Latest news with #glacialoutburst
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Evacuations underway as experts predict record-breaking floodwaters from glacial outburst: 'Don't wait'
Evacuations underway as experts predict record-breaking floodwaters from glacial outburst: 'Don't wait' Record-high floodwaters threatened Juneau, Alaska, as a glacial outburst made it past a natural ice dam formed by the Mendenhall Glacier, CBS News reported. Officials did not mince words when telling those in the flood zone to evacuate: "Don't wait, Evacuate TONIGHT," they warned, per CBS News. What's happening? Above Juneau sits the so-called Suicide Basin. Formerly, the Suicide Glacier filled the Suicide Basin, but rising global temperatures have resulted in that glacier's retreat, leaving the empty basin behind. As snow and ice melt each summer, the Suicide Basin fills with water, and the adjacent Mendenhall Glacier acts as a natural dam, preventing the waters from flowing into Lake Mendenhall and the Mendenhall River below. Mendenhall Glacier sits roughly 12 miles from Juneau. "Since 2011, Suicide Basin has released glacier lake outburst floods that cause inundation along Mendenhall Lake and River annually with a record major flood event taking place on August 6, 2024," according to the National Weather Service. In recent days, water levels in Suicide Basin were observed to be rising by as much as four feet per day, per CBS News, leading officials to issue warnings of a record-breaking flood. "This will be a new record, based on all of the information that we have," said Nicole Ferrin, a meteorologist, at a news conference on August 12, the day before the record floods were expected, according to CBS News. When the floods arrived, they did indeed surpass the former record. High water levels on August 13 were measured at 16.65 feet, surpassing the previous record of 15.99 feet, which occurred just the year prior, per CBS News. Why is flooding in Alaska important? That Juneau has now experienced record-breaking floods for the third consecutive year provides a snapshot into the impact that rising global temperatures are having on the Arctic region. Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Due to an effect known as arctic amplification, areas in the Arctic are warming significantly faster than the rest of the globe. A study published in 2022 found that, since 1979, the Arctic has warmed four times faster than the rest of the planet, a gap considerably wider than previously thought and a scenario considered highly unlikely under previous climate models. Rising temperatures in the Arctic melt land ice such as glaciers, which run off into the ocean, causing sea levels to rise. The rising temperatures also impact the local economy and the world's food supply by interfering with Alaska's salmon fisheries, according to NOAA. What's being done about rising temperatures in the Arctic? To reverse the trend of arctic amplification and rising temperatures around the globe, the world's economy must transition away from energy sources that release heat-trapping pollution into the atmosphere and toward cleaner, renewable energy sources like wind and solar. While doing so will require coordination on a massive scale among governments, industry, and NGOs, there are still steps that individuals can take to make a difference. For example, by using your voice, contacting your elected representatives, and supporting climate-friendly candidates, you can help spur political change. There are also steps that can be taken at the community and household levels. Driving an EV or installing solar panels on your home are great ways to reduce planet-heating pollution while also saving money on gas and electricity. Plus, by pairing solar panels with a home battery system, you can make your home more resilient in the event of a power outage. Others are adopting mitigation measures to protect against flooding. Flood gates, double storm doors, and aquadams are potential ways to make you home more resilient against water intrusion. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Major Warning Issued as 'Glacial Outburst' Threatens Record Flooding
Residents in Alaska have been warned to evacuate as snowmelt from the Mendenhall Glacier, which is about 12 miles from Juneau and is a popular tourist attraction, and heavy rains converge to threaten "record" flooding this week. 'A glacial outburst has occurred at Suicide Basin. The basin is releasing and flooding is expected along Mendenhall Lake and River,' Juneau officials said in a Tuesday news release. 'Officials recommend residents in the 17ft lake level inundation zone evacuate the area until the flood waters recede.' Residents In Juneau Warned Officials warned those near Juneau to evacuate the area after they confirmed water started escaping into a huge basin dammed by the glacier. Residents in the area along the river were warned as the water that's being released in the glacial outburst is flowing into the river, putting homes that are closest to the river at risk. The National Weather Service said it expected flooding to peak at 4 p.m. local time Wednesday. 'This will be a new record, based on all of the information that we have,' Nicole Ferrin, a weather service meteorologist, told a news conference Tuesday. What Is Suicide Basin? Suicide Basin is a glacial lake attached to the Mendenhall Glacier that runs up against the western portion of Juneau, per CNN. The basin formed as parts of its glacier melted and retreated and now acts like a giant bucket, filling up with rain, snow and ice that slowly melts over the summer. On Wednesday morning the Mendenhall River eclipsed its record high level of 15.99 feet after rising more than seven feet since the National Weather Service first issues a flood warning for the area on Tuesday. It's expected to crest at around 16.7 feet sometime Wednesday morning, well above the previous record crest set just last August. 'It's very dangerous right now. Stay away if you can,' said Andrew Park, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Juneau, warning any mariners in the area to 'keep your eyes peeled for big trees.'Major Warning Issued as 'Glacial Outburst' Threatens Record Flooding first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 13, 2025
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
A 'glacial outburst' prompted a flooding crisis in Alaska. What is that?
