Science News Desk!! As glaciers shrink due to rising temperatures, meltwater may collect in nearby lakes, putting some 15 million people living in the high mountains at risk of flooding from glacial lake outbursts. This has come to light in a study conducted on Wednesday. A new research published in Nature by New Zealand and international researchers says that these lakes may pose a natural threat to people living downstream because of natural dam failure accompanied by flash floods. The study found that people living in high mountain Asia and the Andes are most exposed to the threat and densely populated areas are most at risk, reports Xinhua news agency.
Thomas Robinson, senior lecturer at the University of Canterbury’s School of Earth and Environment, said floods from glacial lake outbursts can occur without warning, requiring urgent attention to minimize future loss of life. Is. The number and size of glacial lakes have increased rapidly since 1990, and 15 million people globally are currently exposed to the flood effects of a potential glacial lake outburst, he said. Working together with the communities identified in the study is key to preventing major disasters, Robinson said.
–IANS
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