A recent study has pinpointed two high-altitude lakes in Arunachal Pradesh that are at significant risk of causing glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Additionally, 36 other lakes in the region have been categorized as medium risk. This assessment raises alarms about the state’s potential vulnerability to such catastrophic events.
A GLOF occurs when water stored in a glacial or high-altitude lake is suddenly released, often after the failure of a natural moraine dam. The study also found significant changes in glacial lakes over the years. The study, published in Discover Hazards, assessed 127 lakes across Arunachal Pradesh. It found that 89 lakes were at low risk, 36 at medium risk and two at high risk of a GLOF. There were 24 potentially dangerous glacial lakes (PGLs) covering 110.72 hectares in 1988. By 2020, their number had declined to 22, but their total area had increased to 125.93 hectares. Using multitemporal satellite data, the researchers observed a significant increase in both the number and area of glacial lakes in Arunachal Pradesh between 1988 and 2020, indicating that several lakes are expanding rapidly.
The medium- and high-risk lakes are concentrated in Upper Dibang Valley, West Kameng and Tawang, regions that are important not only for downstream settlements but also for hydropower infrastructure, according to the study.
