Glaciers In Bhutan Retreating At 30 - 35 Meters Per Year As Scientists Discuss Glacial Lake Collapse

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22 January, 2009 - More than 50 experts from India, Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Switzerland, Thailand and Bhutan have gathered in Paro to discuss glacial lake outburst, its threats and prevention measures. For Bhutan whose very survival depends on the stability of the lakes, officials say it is a much-needed workshop.

Bhutan has nearly 3,000 lakes of which 24 are identified as potentially dangerous, meaning it may burst in the not too distant future. Every river that runs through every dzongkhag is fed by glacial lakes. To make matters worse, the global warming has accelerated the melting of glaciers around these lakes, filling it up fast. The current melting rate, say geology of mines department, is about 30-35 metres a year. Home minister Lyonpo Minjur Dorji in his speech to the participants here yesterday called the glacial lakes “silent tsunamis”. He said Bhutan needed to be well prepared.

There were no clear-cut answers. That is because “a proper understanding of the processes leading to formation of lakes, its characteristics, the triggers causing an outburst and the consequent socio-economic impact, suitable mitigation and preparedness measures, is yet to emerge in a holistic manner” said UN resident representative in Bhutan, Mr. Bakhodir Burkhanov.

Director of geology and mines department, Dorji Wangda, said that there was no immediate threat of outburst and with the help of new technologies such as Google Earth, mitigation plans on Thorthormi lake, one of the high risk lakes in Lunana, were on track. It included draining out water from glacial lakes, construction of channels for gradual and regulated discharge of water and compiling inventories of the lakes.

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