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Geological hazards of Higher Himalaya

Short answer

Major hazards are GLOFs, snow avalanches, rock falls and landslides from steep jointed slopes, debris flows, earthquakes on active thrusts (MCT), frost action, permafrost thaw, and rock burst in deep tunnels.

Describe the major geological hazards in the Higher Himalayan zone.

The Higher Himalaya contains the highest peaks and is made of gneiss, schist, quartzite and granite with high relief, glaciers and snow. Its major geological hazards are:

  1. Glacier hazards and GLOF: melting glaciers fill moraine-dammed lakes that burst and cause floods.
  2. Snow avalanches on steep slopes, which destroy roads and settlements.
  3. Rock fall, rock avalanche and landslides from steep, jointed, frost-shattered rock slopes.
  4. Debris flows from moraines and glacial deposits during heavy rain or melting.
  5. Earthquakes due to active thrusts such as the MCT and related faults.
  6. Frost action and permafrost thaw which weaken ground.
  7. Rock burst and squeezing in deep tunnels because of high stress.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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