Minimising loss during glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) | UPSC PIB NEWS
Minimising loss during glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF)
An IIT Kanpur strategy put forth a strategy to reduce loss of lives during glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF).
Details:
◆ According to the study, satellite-based real-time monitoring of Himalayan glacial catchments would improve understanding of flood risk in the region and help inform an early flood warning system that could help curb disaster and save human lives.
◆ The study has been carried out by scientists from IIT Kanpur with support from the Department of Science & Technology.
◆ The IIT Kanpur team suggests that efforts to help mitigate GLOF events in the future should include the creation of a network of satellite-based monitoring stationsthat could provide in situ and real-time data on GLOF risk.
Background:
◆ Temperature and the numbers of extreme rainfall events are rising at an increased rate because of climate change.
◆ Suitably called Earth’s “Third Pole”, the Himalayan region is home to the largest ice mass outside of the planet’s Polar Regions.
◆ The glaciers in the Himalayas are melting at a faster rate creating new lakes and expanding the existing ones.
◆ Besides, the rising temperatures and extreme precipitation events make the region increasingly prone to a variety of natural hazards, including devastating glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
◆ GLOFs occur when either a natural dam containing a glacial lake bursts or when the lake’s level suddenly increases and overflows its banks, leading to catastrophic downstream destruction.
◆ With climate change, these events are likely to increase in frequency and magnitude throughout the Himalayas.
Summaries all imp News and articles from pib.gov.in #Important for ur CSE Exam. 1 Schemes. 2 Policies. 3 Science tech . 4 International relations. 5 Economy data. 6 Military excercise. official Gov Li...
