A Nagaland University-led multidisciplinary project is developing a detailed inventory and stability assessment of high-altitude lakes in the Eastern Himalayas, with a focus on the potential risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
The project involves collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Sikkim University, G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, and the Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), and is funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The study will centre on Tenbawa Lake in Sikkim, assessing its GLOF potential and its linkage to Holocene climate variations. Two other glacial lakes in Arunachal Pradesh are also being examined for their flood risk and ecological vulnerabilities.
The team aims to identify ‘Potentially Dangerous Glacial Lakes’ using high-resolution satellite imagery, field validation, bathymetric surveys, and 2D/3D flood modelling. The research also includes analysis of geomorphology, permafrost conditions, and slope instability in the Lachung basin of North Sikkim and the Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh.
Bathymetric surveys, which map the underwater topography of lakes, will be used to determine lake volume and morphology, providing critical input for flood modelling. These data, combined with drone mapping and geomorphological analysis, will help predict potential breach points and discharge volumes in the event of a lake outburst.
Highlighting the importance of such research, Nagaland University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Jagadish K Patnaik said the project is a significant step towards understanding environmental vulnerabilities in the Eastern Himalayas. “This multidisciplinary project focuses on understanding the GLOF potential of Tenbawa Lake and its linkages to Holocene climate variations. It is a testament to Nagaland University’s commitment to frontier research that contributes to societal and ecological resilience in the Northeast and beyond,” he said.
Principal Investigator Dr. Manasi Debnath, Assistant Professor at the Department of Geography, Nagaland University, noted that the study aims to generate a near-accurate database on glacial lakes in the region. “We are working to create a precise inventory of glacial lakes in the Eastern Himalaya, focusing on lakes that could pose a flood risk due to breach potential and discharge volume. This is especially important in Arunachal Pradesh, where many of these lakes are at the headwaters of the Brahmaputra River, increasing the risk of widespread devastation,” she said.
The research will also explore the ecological impacts of potential lake breaches, particularly in the Lachung sub-basin of Sikkim. Palaeo-hazard analysis in the basin will help compare past and present GLOF frequencies, shedding light on patterns of climate-induced hazard over time.
Dr. Debnath added that the Eastern Himalaya is experiencing a different rate of glacier recession and permafrost thaw compared to the Western Himalaya and the rest of High Asia. Understanding this regional variation is critical to predicting future risks.
Co-Principal Investigators on the project include Dr. Milap Chand Sharma of JNU, Dr. Rajesh Kumar of Sikkim University, Dr. Mriganka Shakar Sarkar of the G.B. Pant Institute, and Dr. Pankaj Kumar of IUAC. Ms. Samikcha Rai, a PhD scholar at Nagaland University, is also part of the research team.
In addition to the field research, the project will contribute to the development of Nagaland University’s newly established Glacier and Mountain Research Lab, which aims to advance research in high-altitude geoscience, glaciology, and climate studies.
The findings from this study will be shared with policymakers, planners, and development agencies to promote informed and sustainable infrastructure planning along Himalayan streams and rivers. By mitigating the impact of GLOF events, the researchers hope to reduce the need for post-disaster rescues, insurance claims, and rebuilding efforts.
