Increased Threats from Glacial Retreat

Climate changed has influenced various processes and the composition of various biomes around the world. One of the most affected areas are glaciers, with mountain glaciers all around the world experiencing immense amounts of retreat. Apart from losing hundreds of miles of glacial cover, the tragedy continues through the increased occurrence of flash flooding due to the glacial waters increasing river flow below and breaking through rock an d debris that once acted as a dam.

Thousands of individuals have been lost to these floods in various parts of the world including the Himalayas and Andes. Efforts to mitigate these threats are being looked into by the Swiss, Canadian, and Indian governments. Most recently, there were possibilities of similar catastrophes occurring Alaska.

The use of remote sensing could help to predict where certain areas are of risk. This may also inform governments of the appropriate preventative measures that could be taken to either evacuate communities or push forward construction projects to deter water from flooding specific areas.   

The image above displays how glaciers had melted in the Himalayan Mountains, consequently adding to the water volume of the Rishiganga River and flooding the village of Raini. This image was created by Planet Labs. 

Original Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/08/climate/climate-change-flash-flood-india.html