Satellite images show how the Nepal flood disaster unfolded

On August 26 a glacier collapsed in the Langtang region of Nepal near the China border, triggering an ice and rock avalanche.

This apparently entered the Lhende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi river, where it either caused or contributed to a temporary blockage.

When this burst, a catastrophic flash flood travelled almost 100 kilometres downstream.

A glacier collapses There’s nothing to stop the avalanche down the Trishuli river valley Did warm conditions play a role? There is increasing interest in the role of unusually warm conditions and glacial permafrost instability.

Warming can increase meltwater penetration into the crevasses of glaciers and weaken ice-rock bonds.

British Antarctic Survey researchers reported unusually high ground temperatures two days before the collapse.

Satellite images stitched from Copernicus Sentinel-2 data Video sources: Gyirong Port – AP News_ ; Boulder – ABC News ; Fast moving water – @pujanpokhareofficial/Instagram Levan Tielidze has received funding from the Australian Research Council.

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