Byers

Researchers model a dangerous glacial lake in the Himalayas and propose solutions

Gabe Allen — Tue, 27 May 2025 20:42:35 +0000

Researchers model a dangerous glacial lake in the Himalayas and propose solutions Gabe Allen Tue, 05/27/2025 - 14:42

Gabe Allen

INSTAAR senior research associate Alton Byers has organized frequent research expeditions to the Himalayas for more than 50 years. Last summer, he returned to the remote Kanchenjunga region in Nepal, an area he has visited three times since 2019. His team was there to gather more data for an ongoing study of glacial, ecological and socioeconomic changes in the region. But, his attention was soon diverted when a friend, a young man from the local Tibetan community, brought an emerging issue to his attention.

The man told Byers that locals had noticed large meltwater ponds forming at the toe of the Kanchenjunga Glacier, upstream from the villages of Ghunsa and Kambachen. He worried that the ponds could trigger a flood — a scenario that has played out in nearby areas more than once.

“He asked if we could go take a look at it,” Byers said. “We were on our way up to the Kanchenjunga base camp, so we made a detour. Sure enough, you could see these considerable lakes, perhaps a half-a-square-mile and growing.”

Byers sprung into action. First, he interviewed other community members about the ponds — they confirmed the observations and growing concern. Then, over the ensuing months, he assembled a team of experts to conduct a study of how the ponds were changing. The study was published in Water earlier this month.

The new paper outlines a number of potentially dangerous flood scenarios that could be triggered at the site in the future. In order to protect local communities, the researchers urge regional authorities to implement mitigation measures, including a monitoring program and an early warning system for flooding.

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Modeling disaster

Byers’ first call for collaboration was to Sonam Wangchuk, an expert in snow and ice research via satellite imagery at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. Wangchuck, now onboard, gathered satellite images of the site. The images were striking. From 2022 to 2024, the ponds grew from puddles to large, interconnected bodies of water.

“It’s sort of an indicator of how these melting processes are accelerating,” Byers said.

Next, Byers and collaborators levied statistical methods to look to the future. They estimated that the meltwater ponds could form a large glacial lake. That lake, if it forms, will be vulnerable to outburst flooding, which could be triggered by melting processes, structural collapse or rockfall from surrounding slopes.

Finally, the researchers focused their efforts on modeling potential floods. They identified four scenarios, from small to large.

Under the mildest scenario, the flood surge would travel 75 miles down the Tamor River, flooding 16 existing buildings and 30 bridges along the way. Under the worst-case scenario the flood would travel at least 175 miles and impact 90 buildings and 44 bridges. According to the authors, the flooding would also likely impact livestock, crops and tourism infrastructure.

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Mitigating disaster

Byers warns that, without adequate preparation, glacial outburst flooding can be deadly. In 1941, a glacial lake in Peru collapsed and sent a surge of water into the downstream city of Huaraz killing thousands.

In light of events like this, some regional governments around the world have developed early warning systems for potential outburst floods. Others have also implemented novel mitigation measures. In Peru, government engineers drained water from a number of dangerous glacial lakes in efforts spanning decades.

Byers and his coauthors advise local and regional authorities in the Kanchenjunga region to take similar measures to prevent a flood originating from the study site. Their recommendations include establishing early warning systems for flooding, partnering with research organizations in Kathmandu to monitor the site and adapting zoning laws to prevent new buildings in flood zones.

According to Byers, one of the cheapest and most effective early warning systems is deceptively simple: cell phones.

“Not everyone can afford multi-million dollar early warning systems that rely on laser readings of water depth,” he said. “But, studies have shown that cell phones, at least during the daytime, are one of the better early warning systems out there.”

In the end, Byers hopes the study can help the same people that brought the issue to his attention.

“The goal was always to share the research with the local community,” he said. “Then they have all of the information they need to make the best decisions possible.”

If you have questions about this story, or would like to reach out to INSTAAR for further comment, you can contact Senior Communications Specialist Gabe Allen at gabriel.allen@colorado.edu.

Alton Byers and his coauthors identify dangerous glacial melt in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area in a new paper. The researchers model potential flood scenarios and suggest mitigation measures.

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Imja Lake, a glacial lake in the Mount Everest region of Nepal, began as meltwater ponds in 1962 and now contains 90 million cubic meters of water. Its water level was lowered to protect downstream communities. Alton Byers

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Earth Day: 6 sustainability stories from INSTAAR in 2025

Gabe Allen — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 23:41:24 +0000

Earth Day: 6 sustainability stories from INSTAAR in 2025 Gabe Allen Tue, 04/22/2025 - 17:41

Gabe Allen

INSTAAR researchers investigate fundamental questions about ecosystems, climate systems and landscapes.