Water from a melting glacier has caused a river near Alaska's capital city of Juneau to swell to historic levels amid a "glacial outburst" event that has prompted flooding fears and evacuations. On Aug. 13, emergency barriers protecting Juneau appear to be holding, but the risk from summer glacial flooding is on the rise as climate change increases temperatures, causing more ice melt. Glacial lake outburst flooding is a flood that's produced by the quick, unexpected release of water from a glacial lake. These lakes can exist behind unsteady dams made of ice or bedrock, and when these dams fail, the water rushes out, often resulting in catastrophic downstream flooding. A glacial outburst like the one in Alaska this week occurs when an ice dam holding back a lake – in this case Suicide Basin – collapses amid summer heat, releasing the water in a short period of time. Suicide Basin is part of the Mendenhall Glacier. Aaron Jacobs, a hydrologist at the National Weather Service office in Juneau, said that as these events continue to unfold, scientists need to continue to improve their understanding of these glacial systems, especially as the climate continues to change and warm throughout Alaska. Previous studies have tied glacier loss with climate change Thanks to climate change, Earth's glaciers continue to melt away, losing up to 390 billion tons of ice and snow per year, a 2019 study said. The largest losses were glaciers in Alaska. And a 2014 study found that since 1990, humans have been the primary cause of melting glaciers worldwide. In that study, researchers found that, from 1990 to 2010, about two-thirds of the world's glacier loss was due to rising temperatures from the burning of greenhouse gases, along with land-use changes. "In our data we find unambiguous evidence of anthropogenic (human-caused) contribution to glacier mass loss," said study lead author Ben Marzeion, a climate scientist at the University of Innsbruck in Austria. A 2023 study also found that millions of people worldwide are at risk of glacial lake outburst flooding, primarily in Asia. Glacial outburst floods on the rise amid climate change These glacial outbursts in Alaska are not a new phenomena and have been occurring annually in the Suicide Basin, sometimes more than once, since 2011. What is new in the last few years is the amount of water being released all at once during these events, which led to back-to-back years of record flooding downstream in Juneau in 2023 and 2024, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Compared to the rest of the country, Alaska has warmed twice as fast over the last several decades, and its average annual temperature has risen 3.1 degrees Fahrenheit in the past century, according to the federal National Centers for Environmental Information. In other parts of the world, glacial outburst floods are also known as Jökulhlaups (an Icelandic word pronounced yo-KOOL-lahp), according to the National Park Service. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is a 'glacial outburst'? Juneau, Alaska flooding fears explained.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Timelapse video captures dramatic rise of glacial lakes in Alaska that prompted floods
Timelapse video captured the dramatic increase in water level at a glacial lake near Alaska's capital city of Juneau, which was bracing for flooding after a "glacial outburst" inundated a nearby river. It's the third consecutive year that significant summer glacial flooding has threatened parts of the city of more than 30,000, as authorities warned Wednesday morning, Aug. 13, that the Juneau area would remain in "major flood stage area for several more hours." Scientists say each flood, including the current one, were all due to climate change. Alaska is warming faster than any other state, and its many glaciers are among the fastest melting, or retreating, glaciers on Earth, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Watch: Timelapse video captures dramatic water level increase Video footage captured rising water levels from July into August at Mendenhall Lake and a lake roughly 2.5 miles north of Nugget Creek. 'Glacial outbursts' have become more common in area Glacial lake outburst floods in Mendenhall Valley, where the majority of Juneau resides, have become a yearly occurrence since 2011, NOAA scientists say, as a once ice-covered basin formed from a retreating glacier above the city regularly fills with rain and snowmelt, similar to a lake. In this case, the Mendenhall Glacier north of Juneau acts as an ice dam for the meltwater that fills the basin, named Suicide Basin, but fails each summer amid higher temperatures. It gives way and sends waters that have collected in the Suicide Basin to drain past the glacial dam and empty into Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River, increasingly leading to major flooding. As of the latest updates from the National Weather Service, Mendenhall River levels surpassed what was seen in 2023 and 2024, when a similiar glacial lake outburst flood, or GLOF, events set records and damaged dozens of homes and structures. As of 8:30 a.m. local time, the river stood at 15.92 feet and was falling after reaching 16.65 feet about an hour prior, according to monitors at the National Weather Service. City officials said in a statement that affected areas downriver would remain in major flood stage area for several more hours. City officials said in statements to social media that power has been cut to swaths of the city and said it will be restored once flood waters recede. During the 2023 flood, Mendenhall Lake reached a peak water level of 15 feet, and in 2024, it rose a foot higher to 16 feet. In the 2024 flood, which broke records at the time, scientists with the the University of Alaska and the U.S. Geological Survey said river flow jumped to 42,000 cubic feet per second − a 25% increase − about half the flow rate of Niagara Falls. Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a preemptive disaster declaration on Aug. 10, citing the devastation caused by "glacial outbursts" in 2023 and 2024. Juneau city officials, with federal assistance, installed emergency flood barriers over the past year along more than two miles of riverbanks in areas considered most at risk of overflowing from these glacial lake outburst floods. Although the new barriers are designed to hold back a flood of this potential magnitude, officials asked some residents to evacuate as a precaution. Official updates and resources are available at and mergency preparedness information can be found at Contributing: Trevor Hughes and Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY; Reuters Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Timelapse video shows glacier lakes rise, causing Juneau floods Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Timelapse video captures dramatic rise of glacial lakes in Alaska that prompted floods
Timelapse video captured the dramatic increase in water level at a glacial lake near Alaska's capital city of Juneau, which was bracing for flooding after a "glacial outburst" inundated a nearby river. It's the third consecutive year that significant summer glacial flooding has threatened parts of the city of more than 30,000, as authorities warned Wednesday morning, Aug. 13, that the Juneau area would remain in "major flood stage area for several more hours." Scientists say each flood, including the current one, were all due to climate change. Alaska is warming faster than any other state, and its many glaciers are among the fastest melting, or retreating, glaciers on Earth, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Watch: Timelapse video captures dramatic water level increase Video footage captured rising water levels from July into August at Mendenhall Lake and a lake roughly 2.5 miles north of Nugget Creek. 'Glacial outbursts' have become more common in area Glacial lake outburst floods in Mendenhall Valley, where the majority of Juneau resides, have become a yearly occurrence since 2011, NOAA scientists say, as a once ice-covered basin formed from a retreating glacier above the city regularly fills with rain and snowmelt, similar to a lake. In this case, the Mendenhall Glacier north of Juneau acts as an ice dam for the meltwater that fills the basin, named Suicide Basin, but fails each summer amid higher temperatures. It gives way and sends waters that have collected in the Suicide Basin to drain past the glacial dam and empty into Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River, increasingly leading to major flooding. As of the latest updates from the National Weather Service, Mendenhall River levels surpassed what was seen in 2023 and 2024, when a similiar glacial lake outburst flood, or GLOF, events set records and damaged dozens of homes and structures. As of 8:30 a.m. local time, the river stood at 15.92 feet and was falling after reaching 16.65 feet about an hour prior, according to monitors at the National Weather Service. City officials said in a statement that affected areas downriver would remain in major flood stage area for several more hours. City officials said in statements to social media that power has been cut to swaths of the city and said it will be restored once flood waters recede. During the 2023 flood, Mendenhall Lake reached a peak water level of 15 feet, and in 2024, it rose a foot higher to 16 feet. In the 2024 flood, which broke records at the time, scientists with the the University of Alaska and the U.S. Geological Survey said river flow jumped to 42,000 cubic feet per second − a 25% increase − about half the flow rate of Niagara Falls. Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a preemptive disaster declaration on Aug. 10, citing the devastation caused by "glacial outbursts" in 2023 and 2024. Juneau city officials, with federal assistance, installed emergency flood barriers over the past year along more than two miles of riverbanks in areas considered most at risk of overflowing from these glacial lake outburst floods. Although the new barriers are designed to hold back a flood of this potential magnitude, officials asked some residents to evacuate as a precaution. Official updates and resources are available at and mergency preparedness information can be found at Contributing: Trevor Hughes and Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY; Reuters Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Timelapse video shows glacier lakes rise, causing Juneau floods
