Ryan Smith, Brigham Young University
Geological Sciences
Bhutan, a remote country in the Himalayas, has an underdeveloped economy that relies heavily on hydro-electric power and agriculture. Glacial lake outburst floods, or GLOFs, threaten both of these sectors of their economy. More importantly, they threaten human lives. In this study, I will estimate the increase in volume of the most rapidly growing glacial lakes in the Bhutanese Himalayas and investigate potential causes of their growth. In addition, I will develop a simple model to simulate the flooding effects of a GLOF on downstream cropland and villages.