Bhutan Monitors Glacial Lakes for Flood Risk
Summary
Bhutan is running a 24-hour early warning system to monitor rapidly expanding glacial lakes and reduce the risk of deadly floods caused by climate change. Officials say the Thorthormi glacier has turned into a lake and that several glacial lakes in the north remain potentially dangerous.
Key Points
- Bhutan operates a round-the-clock monitoring and warning system to track glacial lake levels and river flows in the northern Himalayas.
- Authorities say 17 of Bhutan’s more than 600 glacial lakes are potentially dangerous, with weak moraine dams posing a serious flood threat.
- The Thorthormi glacial lake has refilled despite drainage work that had lowered its surface by about five meters.
- Bhutan’s chief glaciologist Karma says glaciers are retreating quickly and urges the international community to take responsibility for the impacts of climate change.
