Cities Near Alaska Face Rising Water Levels and Consecutive Damage
Annual Summer Flood Damage Since 2011
This Time, Water Level 150cm Above Normal Threshold
Glacial lake near Juneau, a city in Alaska, USA, collapsed, causing the lake level to rise and resulting in damage such as the collapse of dams and houses.
According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 6th (local time), a side basin of the Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau, Alaska, collapsed on the 5th, causing flooding.
According to city officials, no injuries have been reported, but at least two buildings were lost, and an emergency evacuation order was issued for residents in low-lying areas.
According to the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS), flooding damage caused by the Mendenhall Glacier has occurred every summer since 2011. This phenomenon, called "glacial lake outburst flood," occurs when the glacier melts due to climate change, allowing water trapped in the glacier to escape through cracks, raising the lake level.
This time, the water level reached 15 feet (4.6 m), which is 3 feet (91.44 cm) higher than the highest level recorded in 2016, exceeding the normal level by 5 feet (152.4 cm).
Andrew Park, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, said, "It really exceeded our expectations," and called it "a devastating phenomenon for the local community." However, the cause of this year's sudden rise in water level has not yet been determined.
Meanwhile, scientists said about these extreme phenomena, "Climate change is not caused solely by human influence," but also noted, "However, human activities are increasing the frequency of climate change," and predicted that such events may occur more frequently in the future.
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