The latest research has revealed that if lakes formed by melting glaciers (glacial lakes) burst due to the effects of climate change and other factors, there is a risk of damage to the lives and property of approximately 15 million people around the world.
This was announced on the 7th by a research team from the UK and other countries in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
Glacial lakes, which are formed by melting glaciers, have recently been experiencing an increase in the amount of ice melting due to climate change. It is known that
This time, the research team analyzed the state of the glacial lake and the population distribution in the downstream area as of 2020, and examined the areas and population sizes that may be damaged.
As a result, it was found that about 15 million people around the world are at risk of losing their lives and property due to glacial lake outbursts in the future.
More than half of those at risk were concentrated in four countries: India, Pakistan, Peru and China.
The research team said that the risk will change depending on the future climate change situation, and said, ``Even though the risk is particularly high near the Andes, little research has been done, so it is necessary to conduct a detailed survey in the future. There is," he points out.