Kashmiri geoscientist Irfan Rashid is using satellite imagery from the recent Nepal floods to study the risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in the Western Himalayas. Analyzing data from Landsat, Planet, and Sentinel missions, Rashid is linking the disaster to broader Himalayan hazards, emphasizing the need for science-based, pre-emptive planning.
His research, informed by events like the Nepal floods and his own studies of glacial lakes in Kashmir and Ladakh, highlights expanding glacial lakes and intensifying climate-driven hazards. Rashid’s work suggests that identifying potential GLOF hotspots through satellite observations and focusing detailed monitoring on high-risk areas is crucial. He advocates for a shift from reactive disaster management to proactive risk assessment and integration of hazard science into planning and policy.
Studies in the Kashmir Himalaya have mapped numerous glacial lakes, with some identified as having very high susceptibility to GLOFs. Similar research in the Jhelum basin shows significant expansion of potentially dangerous glacial lakes. Rashid emphasizes that bridging the science-policy-implementation gap requires sustained institutional engagement to inform decision-making and enhance accountability.
Source: Down To Earth