Open AccessClimate and Geomorphic Risks in High‐Mountain Environments: Glacier Hazards, Permafrost Hazards, and Glacier Lake Outburst Floods in Mountain Areas: Processes, Assessment, Prevention, Mitigation; Vienna, Austria, 10–13 November 2009
Author(s) -
Huggel Christian,
Kääb Andreas,
Schneider Jean
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2010eo110005
Subject(s) - glacier , permafrost , rock glacier , landslide , debris , rockfall , physical geography , geology , natural hazard , climate change , hydrology (agriculture) , geomorphology , geography , oceanography , geotechnical engineering
Recent atmospheric warming is profoundly affecting high‐mountain environments around the world. Glaciers are thinning and retreating, new and often unstable lakes are forming at glacier margins, other lakes are suddenly draining, and permafrost is degrading. These changes pose serious hazards to people and property in mountain valleys. Several tens of thousands of people were killed by landslides, floods, and debris flows from high‐mountain regions during the twentieth century, and there is concern that such events will increase as temperatures warm through the 21st century.