Lower Barun Glacier Lake Monitoring

This project focuses on the monitoring and risk assessment of the Lower Barun Glacier Lake, one of the most significant and potentially dangerous glacial lakes in the eastern Himalayas of Nepal.

Project Overview

Using multi-temporal satellite imagery. Monitoring these changes is essential for identifying expansion trends that could indicate an increased risk of a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF).

Animation showing the area changes of the Lower Barun Glacier Lake.

Technical Focus:

• Manual Delineation: High-precision mapping to separate lake water from surrounding moraine and debris-covered ice.
• Tools: Python,GEE and MNDWI.

Significance

As climate change accelerates glacier retreat, monitoring these lakes is a priority for downstream community safety. This work provides a verifiable record of lake dynamics, contributing to cryosphere research in the Himalayan region.