Glacier hazards

Abstract

Warming of climate during the twentieth century has caused massive deglacierization of high mountains around the world. The loss of glacier ice, in tandem with permafrost thaw, has destabilized many steep slopes and triggered rockfalls, rock slides, and ice and rock avalanches. Glacier downwasting and retreat also have triggered outburst floods from glacier- and moraine-dammed lakes. These floods, which have peak discharges much larger than normal nival and rain-on-snow floods, pose a serious threat to downvalley communities and infrastructure in many mountain ranges. Melting glaciers are also contributing to sea-level rise, which will accelerate in the future if warming continues.