US: Glacial Outburst Flood Hits Juneau, Alaska, Forcing Evacuations

An overflowing glacial lake at the foot of Suicide Glacier north of Juneau, Alaska, caused the Mendenhall River to surge to record levels on Wednesday, August 13, flooding homes and streets and prompting evacuations. Such glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) occur when water trapped in a glacier-fed lake suddenly bursts through weak ice or soil barriers, sending a destructive surge of water, sediment, and debris downstream.

US: Glacial Lake Flooding Damages More Than 100 Homes In Juneau, Alaska

More than 100 homes in Juneau, Alaska, were damaged by flooding after a glacial lake overflowed, sending surging water to nearby neighborhoods. Gov. Mike Dunleavy declared a state disaster emergency on Tuesday, August 6, as the Mendenhall River reached record levels and flooded neighborhoods in Mendenhall Valley. There were no deaths or severe injuries reported.

Mountain Glacier In Aba, China

Mountain Glacier In Aba, China

ABA, CHINA - AUGUST 11, 2023 - Glacial erosion cliff and moraine lake in Aba, Sichuan province, China, August 11, 2023. Dagu Glacier is the world's lowest elevation, largest area, the youngest glacier, is also the closest glacier to the city.

CHINA-MOUNT QOMOLANGMA-SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (CN)

CHINA-MOUNT QOMOLANGMA-SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (CN)

(230524) -- LHASA, May 24, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Kang Shichang (L), a researcher with the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), discusses the formation of glacial lake with a researcher in the Mount Qomolangma region at an altitude of 5,300 meters, in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on May 14, 2023. The 2023 Mt. Qomolangma expedition is part of the second comprehensive scientific expedition on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, initiated in 2017. Since the end of April, a total of 170 scientists across five teams have been conducting research on the water, ecology and human activities around the Mt. Qomolangma region, aiming to reveal the mechanism of environmental change and optimize the ecological security barrier system on the plateau. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

Strbske pleso in High Tatry, lake, mountains, nature

Strbske pleso in High Tatry, lake, mountains, nature

Moraine glacial lake Strbske pleso in High Tatry, Slovak Republic, 2019. (CTK Photo/Rostislav Kalousek)