Expansion of moraine-dammed glacial lake in the central Himalayas from 1977 to 2009

The glacial lakes from 1977 to 2009 in the Nepal-China border region were investigated using satellite imagery. 247 ice-contact or ice-proximal glacial lakes with total area of 126.3km² in the study area were identified in 2009. The expansion rate of growing lakes are approximately <;70m/year in length and 0.12 km²/year in area since 1977, respectively. The glacial lake growth rate keeps increase from 1977. The expansion rate of growing lake on southern side is greater than that on northern side.