THE latest signs from Pakistan’s mountains are worrying. Suparco says the number of unfrozen glacial lakes it observed rose from 40 in early July to 105 in August, while some were larger than previously recorded. Not every thawing lake poses the same danger. But when a lake grows unusually large, it can put greater pressure on the loose rock and debris holding back its waters, increasing the risk of a glacial lake outburst flood. Hence, satellite monitoring is invaluable, particularly in remote mountain areas. Yet it can only tell part of the story. To know how dangerous a lake........

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