Glacial lake outburst flood at Kedarnath, Indian Himalaya: a study using digital elevation models and satellite images

Das, Sayantan; Kar, Nabendu Sekhar; Bandyopadhyay, Sunando

doi:10.1007/s11069-015-1629-6

Cited by 63 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…1 and 2). Known as Chorabari or Gandhi Sarovar Lake, the lake was approximately 400 m long by 200 m wide (Dobhal et al 2013a), with maximum depths calculated in the range of 11 to 15 m (Das et al 2015) (Fig. 2).…”

Section: June 16 Debris Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lake had no direct contact with the glacier and was fed exclusively by run-off from rainfall and snowmelt. The lake had an estimated maximum volume of around 0.4 m 3 ×10 6 (Das et al 2015;Durga Rao et al 2014) and no outlet channel. In addition to infilling from run-off, there is evidence that debris was transported into Chorabari Lake directly from the sounding moraine wall and from upstream where substantial new erosion is visible in post-disaster imagery (see arrows in Fig.…”

Section: June 16 Debris Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Heavy rainfall in June 2013 triggered numerous mass movements across the state of Uttarakhand, including two large debris flows on June 16 and 17 which devastated the village of Kedarnath, and the settlements of Rambara and Gaurikund located further downstream (Das et al 2015;Dobhal et al 2013a;Martha et al 2014). Throughout the region, flash flooding and landslides killed more than 6000 people (Guha-Sapir et al 2014) of which the vast majority were associated with the Kedarnath disaster.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Almost immediately following the disaster, the source areas and flow paths that devastated Kedarnath and downstream villages were reconstructed from remotely sensed imagery and available first-hand reports (Petley 2013). Subsequent scientific attention has largely focused on understanding the extreme rainfall triggering event (Dubey et al 2013;Joseph et al 2014;Singh et al 2014), reconstructing flood volumes and discharge (Das et al 2015;Durga Rao et al 2014) or discussions surrounding the important human aspects of the disaster, such as development and land use practices, physical and societal vulnerabilities and the government response to the disaster (Chand 2014;Sati and Gahalaut 2013;Uniyal 2013). Given that the heavy monsoon rain arrived earlier than normal, some authors have alluded to the role of rain-on-snow-type melting enhancing run-off and contributing to ground saturation and breaching of the lake (Arora et al 2014;Dobhal et al 2013a), with suggestions that June snow cover may even have been thicker than normal (Durga Rao et al 2014;Martha et al 2014;Singh et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lake outburst and debris flow disaster at Kedarnath, June 2013: hydrometeorological triggering and topographic predisposition

et al. 2015

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Lake outburst and debris flow disaster at Kedarnath, June 2013: hydrometeorological triggering and topographic predisposition Abstract Heavy rainfall in June 2013 triggered flash flooding and landslides throughout the Indian Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, killing more than 6000 people. The vast majority of fatalities and destruction resulted directly from a lake outburst and debris flow disaster originating from above the village of Kedarnath on June 16 and 17. Here, we provide a systematic analysis of the contributing factors leading to the Kedarnath disaster, both in terms of hydrometeorological triggering and topographic predisposition. Topographic characteristics of the lake watershed above Kedarnath are compared with other glacial lakes across the north-western Himalayan states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and implications for glacier lake outburst hazard assessment in a changing climate are discussed. Our analysis suggests that the early onset of heavy monsoon rainfall (390 mm, June 10-17) immediately following a 4-week period of unusually rapid snow cover depletion and elevated streamflow was the crucial hydrometeorological factor, resulting in slope saturation and significant run-off into the small seasonal glacial lake. Between mid-May and mid-June 2013, snowcovered area above Kedarnath decreased by around 50 %. The unusual situation of the lake being dammed in a steep, unstable paraglacial environment but fed entirely from snowmelt and rainfall within a fluvial dominated watershed is important in the context of this disaster. A simple scheme enabling large-scale recognition of such an unfavourable topographic setting is introduced. In view of projected 21st century changes in monsoon timing and heavy precipitation in South Asia, more emphasis should be given to potential hydrometeorological triggering of lake outburst and debris flow disasters in the Himalaya.

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Section: June 16 Debris Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: June 16 Debris Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lake outburst and debris flow disaster at Kedarnath, June 2013: hydrometeorological triggering and topographic predisposition

et al. 2015

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“…From June 15 to 17, 2013, an unprecedented hydrometeorological event occurred, which filled Chorabari Lake and induced a snow avalanche and debris slide that triggered an outburst flood from the lake (Das et al, 2015;Allen et al, 2016b;Bhambri et al, 2016). The outburst flood paired with the extreme rainfall caused severe flooding that devastated the downstream region, which included multiple mass wasting events along the Mandakini and Saraswati rivers and associated tributaries (Figure 8).…”

Section: Kedarnath Flood and Debris Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

The State of Remote Sensing Capabilities of Cascading Hazards Over High Mountain Asia

et al. 2019

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Cascading hazard processes refer to a primary trigger such as heavy rainfall, seismic activity, or snow melt, followed by a chain or web of consequences that can cause subsequent hazards influenced by a complex array of preconditions and vulnerabilities. These interact in multiple ways and can have tremendous impacts on populations proximate to or downstream of these initial triggers. High Mountain Asia (HMA) is extremely vulnerable to cascading hazard processes given the tectonic, geomorphologic, and climatic setting of the region, particularly as it relates to glacial lakes. Given the limitations of in situ surveys in steep and often inaccessible terrain, remote sensing data are a valuable resource for better understanding and quantifying these processes. The present work provides a survey of cascading hazard processes impacting HMA and how these can be characterized using remote sensing sources. We discuss how remote sensing products can be used to address these process chains, citing several examples of cascading hazard scenarios across HMA. This work also provides a perspective on the current gaps and challenges, community needs, and view forward toward improved characterization of evolving hazards and risk across HMA.

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Alpine Glacier Change Summary

2016

Recent Climate Change Impacts on Mountain Glaciers

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Glacial lake outburst flood at Kedarnath, Indian Himalaya: a study using digital elevation models and satellite images

Cited by 63 publications

References 34 publications

Lake outburst and debris flow disaster at Kedarnath, June 2013: hydrometeorological triggering and topographic predisposition

Lake outburst and debris flow disaster at Kedarnath, June 2013: hydrometeorological triggering and topographic predisposition

The State of Remote Sensing Capabilities of Cascading Hazards Over High Mountain Asia

Alpine Glacier Change Summary

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