Glacier Lakes

Criteria for defining "potentially dangerous or critical lakes"

1.      Large lake size and rapid growth in area

2.      Increase in lake water level

3.      Activity of supra glacial lakes at different times

4.      Position of the lakes in relation to moraines and associated glacier

5.      Dam condition

i)                    Narrow crest area

ii)                  No drainage outflow

iii)                Steepness of slope of the moraine walls

iv)                Existence and stability of ice care

v)                  Height of moraine

vi)                Mass movement or potential mass movement

vii)              seepage through the moraine walls

6.      Glacier condition

i)                    Condition of associated glacier

ii)                  Hanging glacier in contact with lake.

iii)                Large glacier area

iv)                Rapid glacier Retreat

v)                  Debris cover on the lower glacier tongue

vi)                Gradient of glacier tongue

vii)              Toppling/Collapsing of ice

viii)            ICE blocks draining to lake

7.      Physical conditions of Surroundings

i)                    Potential rock fall/Slide (mass movement)

ii)                  Large snow avalanche sites immediate are the lake.

iii)                Neo-tectonic and earthquake activities around or near the lake.

iv)                Climatic conditions (large inter annual variations)

v)                  Very recent moraines of tributary glaciers

vi)                Have main glacier with well - developed frontal lake.