Flood Risks Increasing in High Mountain Asia

Recent studies highlight a troubling trend of rising flood risks in High Mountain Asia. This region, which includes the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding mountain ranges, faces an increase in flood frequency and unpredictability. The study, titled “Flood complexity and rising exposure risk in High Mountain Asia under climate change,” reveals that the number of floods has surged since 2000. Floods are now occurring outside traditional monsoon periods. This shift poses threats to local communities and ecosystems.

Types of Floods in High Mountain Asia

The study categorises floods into four main types:

• Rain/Pluvial-induced floods occur from heavy rainfall causing surface runoff.
• Snowmelt-induced floods happen when rising temperatures accelerate snowmelt, increasing river discharge.
• Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) result from the overflow or breach of glacial lakes, often due to melting glaciers or landslides.
• Landslide-dammed Lake Outburst Floods (LLOFs) occur when landslides block rivers, creating temporary lakes that may breach.

Impact of Climate Change

Climate change influences flood patterns. Rising temperatures contribute to snowmelt and increase soil moisture. This creates conditions ripe for both pluvial and snowmelt floods. GLOFs and LLOFs are shaped by complex interactions among climate, glaciers, and topography.

Human Activities and Increased Flood Risks

Human activities exacerbate flood risks. Urbanisation and land use changes, such as settlements in flood plains and deforestation, reduce natural buffers. Infrastructure projects like dams can also increase vulnerability. These factors collectively heighten the risk of flooding in the region.

Community-Based Mitigation Efforts

The study’s authors suggest better ways to prevent floods in communities. They recommend educating people, building protective structures, and making local emergency plans. It is important to monitor floods in risky valleys in real time. They also emphasize avoiding construction in high-risk areas and sharing flood-related data between countries in High Mountain Asia.

The Need for Improved Climate Data

In High Mountain Asia, climate data is crucial for understanding local hazards. However, meteorological observations are sparse due to harsh environments. This limits knowledge of climate impacts at high elevations. The study calls for regional climate models to improve data collection and analysis.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2025

Category: Environment Current Affairs