Why Did Nepal’s Flash Floods Happen Even Without Rain? [As Seen on a Science YouTube Channel]

[Financial News] As massive floods continue to cause damage in Nepal’s Himalayan mountain region, analysts say such disasters can occur even without rain because of global warming. As ice in glacier areas melts and the ground weakens, sudden large-scale floods can be triggered.
According to the science YouTube channel Unrealscience on the 28th, even if a huge block of ice in a glacier area falls into a lake, a major flood like the one seen in Nepal can occur. When the ice falls into the lake, it displaces a large amount of water at once, creating a powerful wave. That wave then overtops the dam holding the lake in place, rapidly eroding it and causing the water to overflow. The process is similar to what happens when a very large object is suddenly dropped into a bathtub and the water spills over.
In fact, as global temperatures rise and glaciers melt, new glacial lakes are forming and existing ones are growing larger. Permafrost near glacier regions is also becoming more unstable as temperatures increase, making it more likely to collapse when exposed to heavy rain or earthquakes. In other words, water from a glacial lake suddenly released by ice can turn into debris flow, rushing downstream at high speed and causing flood damage. That is why sudden floods can hit nearby areas even when it is not raining.
To prevent such flood damage, one option is to build artificial drainage channels around high-risk areas and release lake water in advance. Another is to activate an automatic early warning system when signs of danger are detected, so people can be alerted as early as possible and evacuate.
To reduce damage from flash floods, people should avoid setting up camps right next to rivers or on the floor of a valley. If a sudden roar is heard upstream or the river rises quickly, they should move away from the valley as much as possible and head to higher ground.
[email protected] Yeon Ji-an Reporter