Page 248 - Health, Population and Environment Education 9

Dudhkoshi, etc. that originate from Tibet. Downstream of these rivers are at the risk of
glacial lake outburst flood. A study has shown that the floods in these rivers has claimed
lives and properties at different times.

Causes of glacier flood
There are many causes of glacier flood. The major causes of glacier flood are given below:
i. Global warming
ii. Melting of snow
iii. Glacial lake outburst
iv. Geographic energy
v. Change in climate
vi. Tectonic shocks
vii. Human encroachment
Fig: 12
Effects of glacier flood

The effects of glacier flood depend on speed of flood, amount of debris in the flood and
duration of the flood. The major effects of glacier flood are given below.
i. Destruction of land structures, natural resources, physical structures and cultural
heritages
ii. Destruction of fertile land
iii. Destruction of lives and properties
iv. Occurrence of landslides and soil erosion
v. Destruction of habitat of the living beings
vi. Destruction of agricultural products that may invite starvation
vii. Outbreak of epidemics and other various diseases
viii. Slow down the economic development of the country

Preventive measures of glacier flood
Glacier flood can be prevented by various ways. Some of the protective measures of
glacier flood are mentioned below.
i. Mapping of glacial lakes by field investigation
ii. Construction of dykes parallel to the rivers to slow down the current of water flow
iii. Identification and ranking of glacial lakes on the basis of their potential danger
iv. Encouraging afforestation and discouraging deforestation
v. Construction of reservoirs to store the flood water
vi. Establishment of flood measuring stations in the flood prone areas
vii. Preparation of flood hazard map in flood-prone areas
viii. Adopting precautions in glacier flood-prone areas
ix. Generating public awareness against glacier flood
248 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9