Quantitative prioritization of potentially critical glacial Lakes in the Indus River basin using satellite derived parameters

Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in a deglaciating environment, representing significant threat to downstream people and infrastructure, increasing the necessity of prioritization assessment potentially critical glacial lakes (PCGLs). In this current study, comprehensive updated inventory for Indus River basin has been prepared, resulting 5335 (? 0.0025 ± 0.0006 km2), covering total area 173.95 10.13 km2. Parameters have derived using satellite data two purposes, ‘preliminary screening’ ‘quantitative assessment’. Using 4 parameters, 367 were preliminary screened-in further analysis, 6 quantitative parameters analysed Equal Weights (EW) Unequal methods (UEW). These both applied scenarios, scenario-1 which considers 73 0.1 scenario-2 all 0.02 km2). UEW outperformed EW analysis identified 20 48 high potential respectively, where found common with those scenario-2, difference their rank. But only 10 them storage volume ? MCM flagged as high-risk lakes, are end-moraine dammed considered PCGLs, due bursting self-destructive nature. Rest risk along remaining 38 < MCM, case dynamic mode failure, caused mass movement avalanche, landslide, heavy precipitation, etc. Highlights152 historic GLOF events reported from 28 sites that occurred basinUpdated lake resolution IRS dataTotal GL’s mapped, lakesUEW method evaluate weighted integrated index potentiality assessment6 be (PCGLs)