Seite - 590 - in Book of Full Papers - Symposium Hydro Engineering
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maximum block volume which does not lead to overtopping. The size of the
points is proportional to the volume of the blocks (maximum is B6-v1 with
526,500 m3 (upper green dot)). Furthermore, prevention of overtopping is
impossible for blocks with an impact momentum higher than 45-55 GNs by
reducing the reservoir water level. This is at least true for blocks with an impact
direction rather straight towards the dam.
SUMMARY
Global warming based on climate change lead to a considerable increase
of glacier melting in the sub-tropical region. Most notable the glaciers in the
Cordillera Blanca of Peru showed significant reduction of the glacier masses up
to 95 % (see [8]). This retreat generates the risk of GLOF due to big ice blocks,
which are isolated and fall into the lagoons located at the toe of the glaciers. In
the given case 18 ice blocks of the Huantsán glacier with a potential risk of
falling into the downstream lagoon were investigated prior identification by the
means of site inspections and satellite images. Based on [10] it was shown,
that the identified blocks represent a risk of detachment due to the very steep
slopes and the high impact heights (up to 1800 m) as well as the mean annual
temperature in the area. Based on a pre-assessment applying the excel tool
from [12] six ice blocks with the most import potential risk regarding a GLOF
event were selected for a detailed 2D simulation. Impact heights between 300
and 1’600 m cause an overtopping of the existing dam with wave heights
between 1 and 19 m. For many cases, only a quite drastic reduction of the
operational water level, which also would mean to abandon the reservoir, could
prevent an overtopping. The technically feasible reduction of the FSL turns out
to be approximately 18 m as higher reductions would reach levels below the
intake. Even with the initial conditions of the lagoon (without dam), there would
be a risk of overflow (wave heights approx. 8 m), as it would be necessary to
reduce the level of Lagoon by 35.0 m, far below the level of the former
moraine. As there are many other lagoons in the Cordillera Blanca with similar
conditions, the risk of a GLOF event in the sub-tropical glaciers becomes more
evident taking into consideration the effect of climate change, which already
can be observed in the Andean Glaciers in the last decades. To insure the
future operation of these reservoirs permanent observation of the glacier by the
means of images (satellite and direct photography) might be realized. This also
would improve the situation of the still poor database, which nowadays exist in
the Andean region with respect of GLOF risk assessment.
590
Book of Full Papers
Symposium Hydro Engineering
- Titel
- Book of Full Papers
- Untertitel
- Symposium Hydro Engineering
- Autor
- Gerald Zenz
- Verlag
- Verlag der Technischen Universität Graz
- Ort
- Graz
- Datum
- 2018
- Sprache
- englisch
- Lizenz
- CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
- ISBN
- 978-3-85125-620-8
- Abmessungen
- 20.9 x 29.6 cm
- Seiten
- 2724
- Schlagwörter
- Hydro, Engineering, Climate Changes
- Kategorien
- International
- Naturwissenschaften Physik
- Technik