GLOF Risk Management Experiences and Options: A Global Overview

The prevalence and impacts of glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in all glacierized mountain ranges globally underlines the importance of GLOF disaster risk management (DRM). A large variety of types of GLOF DRM measures exists, targeting the reduction of the hazard of a potential GLOF, of the exposure, or of the vulnerability of people and infrastructure. A wide range of such measures have been implemented in different mountain regions all over the world since the mid 20th century. While many of these measures have been reported, there are relevant gaps in the systematic documentation, analysis, and evaluation of GLOF DRM measures globally. A comprehensive compilation, classification and evaluation of GLOF DRM measures is required to establish a guidance for best practice approaches. DRM measures aiming at a reduction of the hazard component are typically structural measures, while vulnerability is addressed mainly by nonstructural measures. Hazard and exposure reduction measures cover all temporal ranges from short- to long-term interventions. The design and implementation of GLOF DRM measures is demanding due to harsh environmental conditions, remoteness, and rapidly changing hazard and risk situations on the one hand. Institutional and organizational aspects related to the funding, planning, and implementation of such measures, on the other hand, pose further challenges to successful GLOF DRM.