Evaluating the Scale and Potential of GLOF in the Bhutan Himalayas Using a Satellite-Based Integral Glacier–Glacial Lake Inventory
A comprehensive glacier–glacial lake inventory was developed for the Bhutan Himalayas based on satellite observations between 1987–1990 and 2006–2011. In total, 733 lakes (covering 82.6 km2) were delineated between 4000 and 6000 m a.s.l. and their relationships to associated glaciers were documented...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2017-09-01
|
| Series: | Geosciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/7/3/77 |
| _version_ | 1819291892240613376 |
|---|---|
| author | Hiroto Nagai Jinro Ukita Chiyuki Narama Koji Fujita Akiko Sakai Takeo Tadono Tsutomu Yamanokuchi Nobuhiro Tomiyama |
| author_facet | Hiroto Nagai Jinro Ukita Chiyuki Narama Koji Fujita Akiko Sakai Takeo Tadono Tsutomu Yamanokuchi Nobuhiro Tomiyama |
| author_sort | Hiroto Nagai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A comprehensive glacier–glacial lake inventory was developed for the Bhutan Himalayas based on satellite observations between 1987–1990 and 2006–2011. In total, 733 lakes (covering 82.6 km2) were delineated between 4000 and 6000 m a.s.l. and their relationships to associated glaciers were documented. Using this new inventory, the scale and potential for glacial lake outburst flooding (GLOF) based on multiple criteria was examined. This included a history of connectivity characteristics of glacial lakes to mother glaciers, potential flood volumes, and debris-cover of mother glaciers in addition to the conventional criteria of expansion rate and lake size. The majority of the lakes with high expansion rates (more than double in size) and large areas (>0.1 km2) met the conditions of being continuously in contact with a mother debris-covered glacier for nearly 20 years. Based on these multiple criteria, two lakes were identified as having potential for large-scale GLOF. Potentially dangerous glacial lakes listed in the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) study were re-visited, and some overlaps with the glacier–glacial lake inventory were found. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T03:45:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c5ddc732563e419dbb128623acd1e3b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T03:45:51Z |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-c5ddc732563e419dbb128623acd1e3b42022-12-21T17:16:42ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632017-09-01737710.3390/geosciences7030077geosciences7030077Evaluating the Scale and Potential of GLOF in the Bhutan Himalayas Using a Satellite-Based Integral Glacier–Glacial Lake InventoryHiroto Nagai0Jinro Ukita1Chiyuki Narama2Koji Fujita3Akiko Sakai4Takeo Tadono5Tsutomu Yamanokuchi6Nobuhiro Tomiyama7Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Tsukuba 350-8505, JapanNiigata University, Niigata 950-2181, JapanNiigata University, Niigata 950-2181, JapanNagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, JapanNagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, JapanJapan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Tsukuba 350-8505, JapanRemote Sensing Technology Center of Japan, Tsukuba 305-8505, JapanJapan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Tsukuba 350-8505, JapanA comprehensive glacier–glacial lake inventory was developed for the Bhutan Himalayas based on satellite observations between 1987–1990 and 2006–2011. In total, 733 lakes (covering 82.6 km2) were delineated between 4000 and 6000 m a.s.l. and their relationships to associated glaciers were documented. Using this new inventory, the scale and potential for glacial lake outburst flooding (GLOF) based on multiple criteria was examined. This included a history of connectivity characteristics of glacial lakes to mother glaciers, potential flood volumes, and debris-cover of mother glaciers in addition to the conventional criteria of expansion rate and lake size. The majority of the lakes with high expansion rates (more than double in size) and large areas (>0.1 km2) met the conditions of being continuously in contact with a mother debris-covered glacier for nearly 20 years. Based on these multiple criteria, two lakes were identified as having potential for large-scale GLOF. Potentially dangerous glacial lakes listed in the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) study were re-visited, and some overlaps with the glacier–glacial lake inventory were found.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/7/3/77ALOSglacier inventoryglacial lake inventory |
| spellingShingle | Hiroto Nagai Jinro Ukita Chiyuki Narama Koji Fujita Akiko Sakai Takeo Tadono Tsutomu Yamanokuchi Nobuhiro Tomiyama Evaluating the Scale and Potential of GLOF in the Bhutan Himalayas Using a Satellite-Based Integral Glacier–Glacial Lake Inventory Geosciences ALOS glacier inventory glacial lake inventory |
| title | Evaluating the Scale and Potential of GLOF in the Bhutan Himalayas Using a Satellite-Based Integral Glacier–Glacial Lake Inventory |
| title_full | Evaluating the Scale and Potential of GLOF in the Bhutan Himalayas Using a Satellite-Based Integral Glacier–Glacial Lake Inventory |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the Scale and Potential of GLOF in the Bhutan Himalayas Using a Satellite-Based Integral Glacier–Glacial Lake Inventory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the Scale and Potential of GLOF in the Bhutan Himalayas Using a Satellite-Based Integral Glacier–Glacial Lake Inventory |
| title_short | Evaluating the Scale and Potential of GLOF in the Bhutan Himalayas Using a Satellite-Based Integral Glacier–Glacial Lake Inventory |
| title_sort | evaluating the scale and potential of glof in the bhutan himalayas using a satellite based integral glacier glacial lake inventory |
| topic | ALOS glacier inventory glacial lake inventory |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/7/3/77 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hirotonagai evaluatingthescaleandpotentialofglofinthebhutanhimalayasusingasatellitebasedintegralglacierglaciallakeinventory AT jinroukita evaluatingthescaleandpotentialofglofinthebhutanhimalayasusingasatellitebasedintegralglacierglaciallakeinventory AT chiyukinarama evaluatingthescaleandpotentialofglofinthebhutanhimalayasusingasatellitebasedintegralglacierglaciallakeinventory AT kojifujita evaluatingthescaleandpotentialofglofinthebhutanhimalayasusingasatellitebasedintegralglacierglaciallakeinventory AT akikosakai evaluatingthescaleandpotentialofglofinthebhutanhimalayasusingasatellitebasedintegralglacierglaciallakeinventory AT takeotadono evaluatingthescaleandpotentialofglofinthebhutanhimalayasusingasatellitebasedintegralglacierglaciallakeinventory AT tsutomuyamanokuchi evaluatingthescaleandpotentialofglofinthebhutanhimalayasusingasatellitebasedintegralglacierglaciallakeinventory AT nobuhirotomiyama evaluatingthescaleandpotentialofglofinthebhutanhimalayasusingasatellitebasedintegralglacierglaciallakeinventory |