期刊名称：Himalaya, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies
印刷版ISSN：2471-3716
电子版ISSN：1935-2212
出版年度：2017
卷号：37
期号：2
页码：7
出版社：Macalester College
摘要：Following the earthquake that occurred on April 25, 2015 in Nepal, and the second major earthquake that occurred on May 12, 2015, we conducted field-based studies of five potentially dangerous glacial lakes in Nepal— Imja Tsho, Tsho Rolpa, Dig Tsho, Panga Dinga, and Thulagi. This research was undertaken in an effort to better understand what impacts the earthquake may have had on lake stability, flood potential as well as local perceptions of the dangers that post-earthquake outburst floods pose. Although only one relatively small, earthquakerelated glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) was found to have occurred, the presence of new cracks, slumps, shifted or displaced boulders, and landslide activity within the already deteriorating terminal and lateral moraines of the lakes suggests that they may have been further de-stabilized by the earthquake and its aftershock. Downstream communities feared the increased likelihood of aftershocks and GLOFs, and at least two downstream regions experienced panic when rumors of imminent floods started spreading. In all our visits to these downstream villages, we encountered inadequate awareness of: early flood warning systems, lake risk reduction methods, and disaster management planning. In order to eliminate the potential impacts of future glacial lake outburst floods to downstream communities, agricultural land, and infrastructure, the authors recommend the development: of standardized glacial lake risk assessment methods, Himalayan-specific lake lowering and risk reduction approaches, user friendly early warning systems, and disaster preparedness training.