Today marks the 55th annual Earth Day, a global celebration of our planet, its natural systems and the idea of a sustainable future. In honor of the occasion, INSTAAR is sharing stories from the first four months of 2025 about INSTAAR’s environmental research.

As mountain glaciers melt, risk of catastrophic flash floods rises for millions (The Conversation US)

Last month, INSTAAR faculty research scientist Alton Byers and Wesleyan University professor of earth science Suzanne OConnell wrote a guest article in the Conversation US. The pair, a mountain geographer and earth scientist respectively, described how melting glaciers are amplifying the risk of catastrophic flooding in mountain communities around the world. Some governments and organizations, including the U.N., have focused efforts on research into mitigation tactics and early effective warning systems.

Franklin Institute selects Katharine Suding for the Bower Award for Achievement in Science

Next month, INSTAAR faculty fellow and professor of distinction in ecology and evolutionary biology Katharine Suding will officially receive the Bower Award for Achievement in Science from the Franklin Institute. The award honors prominent scientists and innovators who have changed the world for the better. Suding is a preeminent restoration ecologist who has left an indelible mark on the concepts of ecosystem resilience, restoration and biodiversity.

Desert reservoirs capture and store organic carbon, according to new research

Dams have long been a controversial topic among environmentalists. While they can sometimes harm aquatic ecosystems, they can also provide benefits, like increased water storage. Recently, a group of INSTAAR researchers uncovered another potential benefit of certain reservoirs. In a recent paper, they describe how one large reservoir in New Mexico captures and stores carbon beneath layers of sediment during droughts and flash floods.

Drone experiment reveals how Greenland ice sheet is changing (ɫ��ֱ�� Today)

Kevin Rozmiarek is a drone enthusiast, but he’s not just a hobbyist. He’s using unmanned aircraft to do science. In a recent publication, Rozmiarek and his colleagues documented changes in Greenland’s ice sheet. Their study relied on samples of atmospheric water vapor collected by drones, an approach that could improve simulations of sea level rise.

International research collaboration uncovers key driver of Himalayan glacier melt

This winter, INSTAAR research scientist Karl Rittger lent his talents to an intercontinental team of scientists seeking to understand exactly how and why Himalayan glaciers are melting. Rittger’s unmatched methodology for analyzing dust-covered snow from satellite imagery led the team to key insights. They found that dust storms were picking up pollution from heavily populated areas and depositing it on the mountains.

New research demystifies carbon cycling in freshwater lakes around the world

Back in 2019, INSTAAR faculty fellow Isabella Oleksy, then a PhD student, put out a call to collaborators for data on phytoplankton activity in freshwater lakes. In the end, researchers from all over the world contributed to the dataset. Oleksy and collaborators then used the data to refine a mathematical model of primary productivity for freshwater lakes. The new model could help earth scientists better understand the carbon cycle, which could lead to better climate predictions.

INSTAAR researchers investigate fundamental questions about ecosystems, climate systems and landscapes. These six stories highlight the environmental research that the institute is doing in 2025.

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As mountain glaciers melt, risk of catastrophic flash floods rises for millions − World Day for Glaciers carries a reminder (The Conversation US)

Gabe Allen — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:01:45 +0000

As mountain glaciers melt, risk of catastrophic flash floods rises for millions − World Day for Glaciers carries a reminder (The Conversation US) Gabe Allen Wed, 03/19/2025 - 11:01

INSTAAR researcher Alton Byers and Wesleyan University professor Suzanne OConnell highlight research on a global increase in flooding due to melting glaciers. Nearly 2 billion people rely on water from alpine glaciers. But, as the climate warms, they are becoming more volatile.

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Finding clean water near Mount Everest might be harder than summiting it (The Xylom)

David J Lubinski — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 18:56:32 +0000

Finding clean water near Mount Everest might be harder than summiting it (The Xylom) David J Lubinski Fri, 11/01/2024 - 12:56

INSTAAR research scientist Alton Byers discusses modernization in the Everest region and its impact on groundwater contamination as part of a larger story on water pollution of Nepal's Khumbu Valley. Even in this relatively untouched part of the world, communities lack sufficient access to clean drinking water.

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The not-so-permanent frost (Nepali Times)

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 22:24:30 +0000

The not-so-permanent frost (Nepali Times) Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/13/2024 - 16:24

Wilfried Haeberli and Alton C. Byers

Rapid thawing of the Himalayan ice-cap is compounded by little-studied melting of permafrost that destabilizes peaks, write Wilfried Haeberli and Alton Byers.

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Las fotos de cien años de escaladas al Everest muestran el impacto del deshielo: “Es la escena de un crimen” (El Diario)

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 20:50:31 +0000

Las fotos de cien años de escaladas al Everest muestran el impacto del deshielo: “Es la escena de un crimen” (El Diario) Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 06/17/2024 - 14:50

Antonio Martínez Ron

Scientists, climbers and local communities come together to warn of the impact of warming on the Himalayas, which is evident when comparing photographs taken over time, and puts the lives of millions of people at risk. Many of the most revealing photographs of the valleys near Everest have been taken by Alton Byers, who has been repeating the photos made by pioneering climbers for years to show the spectacular changes taking place in this region.

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Tracking Himalayan wildlife (Nepali Times)

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:01:16 +0000

Tracking Himalayan wildlife (Nepali Times) Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 06/13/2024 - 16:01

Alton Byers

The Natural History Museum in Kathmandu revives the ancient art of tracking with an exhibit that includes casts of wildlife tracks made by INSTAAR research scientist Alton Byers.

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Climbers have turned Mount Everest into a high-altitude garbage dump, but sustainable solutions are within reach (The Conversation)

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2024 19:55:56 +0000

Climbers have turned Mount Everest into a high-altitude garbage dump, but sustainable solutions are within reach (The Conversation) Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/01/2024 - 13:55

Mountain tourism brings revenues to Nepal but leaves a mess behind. Local and international groups are offering new cleanup strategies. INSTAAR research scientist Alton Byers and his colleague Suzanne OConnell discuss the scope of the problem, pollution from the waste, and solutions for sustainable tourism.

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Mount Everest is turning into the world's highest garbage dump (Daily Mail)

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 23:07:35 +0000

Mount Everest is turning into the world's highest garbage dump (Daily Mail) Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 02/19/2024 - 16:07

Wiliam Hunter

Alton Byers is quoted in this article on the problem of waste left behind on Mount Everest and the surrounding Sagamartha National Park in Nepal.

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Tracing past glacial floods in Kangchenjunga (Nepali Times)

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 17:09:00 +0000

Tracing past glacial floods in Kangchenjunga (Nepali Times) Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 09/21/2020 - 11:09

Alton C. Byers

Satellite imagery is useful, but involving local people in research can often help fill gaps in research of glacial floods. Article by Alton Byers in the Nepali Times shares some of the detailed knowledge of local residents who witnessed glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) over the last four decades in the Kangchenjunga area of Nepal.

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Byers

Researchers model a dangerous glacial lake in the Himalayas and propose solutions

Modeling disaster

Mitigating disaster

Related Articles

Earth Day: 6 sustainability stories from INSTAAR in 2025

As mountain glaciers melt, risk of catastrophic flash floods rises for millions (The Conversation US)

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Desert reservoirs capture and store organic carbon, according to new research

Drone experiment reveals how Greenland ice sheet is changing (ɫ��ֱ�� Today)

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Byers

Researchers model a dangerous glacial lake in the Himalayas and propose solutions

Modeling disaster

Mitigating disaster

Related Articles

Earth Day: 6 sustainability stories from INSTAAR in 2025

As mountain glaciers melt, risk of catastrophic flash floods rises for millions (The Conversation US)

Franklin Institute selects Katharine Suding for the Bower Award for Achievement in Science

Desert reservoirs capture and store organic carbon, according to new research

Drone experiment reveals how Greenland ice sheet is changing (ɫ�����ֱ�� Today)

International research collaboration uncovers key driver of Himalayan glacier melt

New research demystifies carbon cycling in freshwater lakes around the world

Off

As mountain glaciers melt, risk of catastrophic flash floods rises for millions − World Day for Glaciers carries a reminder (The Conversation US)

Off

Finding clean water near Mount Everest might be harder than summiting it (The Xylom)

Related Articles

The not-so-permanent frost (Nepali Times)

Off

Las fotos de cien años de escaladas al Everest muestran el impacto del deshielo: “Es la escena de un crimen” (El Diario)

Off

Tracking Himalayan wildlife (Nepali Times)

Off

Climbers have turned Mount Everest into a high-altitude garbage dump, but sustainable solutions are within reach (The Conversation)

Off

Mount Everest is turning into the world's highest garbage dump (Daily Mail)

Off

Tracing past glacial floods in Kangchenjunga (Nepali Times)

Off

Drone experiment reveals how Greenland ice sheet is changing (ɫ��ֱ�� Today)