Theme B: Natural hazards and health risks from lakes


Tropical glaciers are receding rapidly since the 20th century leaving new glacial lakes behind and releasing sediment to valley areas and revealing topographic depressions that may become natural reservoirs for glacier runoff. These thawing landscapes represent a risk for the nearby downstream communities. Glacier melting is very unstable and can produce avalanches or landslides, and, potentially, a glacier lake outburst flood.