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Reconstructing the History of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, East Nepal: An Interdisciplinary Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Alton C. Byers

    (Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA)

  • Mohan Bahadur Chand

    (Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan)

  • Jonathan Lala

    (Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA)

  • Milan Shrestha

    (School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA)

  • Elizabeth A. Byers

    (West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Charleston, WV 25304, USA)

  • Teiji Watanabe

    (Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan)

Abstract

An interdisciplinary field investigation of historic glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in the Kanchenjunga region of Nepal was conducted between April and May, 2019. Oral history and field measurements suggested that at least six major GLOFs have occurred in the region since 1921. A remote sensing analysis confirmed the occurrence of the six GLOFs mentioned by informants, including two smaller flood events not mentioned that had occurred at some point before 1962. A numerical simulation of the Nangama GLOF suggested that it was triggered by an ice/debris avalanche of some 800,000 m 3 of material, causing a surge wave that breached the terminal moraine and released an estimated 11.2 × 10 6 m 3 ± 1.4 × 10 6 m 3 of water. Debris from the flood dammed the Pabuk Khola river 2 km below the lake to form what is today known as Chheche Pokhari lake. Some concern has been expressed for the possibility of a second GLOF from Nangama as the result of continued and growing landslide activity from its right lateral moraine. Regular monitoring of all lakes and glaciers is recommended to avoid and/or mitigate the occurrence of future GLOF events in the region. Collectively, the paper demonstrates the benefits and utility of interdisciplinary research approaches to achieving a better understanding of past and poorly documented GLOF events in remote, data-scarce high mountain environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Alton C. Byers & Mohan Bahadur Chand & Jonathan Lala & Milan Shrestha & Elizabeth A. Byers & Teiji Watanabe, 2020. "Reconstructing the History of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, East Nepal: An Interdisciplinary Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-27, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:13:p:5407-:d:380212
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mamoru Ishikawa & Teiji Watanabe & Naohiro Nakamura, 2001. "Genetic differences of rock glaciers and the discontinuous mountain permafrost zone in Kanchanjunga Himal, Eastern Nepal," Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(3), pages 243-253, September.
    2. Sonam Futi Sherpa & Milan Shrestha & Hallie Eakin & Christopher G. Boone, 2019. "Cryospheric hazards and risk perceptions in the Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park and Buffer Zone, Nepal," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 96(2), pages 607-626, March.
    3. Fikret Berkes, 2007. "Understanding uncertainty and reducing vulnerability: lessons from resilience thinking," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 41(2), pages 283-295, May.
    4. Mark Carey & Christian Huggel & Jeffrey Bury & César Portocarrero & Wilfried Haeberli, 2012. "An integrated socio-environmental framework for glacier hazard management and climate change adaptation: lessons from Lake 513, Cordillera Blanca, Peru," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 112(3), pages 733-767, June.
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