Glacial lakes threaten millions with flooding as planet heats up

More than 12,000 deaths have already been attributed to glacial lake outburst floods worldwideAn increasing number of people are being threatened by flooding caused by glacial lakes bursting, scientists have warned.As the planet warms and glaciers recede, meltwater accumulates and forms lakes, often as a result of ice or moraine acting as a dam. Since 1990,the volume, area and number of these glacial lakes has increased by 50% globally. When these lakes become too full there is a risk that they may breach or overflow, releasing huge volumes of water and causing catastrophic flooding.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Climate change Environment Glaciers Science Peru Nepal South and Central Asia Polar regions Americas World news Source Type: news