Uploaded August 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
At least two buildings collapsed and multiple others were endangered in Juneau, Alaska, after a major glacial dam outburst on August 5 caused the Mendenhall Lake to reach record highs. The city and borough of Juneau issued a local declaration of emergency.
Glacial outburst flooding first began in Juneau in 2011. It happens when water in a side basin of the Mendenhall Glacier builds up enough pressure to push through the glacier, which generally acts as a dam. The water rushes through the glacier and into the Mendenhall Lake, and on to the river, which floods.
According to the Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center, thinning ice has caused drastic changes to the area’s glaciers over recent decades. Previously, Suicide Basin, where the floodwater originates, was where the Suicide Glacier ran into the Mendenhall Glacier. Now, the Suicide Glacier has retreated, so the basin is filled with rain and meltwater.
Research has found that global warming and climate change heavily impact glaciers. The number, area, and volume of glacial lakes, have drastically grown around the world since 1990 as ice volume has decreased. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in 2021 that the world needed to stop approving and developing new oil and gas projects if we were to halt warming at 1.5ºC. However, President Joe Biden recently approved the Willow Project in Alaska, allowing ConocoPhillips to pull millions of barrels of oil out of the Alaskan wilderness.
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At least two buildings collapsed and multiple others were endangered in Juneau, Alaska, after a major glacial dam outburst on August 5 caused the Mendenhall Lake to reach record highs. The city and borough of Juneau issued a local declaration of emergency.
Glacial outburst flooding first began in Juneau in 2011. It happens when water in a side basin of the Mendenhall Glacier builds up enough pressure to push through the glacier, which generally acts as a dam. The water rushes through the glacier and into the Mendenhall Lake, and on to the river, which floods.
According to the Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center, thinning ice has caused drastic changes to the area’s glaciers over recent decades. Previously, Suicide Basin, where the floodwater originates, was where the Suicide Glacier ran into the Mendenhall Glacier. Now, the Suicide Glacier has retreated, so the basin is filled with rain and meltwater.
Research has found that global warming and climate change heavily impact glaciers. The number, area, and volume of glacial lakes, have drastically grown around the world since 1990 as ice volume has decreased. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in 2021 that the world needed to stop approving and developing new oil and gas projects if we were to halt warming at 1.5ºC. However, President Joe Biden recently approved the Willow Project in Alaska, allowing ConocoPhillips to pull millions of barrels of oil out of the Alaskan wilderness.
» Sign up for our newsletter KnowThis to get the biggest stories of the day delivered straight to your inbox: https://go.nowth.is/knowthis_youtube
» Subscribe to NowThis Earth: youtube.com/channel/nowthisearth
#Glacier #Alaska #Shorts #Earth #Environment #ClimateCrisis #NowThis
Connect with NowThis Earth
» Follow us on TikTok: https://go.nowth.is/Earth_TikTok
» Follow us on Instagram: https://go.nowth.is/Earth_Instagram
» Follow us on Snap: https://go.nowth.is/Earth_Snap
» Follow us on Facebook: https://go.nowth.is/Earth_Facebook
NowThis Earth is daily news coverage of climate, sustainability, biodiversity, species extinction, environmental justice, and other planetary concerns.
NowThis is your premier news outlet providing you with all the videos you need to stay up to date on all the latest in trending news. From entertainment to politics, to viral videos and breaking news stories, we’re delivering all you need to know straight to your social feeds. We live where you live.
youtube.com/nowthisearth
@NowThisEarth
