Geomorphic Hazards in the Makalu Barun Area of the East Nepal Himalaya

The paper provides evidence of dynamic landform evolution in theMakalu-Makalu Barun area, Makalu base camp Makalu Barun area which indicates extreme geomorphic hazards and risks. Dominant geomorphic processes and typical landforms of vertical morphoclimatic zones are described, highlighting the role of mass wasting processes and far-reaching process chains acting across these zones of the East Nepal HimalayaEast Nepal Himalaya-East Nepal Himalayas. The main features of recent geomorphic processes in the Makalu Barun area are: (1) in the extreme glacial zone: extensive weathering of rocks in a very cold and semi-arid environment, frequent avalanches and rockfalls, wind erosion, stagnation of volume of ice and snow masses; (2) in the glacial zone: retreat of glaciers and substantial decrease in their volumes, spreading of the periglacial area to the detriment of lower levels of glacial zone; (3) in the periglacial zone: intensive regelation processes and fluvial erosion of rocks and Quaternary sediments, frequent slope movements, especially rockfalls and landslides; (4) in the seasonally cold/warm humid area: its expansion to warming periglacial zone, frequent slope movements of various types and magnitude and intensive fluvial erosion. While extreme glacial zone is stagnant, remaining three zones have been experiencing location changes and substantial enlargement associated with changing climate, glacier extent and permafrost distribution.