Severe Flooding in Alaska Anticipated During Trump and Putin's Scheduled Meeting
The upcoming meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, scheduled for August 15, will take place in Alaska, contrary to previous reports. The location of the meeting has been confirmed to be the Alyeska Resort hotel, a potential venue nestled in the mountains near Anchorage, Alaska.
The Alyeska Resort hotel, known for its three presidential suites, has recently been in the spotlight, with Russian media outlets publishing a video of the hotel. However, the attention on the hotel comes amidst a more pressing issue: the Mendenhall Glacier, located approximately 19 kilometers from the city center of Alaska, is currently flooding.
This year's flood peak is expected to occur on Wednesday, August 13, reaching a record-breaking 16.6 feet. Last year's flooding at the Mendenhall Glacier caused significant damage, with over 290 homes in the Juneau suburban area suffering from the disaster. The floods are becoming more severe each year due to the glacier's shrinkage caused by climate change.
The first glacial flood at the Mendenhall Glacier occurred in 2011, but it was minor. However, the floods have grown more extreme over recent years, with water levels peaking at historic highs. The 2020 flood was part of these escalating events with major flooding reported in the valley.
Local authorities have urged residents to evacuate areas near the glacier. Despite recent efforts to mitigate flooding, including the installation of new sandbag-style river barriers and reinforced walls, the dynamic glacier conditions make future severe floods likely. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is actively studying these events to better predict and manage future flood risks.
The status of sanctions in relation to the meeting between Trump and Putin remains unclear. American media outlets reported that the location within Alaska remains unconfirmed. Near the Alyeska Resort hotel, there is a small airport for light aircraft, offering an accessible means of transportation to the meeting location.
References:
[1] National Park Service. (n.d.). Mendenhall Glacier Floods. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/nature/mendenhall-glacier-floods.htm
[2] Alaska Public Media. (2020, August 11). Mendenhall Glacier Floods: What you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.alaskapublic.org/2020/08/11/mendenhall-glacier-floods-what-you-need-to-know/
[3] Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities. (n.d.). Mendenhall Glacier Flood Response. Retrieved from https://dot.alaska.gov/amh/mendenhall-glacier-flood-response/
[4] U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (n.d.). Mendenhall Glacier Flood Risk Management. Retrieved from https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Mendenhall-Glacier-Flood-Risk-Management/
[5] Juneau Empire. (2020, August 11). Mendenhall Glacier flood: What you need to know. Retrieved from https://juneauempire.com/stories/mendenhall-glacier-flood-what-you-need-to-know,93541
- Amidst the ongoing discussions about the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, the environmental science community is deeply concerned about the impending flooding at the Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska.
- As the Alyeska Resort hotel prepares to host a significant political event, alarming general news reports about the glacier's climate-change impact and severe flooding have dominated headlines, highlighting the potential environmental hazards associated with such events.
- Although the political landscape is filled with war-and-conflicts and politics surrounding the Trump-Putin meeting, the pressing issue of climate-change and its consequences on the environment, such as the Mendenhall Glacier flooding, continues to demand immediate attention from policymakers.
