Flooding in Juneau, Alaska is caused by water pressure built up in a basin left by the retreat of a smaller glacier near Mendenhall Glacier due to climate change. The water forces its way under or around the ice dam created by the Mendenhall Glacier, entering Mendenhall Lake and River. Since 2011, flooding has occurred, damaging streets, homes, and riverbanks. The recent flooding was unprecedented, leaving residents trying to salvage belongings in warm, sunny weather. Climate change is not a significant factor in the year-to-year variations of the flooding volume, according to environmental science professor Eran Hood. At some point, Mendenhall Glacier will thin and retreat, no longer acting as a dam. This flooding phenomenon is little known in the U.S., but poses a global risk to about 15 million people. Juneau, reachable only by plane or boat, is facing a housing shortage and limited rental car agencies to aid flood victims. The Mendenhall River reached record levels during the recent flood, impacting homes beyond expected flood areas. Resident Alyssa Fischer evacuated with her family and pets after her father alerted her to rising water, noting damage to her truck from the current. The flooding is a reminder of the risks posed by snow-and-ice dams worldwide and emphasizes the need for detailed modeling of glacier dynamics to predict future flood levels.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com