What the study found
Global glacial lakes held an estimated 2,048 km³ of water in 2020, and their expected lifespans differ widely. The study found that the smallest lakes may lose storage capacity within about a century because of sedimentation, while the 40 largest lakes could persist for tens of thousands of years.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say these baseline data help constrain a window of opportunity for balancing growing water-security needs with hazard mitigation and protection of rapidly changing high-mountain ecosystems. They also note that lake water is especially important in regions such as High Mountain Asia, where small glacial lakes may help meet basic needs for millions of people.
What the researchers tested
The researchers estimated the volumes and sediment storage capacities of about 71,000 glacial lakes worldwide as of 2020. They compared these estimates with the 1990 situation and examined where the lake water is located relative to coasts and elevation.
What worked and what didn't
The combined lake volume was estimated at 2,048 km³, with a median change of +12.7% compared with 1990. About half of this water was 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.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe detailed limitations beyond noting that the estimates are baseline data. It also indicates that small lakes, which make up most of the number of lakes, may lose capacity much sooner than the largest lakes, so storage and longevity vary strongly across regions and lake sizes.
Key points
- About 71,000 glacial lakes were assessed globally as of 2020.
- These lakes were estimated to store 2,048 km³ of water in total.
- The total water volume was estimated to have changed by +12.7% compared with 1990.
- Half of the lake water is near coasts and below 200 m elevation, mostly in high-latitude regions.
- The smallest lakes may lose 10% of their storage capacity within a century, while the 40 largest may last tens of thousands of years.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Global glacial lakes store more water but vary widely in longevity
- Authors:
- Georg Veh, Wolfgang Schwanghart, Oliver Korup, Jonathan L. Carrivick
- Institutions:
- University of Potsdam, University of Leeds
- Publication date:
- 2026-01-28
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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