A study led by Newcastle University involving the community in Lunana, Bhutan, found that while there was a high awareness of the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) among people in Lunana - much of it as a result of ongoing government communications and outreach work - many residents were not sufficiently prepared to respond quickly and safely when warnings occurred.
A study led by Newcastle University involving the community in Lunana, Bhutan, found that while there was a high awareness of the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) among people in Lunana - much of it as a result of ongoing government communications and outreach work - many residents were not sufficiently prepared to respond quickly and safely when warnings occurred.
As the climate gets warmer, glaciers retreat and meltwater collects at the front of the glacier forming a lake. These lakes can suddenly burst and create an extremely fast-flowing GLOF which can quickly spread over a large distance from the original site – up to 400 kilometres in some cases. GLOFs can be highly destructive and damage property, infrastructure, and agricultural land and can lead to significant loss of life.
Lunana is a remote village in the north of Bhutan and is surrounded by several glacial lakes, including Thorthormi Tsho, identified as the most dangerous glacial lake in Bhutan.
Read More: Newcastle University
