decreasing the danger of GLOFs.

·      Competence Development: For effective GLOF emergency preparedness, neighbourhood residents and authorities must receive an evaluation of risks, action organizing, and finding and relief procedures.

·      Social Conscience: Raising knowledge of GLOF risks and safety precautions among susceptible communities is crucial via outreach efforts and educational initiatives.

·     Observation and Investigation: The comprehension and forecasting of prospective GLOF events are continually improved by studying and keeping track of climatic shifts, glacier withdraws, and fresh lake developments, assisting in minimizing attempts.

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