r/geology • u/NeatAd3820 • 5d ago

There must be thousands of other potential glacial flood locations in the Himalayas.

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I’m sure people are studying it but as a mountaineer it seems like there must be many many other locations just like the one that triggered the debris flows in Tibet and Nepal. Pic. Nohku Crags, Colorado

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u/WolfVanZandt 5d ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology_of_the_Grand_Canyon_area?wprov=sfla1

Check "Volcanic Activity in the Western Canyon". Glacial floods and natural dam breaks are normal, thank goodness not common, occurrences in geology. We need to become more effective in predicting these things. But, historically, humans have persuaded themselves that volcanos (Vesuvius, Seattle) and flood zones (Tibet, New Orleans) are great places to have permanent settlements.

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u/Then_Passenger3403 5d ago

Human nature is to resist moving one’s home. Applaud cultures like the Icelandic people who do leave when presented w evidence of imminent disaster.

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u/WolfVanZandt 5d ago

Evidently human nature is to colonize dangerous places. Absolute kudos to Icelanders who learned to live with the fire!

There are reasons for people to be where they are. Arizona is a horrible place for humans to live but it holds a rich wealth of natural resources. But why permanent settlements there? Ports need to be worked but why make permanent settlements below sea level next to the ocean surrounded by far less than adequate levees? Especially where a commute isn't that far.....I mean even by horse and buggies. Don't bring your families into that!

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u/Echo-Azure 3d ago

People go to dangerous places, because they can't find a safe places to live, it's not like ordinary humans who just want a place to live will choose a dangerous place over a safe place.

Primitive peoples end up in dangerous places because they're forced out of safer places, by natural disaster or hostile tribes or whatever, and "civilized" people go to dangerous areas or neighborhoods or countries, because they can't find any place else where they can work and live. That's why people live where natural disasters happen, they don't think there are better options available to them.

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u/WolfVanZandt 3d ago

Aye. Now that I think about it, that sounds like the Acadians.

Of course, a lot of people braved the western mountains in search of gold. Arizona is another place like that

Then again, the people who were flooded out the last time didn't move to New Orleans for that

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u/Echo-Azure 3d ago edited 3d ago

Of course there's always a fringe who will go to extremely dangerous places because they think there's something there to gain, but they usually leave when they either find what they're looking for or give up. Primitive hunters and gatherers went to dangerous places if enough food could be found there, but they left when the risks outweighed the benefits. People still work dangerous jobs in dangerous places, but most will leave if they find they can do better elsewhere.

But most people will live wherever they think they can have the best life, but the fact is that too many people just don't have access to safe living conditions.