What the study found
The study found that about 71,000 glacial lakes worldwide stored an estimated 2,048 km³ of water in 2020, which is a 12.7% increase compared with 1990. The authors also found that lake size and location strongly affect how long this stored meltwater may remain available.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that these lakes are increasingly important freshwater reservoirs. They say the findings help define a window of opportunity in which growing water demands must be balanced with hazard mitigation and protection of rapidly changing high-mountain ecosystems.
What the researchers tested
The researchers estimated the volumes and sediment storage capacities of roughly 71,000 glacial lakes globally as of 2020. They also compared the 2020 lake water volume with 1990 and examined how lake longevity varies by size and region.
What worked and what didn't
Half of the 2020 glacial lake water volume was located within 63 km of a coastline and below 200 m above sea level, mostly in sparsely populated, high-latitude regions such as Greenland, Arctic Canada, Patagonia, and Alaska. The smallest lakes, which make up about 80% of all lakes and are smaller than 0.1 km², could lose 10% of their storage capacity within a century because of sedimentation, while the 40 largest lakes, which hold half of the global volume, could last for tens of thousands of years.
What to keep in mind
The abstract describes estimates and projected lifespans, so the values are not direct measurements for every lake. It also notes that demand for freshwater remains limited in some high-latitude regions, and that unstable dams in High Mountain Asia could rapidly reduce some of the available capacity.
Key points
- About 71,000 glacial lakes worldwide stored an estimated 2,048 km³ of water in 2020.
- This amount was 12.7% higher than the 1990 estimate.
- Half of the global lake water volume lies near coasts and below 200 m elevation, mostly in sparsely populated high-latitude regions.
- Small lakes under 0.1 km² may lose 10% of storage capacity within a century from sedimentation.
- The 40 largest lakes hold half of the global volume and could persist for tens of thousands of years.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Global glacial lake volume increased since 1990
- Authors:
- Georg Veh, Wolfgang Schwanghart, Oliver Korup, Jonathan L. Carrivick
- Institutions:
- University of Leeds, University of Potsdam, University of Potsdam, University of Potsdam
- Publication date:
- 2026-01-28
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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