In the Himalayas, expanding lakes signal growing flood risks

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By Athar Parvaiz, Science. 

Excerpt: Climate-driven melting of snow and ice continues to swell many lakes in the Himalayas, increasing the risk of catastrophic flooding in downstream communities, new data show. Researchers examining 902 lakes across the snowy, mountainous region found that more than half have increased in area since 2011, some by more than 40%. Overall, the area covered by the lakes grew by 11% over the same period, India’s Central Water Commission reports. The findings highlight the need for “vigorous monitoring” of rapidly changing glacial lakes and water bodies, the researchers write. The lakes are often held in place by unstable ice dams and gravel bars that can fail with little warning, unleashing deadly torrents. Such “outburst floods” have killed thousands of people across the Himalayas over the past decade, and a warming climate has only increased the risks.... 

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