Posted on 02/07/2023 8:25:51 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Glaciers around the world are melting at an alarming rate, and are leaving massive pools of water in their wake. The meltwater fills the depression left behind by the glacier, forming what's known as a glacial lake.
As temperatures get warmer and more pieces of the glacier melt away, the lake rises — and living downstream from one could be incredibly dangerous. If the lake rises too high or the surrounding land or ice gives way, the lake could burst, sending water and debris rushing down mountains.
This phenomenon is called a glacial lake outburst, and according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, the roughly 15 million people around the globe that live within 30 miles of a glacial lake are at risk. More than half of them are concentrated in just four countries — India, Pakistan, Peru and China.
It's the first study that looks specifically at the potential impact of glacial lake outbursts, which experts say cannot be overstated.
*SNIP*
"These glacial dams are no different to constructed dams," Robinson told CNN. "If you take the Hoover Dam, for instance, you've got a massive lake behind it, but if you suddenly remove the Hoover Dam, that water has to go somewhere, and it's going to come cascading down a valley in massive flood waves."
These floods happen with little to no warning. Previous glacial lake outbursts have killed thousands of people and destroyed property and critical infrastructure. The Cordillera Blanca in Peru is one hot spot for this dangerous phenomenon. Since 1941, the mountain range has experienced more than 30 glacier disasters from avalanches to glacial lake outbursts that have claimed more than 15,000 lives, researchers found.
*SNIP*
(Excerpt) Read more at channel3000.com ...
'Glacial Lake Outburst.' New money maker for the Enviro-Weenies.
Oh no.
Is there nothing Climate Change can’t do?
I’ve got a suggestion. Stay out of the way.
If it wasnt’ for global warming, we’d still be living in the ice age and we’d all be riding mastodons. /sarc
It sounds like these guys are trying to warn and scare everyone right now. Consider this your warning.
What would Sam Kinison say? “MOVE!”
Always drink upstream from the herd, and live upstream from the dam and the glacial lake.
There are 12 billion people at risk.
How'd I do?
Good suggestion
China and India aren’t going to stop emitting fossil fuel CO2.
As a rule, man is a fool.
When it’s warm, he wants it cool.
When it’s cold, he wants it hot.
Always wanting what is not.
When History finally repeats itself, I am SO getting a Dino Dinosaur for a pet! :)
Ban private jets now, it’s an emergency!!!
“I don’t know how it happened so suddenly! I guess I should have noticed that GLACIAL LAKE there!”
As if this problem cannot be mitigated. As if glacial lakes at risk of flooding would not be a huge resource for thirsty countries. India which has freshwater shortages comes to mind.
Always coming up with something new to worry about.
Reminds me of when my Dad was the Chief Engineer for a big Insurance Company and it’s many offices scattered around our state.
He put up signs in the open offices by the (locked) thermostats: “If you are cold, put on a sweater. If you are hot, take it off.”
I think his bosses gave him an award for that stroke of genius - no one had thought of that before, LOL!
They are a bitch when they go.. entire US northwest is scoured from the last ice age’s glacial lake finally giving way and the water running to the pacific.
Might be interesting if you are in an area that could be affected by such a thing, but people live on active volcanos so I don’t think you are going to change where folks live because of something that someday, sometime will probably happen.
I wonder how the folks felt when the glaciers were advancing. “Oh s___, we’re going to get run over by ice!”
I’m not worried about Glacial lakes.
I’m worried about run away mountain up thrust from plate tectonics. What if the Himalaya mountains get too high and the earth topples over.
Can’t they just run hoses from the melting glaciers to re-direct the water to where it’s needed? Like Lake Meade and Lake Powell?
*Dumb Blond Mode Off* ;)
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