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Daily News Analysis ‘Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) ’ : 20 June

Why in News: 

  • Satellite monitoring of high-risk glacial lakes in Arunachal Pradesh has shown expansion of several lakes, raising concerns over potential Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
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GLOFs: Key Facts

  • Full Form: Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
  • Definition: Sudden release of large volumes of water from a glacial lake due to failure of its natural dam.
  • Formation: Glacial lakes form when melting glaciers accumulate water behind ice or moraine barriers.
  • Moraine: Ridge of rock, soil and debris deposited by glaciers that often acts as a natural dam.
  • Main Causes of GLOFs:
    • Moraine dam failure.
    • Glacier retreat and excessive meltwater accumulation.
    • Avalanches, landslides or rockfalls entering lakes.
    • Earthquakes and extreme rainfall events.
  • Impacts: Flash floods, loss of life, damage to hydropower projects, roads, bridges, settlements and ecosystems.

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