Geoscientist Jakob Steiner described the recent glacier event in Nepal’s Himalayas as if a massive chunk was sliced off and dropped from a mountain cliff, creating a temporary dam that eventually breached, causing a devastating flood downstream. The calamity has claimed the lives of at least 579 individuals, with 1,400 others missing, including 32 Canadian citizens and residents.
Indigenous people have long cautioned about the mountain, Langtang Lirung, known as an “angry mountain,” with recurring disasters. While some experts are cautious about attributing this collapse solely to human-caused climate change, researchers studying glacier hydrology and global warming’s impact on the cryosphere have warned about such catastrophic events, especially in the Himalayan region.
John Pomeroy from the University of Saskatchewan emphasized that climate change is rapidly deteriorating natural infrastructure, leading to more frequent and severe events like the recent glacier collapse and ensuing flood in Nepal.
Climate Change Factors
Climate scientist Manjueet Dhakal highlighted how warmer global temperatures, driven by fossil fuel emissions, have adversely affected the Himalayan region, altering precipitation patterns, accelerating glacier retreat, and causing permafrost thaw, which destabilizes the high mountains.
GLOFs, like the recent incident, are becoming more pronounced due to increased ice loss and the expansion of glacial lakes as a result of global warming. Research indicates that millions of people living near glacier-fed rivers are at risk of such events, particularly in the Himalayas, Andes, and Alps.
Prevention Measures
Steiner emphasized that proactive decisions and early warning systems could have averted the Nepal disaster, indicating the importance of international cooperation and domestic policy alignment in disaster prevention efforts. Experts stress the urgent need to mitigate climate change to prevent further catastrophic events and protect vulnerable communities.
Pomeroy urged global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the necessity of addressing climate change rather than solely focusing on adaptation. The recent tragedy underscores the critical need for immediate climate action to prevent future devastating events.
