The retreating behavior of glaciers observed in most of the Hindu Kush–Karakoram–Himalaya (HKH) region has given rise to the formation and expansion of numerous glacial lakes in the region. The lakes expansion under changing climate usually poses high risk of glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) hazard for the downstream communities. In the present study, the risk of glacial lake outburst flood was investigated in the HKH region of Pakistan using LANDSAT-8 OLI (Operational Land Imager) image data of 2013 period coupled with ground information. The results of present study revealed 3044 lakes (surface area about 134.8 km²) in the three HKH ranges, maximum in the Karakoram (1325) and minimum in the Hindu Kush range (722) during 2013. The lakes exhibited an overall increase of about 26% in number and 7% in area in the region during 2001–2013 period. The increase in lake number was 91% within 2500–3500 m, 20% within 3500–4500 m and 31% within 4500–5500 m elevation range. Among total identified lakes during 2013, 36 were characterized as potentially dangerous glacial lakes (PDGLs) that can pose GLOF hazard in the HKH region. A regular monitoring of cryosphere changes and critical glacial lakes is essential to develop sustainable risk management strategies for this region in future.

在兴都库什-喀喇昆仑-喜马拉雅（HKH）地区大部分地区观察到的冰川退缩行为导致该地区众多冰川湖的形成和扩张。气候变化下的湖泊扩张通常会给下游社区带来冰川湖溃决洪水（GLOF）的高风险。本研究利用2013年的LANDSAT-8 OLI（Operational Land Imager）影像数据结合地面信息，对巴基斯坦HKH地区冰川湖溃决洪水风险进行了调查。目前的研究结果揭示了 3044 个湖泊（表面积约 134.8 km ²) 在三个 HKH 山脉中，2013 年在喀喇昆仑山脉 (1325) 和最小在兴都库什山脉 (722)。在 2001 年期间，该地区湖泊的数量总体增加了约 26%，面积增加了 7% – 2013 年期间。湖泊数量在2500-3500 m范围内增加了91%，在3500-4500 m范围内增加了20%，在4500-5500 m海拔范围内增加了31%。在 2013 年确定的所有湖泊中，有 36 个被定性为可能在 HKH 地区造成 GLOF 危害的潜在危险冰川湖 (PDGL)。定期监测冰冻圈变化和关键冰川湖对于未来为该地区制定可持续的风险管理战略至关重要。