Lake outbursts in 2025: causes and consequences
Abstract
Relevance. As a result of glacier degradation, lakes are formed, the outbursts of which cause catastrophic floods. To assess the danger of existing and emerging lakes, information about the conditions and mechanisms of actual lake outburst is very important. Aim. The Aim is to analyze the conditions, causes, and mechanisms of lake outbursts in 2025. Materials and methods. The work is based on the results of an analysis of multi-time satellite images and UAV survey materials. Results. An analysis of satellite images showed that Lake Takyr-Tor appeared in Kyrgyzstan in 2025 and had been absent for more than 10 years previously. Lake outbursts through an underground channel in the rock glacier occurred on June 27 and July 1. The lake in the Mataiyang River Valley in Taiwan was formed on July 19, 2025 as a result of a landslide and blocking the flow of the river. The lake outburst on September 23 was caused by a wave generated by a debris flow entering the lake, which resulted from the abnormal precipitation brought by Typhoon Ragasa. The outburst of the cascade of lakes on Elbrus occurred due to a wave on the upper lake from a flood from the Maly Azau glacier. Conclusions. Examples of lake outbursts in 2025 showed that an abnormal inflow of water from a glacier, blocking of an underground drainage channel in the rock glacier, and debris flows into a lake due to abnormal precipitation in the basin of a river flowing into the lake can lead to lake outbursts. The potential threats of lake outburst, which were identified in a timely manner as a result of monitoring the high-altitude zone, decoding satellite images and analyzing weather conditions, make it possible to take measures to avoid loss of life.
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