Multiple phases of ice-dammed lake formation and drainage associated with a surge of Shisper Glacier, western Karakoram
Glacier surges can create ice-dammed lakes when the advancing terminus blocks drainage. Such lakes are inherently unstable and can drain abruptly as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), presenting a hazard to downstream populations and infrastructure in high mountain environments. We present satell...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Glaciology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143024000807/type/journal_article |
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| author | Harold Lovell Sher Muhammad |
| author_facet | Harold Lovell Sher Muhammad |
| author_sort | Harold Lovell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Glacier surges can create ice-dammed lakes when the advancing terminus blocks drainage. Such lakes are inherently unstable and can drain abruptly as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), presenting a hazard to downstream populations and infrastructure in high mountain environments. We present satellite image analysis of the evolution of an ice-dammed lake formed by the 2018–20 surge of Shisper Glacier, western Karakoram. Our analysis identifies six phases of lake evolution. A large lake of up to 33.7 ± 9% million m3 formed in 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21 and 2021–22. In each case, the lake began to fill late in the year, reached a maximum size in May, and had completely drained between May and July, typically over 1–2 days. This analysis provides further evidence that GLOF hazards associated with lakes dammed by glacier surges can persist for several years after surge termination. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2f6c09aafbaf4c279d1968ea68cc0b82 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Glaciology |
| spelling | doaj-art-2f6c09aafbaf4c279d1968ea68cc0b822025-01-16T21:48:05ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Glaciology0022-14301727-56522025-01-017110.1017/jog.2024.80Multiple phases of ice-dammed lake formation and drainage associated with a surge of Shisper Glacier, western KarakoramHarold Lovell0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9435-3178Sher Muhammad1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7315-6450School of the Environment and Life Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UKInternational Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, NepalGlacier surges can create ice-dammed lakes when the advancing terminus blocks drainage. Such lakes are inherently unstable and can drain abruptly as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), presenting a hazard to downstream populations and infrastructure in high mountain environments. We present satellite image analysis of the evolution of an ice-dammed lake formed by the 2018–20 surge of Shisper Glacier, western Karakoram. Our analysis identifies six phases of lake evolution. A large lake of up to 33.7 ± 9% million m3 formed in 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21 and 2021–22. In each case, the lake began to fill late in the year, reached a maximum size in May, and had completely drained between May and July, typically over 1–2 days. This analysis provides further evidence that GLOF hazards associated with lakes dammed by glacier surges can persist for several years after surge termination.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143024000807/type/journal_articleglacial lake outburst floodglacier surgeHigh Mountain Asiaice-dammed lakeKarakoram |
| spellingShingle | Harold Lovell Sher Muhammad Multiple phases of ice-dammed lake formation and drainage associated with a surge of Shisper Glacier, western Karakoram Journal of Glaciology glacial lake outburst flood glacier surge High Mountain Asia ice-dammed lake Karakoram |
| title | Multiple phases of ice-dammed lake formation and drainage associated with a surge of Shisper Glacier, western Karakoram |
| title_full | Multiple phases of ice-dammed lake formation and drainage associated with a surge of Shisper Glacier, western Karakoram |
| title_fullStr | Multiple phases of ice-dammed lake formation and drainage associated with a surge of Shisper Glacier, western Karakoram |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multiple phases of ice-dammed lake formation and drainage associated with a surge of Shisper Glacier, western Karakoram |
| title_short | Multiple phases of ice-dammed lake formation and drainage associated with a surge of Shisper Glacier, western Karakoram |
| title_sort | multiple phases of ice dammed lake formation and drainage associated with a surge of shisper glacier western karakoram |
| topic | glacial lake outburst flood glacier surge High Mountain Asia ice-dammed lake Karakoram |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143024000807/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT haroldlovell multiplephasesoficedammedlakeformationanddrainageassociatedwithasurgeofshisperglacierwesternkarakoram AT shermuhammad multiplephasesoficedammedlakeformationanddrainageassociatedwithasurgeofshisperglacierwesternkarakoram |