Welcome to Nepal's Glacial Lakes Monitoring Platform

Nepal’s high mountain cryosphere is undergoing rapid transformation. Glacial retreat, proglacial lake expansion, and evolving hydrological regimes are redefining Himalayan landscapes and downstream risk systems. Nepal’s Glacial Lakes Monitoring Platform is a dedicated, data-driven portal designed to systematically observe, analyze, and communicate these changes with scientific rigor and public accessibility.

This platform integrates multi-temporal satellite observations to provide a comprehensive view of glacial lake dynamics across the Nepal Himalaya. It enables users to visualize spatial extent changes, track temporal evolution, and understand emerging Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risks.

This platform bridges science and application — transforming satellite-derived datasets into actionable knowledge for researchers, planners, students, and policymakers.

Why This Platform Matters?

Glacial lakes are among the most visible indicators of climate change in high mountain environments. Their rapid growth increases the likelihood of catastrophic outburst floods, threatening downstream communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Reliable monitoring is therefore essential not only for scientific research, but also for early warning, climate adaptation, and sustainable water resource management.

What the Platform Offers

1. Multi-Temporal Lake Monitoring: Access comparative satellite imagery and delineated lake boundaries across different time periods. Evaluate surface area expansion, fragmentation, or drainage events through consistent, reproducible geospatial processing.
2. Interactive Geospatial Interface: Navigate basin-wise or lake-specific views through an intuitive interactive map. Click on individual lake markers to explore metadata, historical trends, and elevation context.
3. Comparative Analysis Tools: Analyze change, view before-and-after imagery, and assess spatial patterns.