A generic framework for glacial lake outburst flood investigation: A case study of Zalai Tsho, Southeast Tibet

Wang, Wen; Nie, Yong; Zhang, Huayu; Wang, Jida; Deng, Qian; Liu, Lijun; Liu, Fei; Zhang, Sihui; Lyu, Qiyuan; Zhang, Liqi

doi:10.1016/j.catena.2023.107614

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 61 publications

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“…Glacier retreat facilitates the formation of glacial lakes [3], thereby increasing the risk of GLOFs [4]. As a kind of natural hazard, GLOFs not only inflict severe devastation upon the downstream infrastructures but also have the potential to obstruct downstream river channels, causing further damage [5][6][7][8][9]. In the Himalayas, there have been numerous historical GLOFs that have caused catastrophic consequences.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glacial Lake Changes and Risk Assessment in Rongxer Watershed of China–Nepal Economic Corridor

Zhang,

Nie,

Zhang

2024

Remote Sensing

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Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are one of the most severe disasters in alpine regions, releasing a large amount of water and sediment that can cause fatalities and economic loss as well as substantial damage to downstream infrastructures. The risk of GLOFs in the Himalayas is exacerbated by glacier retreat caused by global warming. Critical economic corridors, such as the Rongxer Watershed, are threatened by GLOFs, but the lack of risk assessment specific to the watershed hinders hazard prevention. In this study, we propose a novel model to evaluate the risk of GLOF using a combination of remote sensing observations, GIS, and hydrological models and apply this model to the GLOF risk assessment in the Rongxer Watershed. The results show that (1) the area of glacial lakes in the Rongxer Watershed increased by 31.19% from 11.35 km2 in 1990 to 14.89 km2 in 2020, and (2) 18 lakes were identified as potentially dangerous glacial lakes (PDGLs) that need to be assessed for the GLOF risk, and two of them were categorized as very high risk (Niangzongmajue and Tsho Rolpa). The proposed model was robust in a GLOF risk evaluation by historical GLOFs in the Himalayas. The glacial lake data and GLOF risk assessment model of this study have the potential to be widely used in research on the relationships between glacial lakes and climate change, as well as in disaster mitigation of GLOFs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glacial Lake Changes and Risk Assessment in Rongxer Watershed of China–Nepal Economic Corridor

Zhang,

Nie,

Zhang

2024

Remote Sensing

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Study of the patterns of variations in ice lakes and the factors influencing these changes on the southeastern Tibetan plateau

Mingwei,

Feng,

Yonggang

et al. 2024

Heliyon

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Hydraulic reconstruction of giant paleolandslide‐dammed lake outburst floods in high‐mountain region, eastern Tibetan Plateau: A case study of the Upper Minjiang River valley

Ma,

Chen,

2024

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Landslide‐dammed lakes are potentially hazardous and catastrophic for their possible failures and outburst floods (OFs) that will cause disastrous damage and life‐threatening losses, especially in the alpine areas where seismicity is strong and frequent, such as the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. This study focused on spreading an effective numerical model to reconstruct downstream hazards induced by a giant ancient landslide‐dammed lake outburst flood (LLOF) in the upper Minjiang River valley, eastern Tibetan Plateau based on the integration of the hydraulic characteristics of the upstream dammed lake, dam failure and erosion process, and downstream OF dynamics. The peak discharge levels and paleohydraulics of the LLOF were reconstructed using single‐embankment dam‐break program and one‐dimensional steady hydraulic numerical model. The results reveal that the maximum peak discharge of the Diexi paleo LLOF was 73,060–82,235 m3/s, with an uncertainty bound of 73,000–90,000 m3/s (mean value: 81,500 m3/s). Which inferred that the Diexi paleo LLOF was one of the largest known LLOFs in the view of worldwide scope comparing with other types of floods. Then, the hydraulic characteristics and route evolution of the LLOF were simulated in one‐dimensional unsteady numerical model. The results showed that the Diexi paleo LLOF took 7.47 h to transport from Diexi to Wenchuan within the simulated section of 91.23 km, with an average propagation velocity of 3.39 m/s. At the time of 15.57 h, the simulating section (between Diexi and Wenchuan) reached the maximum extent of inundation which was 664.91 km2, with an average value of 7.29 km2/km. Our modeling supports that the numerical model can be used successfully to reconstruct the hydraulics of a paleo LLOF in deep confined gorge environment. The reconstructed paleo LLOF data are of great significance to enrich the regional megaflood records and provide valuable information for geological hazard controls and OF risk assessment within the upper catchment of Minjiang River at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.

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A generic framework for glacial lake outburst flood investigation: A case study of Zalai Tsho, Southeast Tibet

Cited by 3 publications

References 61 publications

Glacial Lake Changes and Risk Assessment in Rongxer Watershed of China–Nepal Economic Corridor

Glacial Lake Changes and Risk Assessment in Rongxer Watershed of China–Nepal Economic Corridor

Study of the patterns of variations in ice lakes and the factors influencing these changes on the southeastern Tibetan plateau

Hydraulic reconstruction of giant paleolandslide‐dammed lake outburst floods in high‐mountain region, eastern Tibetan Plateau: A case study of the Upper Minjiang River valley

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