Integrating Machine Learning and Geospatial Data for GLOF Risk Assessment in Eastern Himalaya

Abstract

Eastern Himalayas, among the most tectonically active and climate-sensitive mountain systems on Earth, have experienced a rapid proliferation of glacial lakes over the past three decades due to accelerated glacier retreat, shifting recipitation regimes, and unregulated human activity. This transformation has substantially heightened the threat of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which can release large volumes of water and debris with severe consequences for downstream communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems.