Global Glacial Flooding Risks Exposed by Alaska's Bursting Ice Dam
A glacial dam burst in Juneau, Alaska, causing unprecedented flooding and highlighting the risks of glacial flooding worldwide. Glacial floods, known as jökuhlaups, could threaten approximately 15 million people globally. While climate change is melting glaciers, the unpredictable nature of glacial floods makes them difficult to prepare for. The Mendenhall River, where the flooding occurred, is particularly susceptible to erosion due to loose glacial deposits. More than half of the people at risk from glacial outburst floods are in India, Pakistan, Peru, and China.