A Monitoring Network for Mitigating Himalayan Glacial Lake Outburst Floods

Abstract Glacial lake monitoring is urgently needed across the Himalaya due to the threat of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Furthermore, both the population and the infrastructure exposed to or dependent on these glacial lakes are increasing. However, there are a substantial number of glacial lakes in the Himalaya with potential transboundary GLOF impacts, and their remote, high-altitude locations make monitoring extremely challenging, so existing field measurements are limited. Here, we propose a benchmark Himalayan glacial lake monitoring network “HiGLMN” that will characterize glacial lakes by combining geomorphological signatures of GLOFs, monitoring triggers and mechanisms of dam failure, and downstream impacts using in situ observations, remote sensing, and hydrodynamic modeling, and feed into early warning for disaster mitigation. We also provide existing practices to support the effectiveness and necessity and propose strategies for future data management. The monitoring network will contribute to robust GLOF risk management, early warning, and mitigation. Significance Statement The proposed glacial lake monitoring network aims to mitigate the escalating threat of glacial lake outburst floods in the Himalaya, where growing populations and infrastructure are at risk. The network will use a combination of in situ observations, remote sensing, and hydrodynamic modeling to better understand and predict outburst floods. The resulting data will support early warning systems and strengthen disaster risk management strategies. We also propose effective data management approaches to ensure the long-term success of the network in mitigating the damage caused by glacial lake outburst floods.

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Publication Details

Journal
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
Published
2025-09-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-24-0290.1
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Cryospheric studies and observations
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.60
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article

A Monitoring Network for Mitigating Himalayan Glacial Lake Outburst Floods

Ashim Sattar, Reet Kamal Tiwari, Matthias Huss, Irfan Rashid et al.
2 citations
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
Cryospheric studies and observations
2.60
article

A Monitoring Network for Mitigating Himalayan Glacial Lake Outburst Floods

Ashim Sattar, Reet Kamal Tiwari, Matthias Huss, Irfan Rashid, Guoxiong Zheng, Sonam Wangchuk, Duncan J. Quincey, Fadwa Ali, Tandong Yao, Jakob Steiner, Tobias Bolch, Menger Peng, Sonam Rinzin, Jonathan L. Carrivick, Xin Li, Guoqing Zhang, Xue Wang
article en
2 citations

Abstract

Abstract Glacial lake monitoring is urgently needed across the Himalaya due to the threat of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Furthermore, both the population and the infrastructure exposed to or dependent on these glacial lakes are increasing. However, there are a substantial number of glacial lakes in the Himalaya with potential transboundary GLOF impacts, and their remote, high-altitude locations make monitoring extremely challenging, so existing field measurements are limited. Here, we propose a benchmark Himalayan glacial lake monitoring network “HiGLMN” that will characterize glacial lakes by combining geomorphological signatures of GLOFs, monitoring triggers and mechanisms of dam failure, and downstream impacts using in situ observations, remote sensing, and hydrodynamic modeling, and feed into early warning for disaster mitigation. We also provide existing practices to support the effectiveness and necessity and propose strategies for future data management. The monitoring network will contribute to robust GLOF risk management, early warning, and mitigation. Significance Statement The proposed glacial lake monitoring network aims to mitigate the escalating threat of glacial lake outburst floods in the Himalaya, where growing populations and infrastructure are at risk. The network will use a combination of in situ observations, remote sensing, and hydrodynamic modeling to better understand and predict outburst floods. The resulting data will support early warning systems and strengthen disaster risk management strategies. We also propose effective data management approaches to ensure the long-term success of the network in mitigating the damage caused by glacial lake outburst floods.

Bulletin of the American Meteorological SocietyVol. 106(12)
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (NP), Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IN), University of Leeds (GB), University of Kashmir (IN), University of Fribourg (CH), University of Graz (AT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Karakoram International University (PK), Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (CH), Newcastle College (GB), Himalayan University (IN), ETH Zurich (CH), Graz University of Technology (AT), Himalayan Rescue Association (NP), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (CN), Lanzhou University (CN), Newcastle University (GB), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL), Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar (IN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 10%
Cryospheric studies and observations
2.60
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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