The 24 July 2008 outburst flood at the western Zyndan glacier lake and recent regional changes in glacier lakes of the Teskey Ala-Too range, Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan

A rapid-forming glacier lake in the western Zyndan region of Kyrgyzstan's Teskey Ala-Too range caused a devastating outburst flood on 24 July 2008, discharging 437,000 m³ of water and reducing the lake area by over 80% within hours. This short-lived, high-hazard lake formed in just two and half months due to trapped snow and glacier meltwater, contrasting with slower regional glacier-lake expansions. Satellite data (Landsat 7 ETM+, ALOS/PRISM, and ALOS/AVNIR-2) revealed its rapid development and post-flood morphology, while RTK-GPS measured the extent of damage. The study highlights the unpredictability and danger of such lakes in Central Asia's high mountains, emphasizing the need for resident education, updated hazard maps, and strategic land-use planning to mitigate risks.

Narama, C., Duishonakunov, M., Kääb, A., Daiyrov, M., & Abdrakhmatov, K. (2010). The 24 July 2008 outburst flood at the western Zyndan glacier lake and recent regional changes in glacier lakes of the Teskey Ala-Too range, Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 10(4), 647–659. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-10-647-2010