Pakistan sees sharp rise in unfrozen glacial lakes, Suparco reports

The number of unfrozen glacial lakes in Pakistan has increased sharply during the summer, rising from 40 to 105 in less than two months according to an assessment by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco)

The number of unfrozen glacial lakes in Pakistan has increased sharply during the summer, rising from 40 to 105 in less than two months according to an assessment by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco).

The national space agency based its latest assessment on satellite images collected between July and August, with the most recent imagery obtained on August 5. Researchers examined the identified lakes using optical satellite data to determine their size and whether they remained frozen.

Suparco said the increase was expected as temperatures rise during the summer months. However, the latest assessment also found that some lakes had expanded beyond their previously recorded maximum size, a development that could increase concerns about potential Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (Glofs).

A Glof can occur when water stored in a glacial lake is suddenly released, potentially sending large volumes of water downstream. The risk becomes greater when a lake expands beyond its historical limits, as increased water pressure can contribute to instability of the natural debris or moraine barriers holding the water.

Suparco said persistent cloud cover after its July assessment had restricted the availability of clear satellite images, making it difficult to precisely measure changes in the size of some lakes.

The agency has urged authorities to remain particularly alert in valleys located downstream from potentially dangerous glacial lakes. It also said satellite monitoring would continue throughout the melting season to identify rapid changes and support early warnings.

However, glaciologist Dr Karamat Ali of Karakoram International University said satellite monitoring alone was not enough. He called for stronger coordination among relevant institutions and more field-based research into glaciers, their surrounding environments and changing conditions.

He said information about glacier structure, hanging glaciers, microclimates and seasonal accumulation could not always be obtained through satellite imagery.

Pakistan’s 2024 glacier inventory identified more than 13,000 glaciers across the country. Suparco’s latest assessment identified 131 potentially dangerous glacial lakes with their locations shared with disaster management authorities and other relevant institutions.

Climate officials have warned that rising temperatures across the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya region are accelerating glacier melt and increasing the risks posed by unstable glacial lakes. They have stressed the need for scientific monitoring, early-warning systems and timely disaster preparedness to protect communities, infrastructure and agricultural areas downstream.