Geologic and hydrologic hazards in glacierized basins in North America resulting from 19th and 20th century global warming
Natural Hazards
By: J. E. O’Connor and J. E. Costa
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Abstract
Alpine glacier retreat resulting from global warming since the close of the Little Ice Age in the 19th and 20th centuries has increased the risk and incidence of some geologic and hydrologic hazards in mountainous alpine regions of North America. Abundant loose debris in recently deglaciated areas at the toe of alpine glaciers provides a ready source of sediment during rainstorms or outburst floods. This sediment can cause debris flows and sedimentation problems in downstream areas. Moraines built during the Little Ice Age can trap and store large volumes of water. These natural dams have no controlled outlets and can fail without warning. Many glacier-dammed lakes have grown in size, while ice dams have shrunk, resulting in greater risks of ice-dam failure. The retreat and thinning of glacier ice has left oversteepened, unstable valley walls and has led to increased incidence of rock and debris avalanches. ?? 1993 Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Suggested Citation
O’Connor, J.E., and Costa, J.E., 1993, Geologic and hydrologic hazards in glacierized basins in North America resulting from 19th and 20th century global warming: Natural Hazards, v. 8, no. 2, p. 121-140, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00605437.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Geologic and hydrologic hazards in glacierized basins in North America resulting from 19th and 20th century global warming |
| Series title | Natural Hazards |
| DOI | 10.1007/BF00605437 |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 1993 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher location | Kluwer Academic Publishers |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Natural Hazards |
| First page | 121 |
| Last page | 140 |