On 17 August 2025, Cryospheric Society of Nepal (CSN) and The Small Earth Nepal (SEN) organized an insightful webinar on “Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Nepal”, focusing on the growing concerns of rapidly changing Glacier dynamics in the Himalayan region. The webinar brought together 71 participants from diverse backgrounds, including researchers, students, and professionals working in climate science. Dr. Susen Shrestha, (CSN) initiated and moderated the webinar.
There were three speakers for the webinar: Dr. Mohan Chand, Mr. Nirakar Thapa, and Ms. Sunwi Maskey.
Dr. Mohan Chand, (Assistant Professor, Kathmandu University) presented on recent GLOF events in Nepal, shedding light on their causes and impacts. He explained how climate change is accelerating glacier retreat and increasing glacial lake formation, especially smaller seasonal lakes. He emphasized the rising frequency of GLOFs and their threat to infrastructure like hydropower.
Mr. Nirakar Thapa, (Hydrologist Engineer, DHM, Nepal) presented on monitoring techniques and post-disaster assessments, emphasizing the importance of real-time data and community preparedness. He shared about the GLOF monitoring practices, including field surveys, remote sensing, and early warning systems. He presented case studies from Rasuwa and Thame Valley and highlighted transboundary risks. He further outlined future plans under the Green Climate Fund to reduce hazards in priority lakes.
Ms. Sunwi Maskey, (Cryosphere Research Associate, ICIMOD) presented the challenges in GLOF modeling, highlighting the complexities of terrain, data limitations and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration. She emphasized the need for standardized tools, technical expertise, and institutional coordination for accurate modeling which is vital for effective disaster preparedness and infrastructure planning.
The webinar shed light on the urgent need for collaborative research, improved monitoring, and innovative modeling to better understand and mitigate the growing risks of GLOFs in the region. On behalf of the organizers, Mr. Bhawani S. Dongol (Executive Director, SEN) highlighted the discussion and concluded the program thanking all the presenters, participants and supporters, and to continue such webinars in the coming days too.
