Development of an early warning system to reduce the impact of floods related to glacial lake outburst floods (SAGAZ)

The retreat of glaciers has led to increasing in natural hazards due, for example, by emptying of lakes dammed by unconsolidated glacial deposits (moraines) or ice, which are susceptible to catastrophic erosion, generating rapid floods, phenomena known as “Glacial Lake Outburst Floods&...

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Main Authors: C. Rada, A. Rivera, S. Alfaro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2024-12-01
Series:The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
Online Access:https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLVIII-2-W6-2024/37/2024/isprs-archives-XLVIII-2-W6-2024-37-2024.pdf
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author C. Rada
A. Rivera
S. Alfaro
S. Alfaro
author_facet C. Rada
A. Rivera
S. Alfaro
S. Alfaro
author_sort C. Rada
collection DOAJ
description The retreat of glaciers has led to increasing in natural hazards due, for example, by emptying of lakes dammed by unconsolidated glacial deposits (moraines) or ice, which are susceptible to catastrophic erosion, generating rapid floods, phenomena known as “Glacial Lake Outburst Floods” (GLOFs). Current systems that warn of the occurrence of a GLOF are activated when the emptying begins, which leaves little time to act, so they should be considered early alarm systems. The challenge is to predict the onset of the flood allowing the generation of an early warning system. To address this problem, SAGAZ ultimately aims to develop a system capable of identifying periods of increased GLOF risk using a predictive model fed by weather forecasts and monitoring station data. This system identifies a period of higher risk, which allows informing authorities several days in advance. This paper presents the results of the first phase of SAGAZ implementation, which aimed to (1) develop and validate a prototype monitoring station and deploy a network of stations on glacial lakes across southern Patagonia, (2) collect the necessary data for the development, training and validation of predictive models and (3) begin the implementation and testing of the predictive model. As a result, a network of 10 monitoring stations was installed in the Aysén and Magallanes regions of Chile and 1 in the Province of Santa Cruz in Argentina, of which 6 are currently operational and transmitting data in real time. The rest went off due to power failures and icebergs damaging sensors. The measures we have taken to avoid station’s failures are described, as well as some characteristics of the implemented prototype, the installed networks and the data obtained so far.
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spelling doaj-art-a203089c87724722a8f421c9773768d02024-12-17T21:42:25ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences1682-17502194-90342024-12-01XLVIII-2-W6-2024374310.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-2-W6-2024-37-2024Development of an early warning system to reduce the impact of floods related to glacial lake outburst floods (SAGAZ)C. Rada0A. Rivera1S. Alfaro2S. Alfaro3GAIA-Antarctic Research Center, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, ChileDepartment of Geography, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, ChileGAIA-Antarctic Research Center, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, ChileCenter for Advanced Studies in Arid Zones - CEAZA, La Serena, ChileThe retreat of glaciers has led to increasing in natural hazards due, for example, by emptying of lakes dammed by unconsolidated glacial deposits (moraines) or ice, which are susceptible to catastrophic erosion, generating rapid floods, phenomena known as “Glacial Lake Outburst Floods” (GLOFs). Current systems that warn of the occurrence of a GLOF are activated when the emptying begins, which leaves little time to act, so they should be considered early alarm systems. The challenge is to predict the onset of the flood allowing the generation of an early warning system. To address this problem, SAGAZ ultimately aims to develop a system capable of identifying periods of increased GLOF risk using a predictive model fed by weather forecasts and monitoring station data. This system identifies a period of higher risk, which allows informing authorities several days in advance. This paper presents the results of the first phase of SAGAZ implementation, which aimed to (1) develop and validate a prototype monitoring station and deploy a network of stations on glacial lakes across southern Patagonia, (2) collect the necessary data for the development, training and validation of predictive models and (3) begin the implementation and testing of the predictive model. As a result, a network of 10 monitoring stations was installed in the Aysén and Magallanes regions of Chile and 1 in the Province of Santa Cruz in Argentina, of which 6 are currently operational and transmitting data in real time. The rest went off due to power failures and icebergs damaging sensors. The measures we have taken to avoid station’s failures are described, as well as some characteristics of the implemented prototype, the installed networks and the data obtained so far.https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLVIII-2-W6-2024/37/2024/isprs-archives-XLVIII-2-W6-2024-37-2024.pdf
spellingShingle C. Rada
A. Rivera
S. Alfaro
S. Alfaro
Development of an early warning system to reduce the impact of floods related to glacial lake outburst floods (SAGAZ)
The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
title Development of an early warning system to reduce the impact of floods related to glacial lake outburst floods (SAGAZ)
title_full Development of an early warning system to reduce the impact of floods related to glacial lake outburst floods (SAGAZ)
title_fullStr Development of an early warning system to reduce the impact of floods related to glacial lake outburst floods (SAGAZ)
title_full_unstemmed Development of an early warning system to reduce the impact of floods related to glacial lake outburst floods (SAGAZ)
title_short Development of an early warning system to reduce the impact of floods related to glacial lake outburst floods (SAGAZ)
title_sort development of an early warning system to reduce the impact of floods related to glacial lake outburst floods sagaz
url https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLVIII-2-W6-2024/37/2024/isprs-archives-XLVIII-2-W6-2024-37-2024.pdf
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