World’s First Inventory of Subglacial Lakes Finds 20% at Risk

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 4 January 2022

This global inventory provides a detailed map of the current size and stability of glacial lakes, in part to allow continual assessment of projected changes as the climate warms. 80% of these lakes in Antarctica, Greenland, Iceland, and glacial valley regions (such as the Alps) were found to be stable, but 20% are characterized as “active.” This means they can suddenly and catastrophically burst, posing a hazard to human populations and infrastructure downstream. The sudden release of lake water can also cause landslides, and subglacial lakes play a critical role in moderating the speed at which glacial melt contributes to sea-level rise. Monitoring these lakes is critical to gaining a better understanding of water storage and drainage beneath glaciers in vulnerable mountain regions, as well as risks to local populations.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-021-00246-9