Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Science

Alaska's glacial lakes are expanding, increasing the risk of destructive outburst floods

Every summer, people living near the Mendenhall River in Juneau, Alaska, keep a close eye on the water level. When the river level begins to rise rapidly, it's a sign that Suicide Basin, a small glacier-dammed lake 5 miles up the mountains, has broken through the glacier again and a glacial lake out...

Alaska's glacial lakes are expanding, increasing the risk of destructive outburst floods
Image: Phys.org
Every summer, people living near the Mendenhall River in Juneau, Alaska, keep a close eye on the water level. When the river level begins to rise rapidly, it's a sign that Suicide Basin, a small glacier-dammed lake 5 miles up the mountains, has broken through the glacier again and a glacial lake outburst flood is underway.

Originally published at Phys.org

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