Developing Story
Yarlung Tsangpo Mega Dam Flood Risk
A study using tree-ring data projects increasing flood risk for the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, where China is building the world's largest mega dam, raising climate and safety concerns for the project.
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## Overview
Chinese researchers have found that the Yarlung Tsangpo River, soon to host what will be the world's largest mega dam, may face increased runoff and flood risks over this century (SCMP, October 26). Using tree-ring width chronologies in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, researchers reconstructed the river's runoff history from 1325 to 2020, and combined with climate data, projected that runoff would increase under future climate scenarios, along with a possible rise in high-runoff events (SCMP, October 26).
## Why it matters
The Yarlung Tsangpo dam is a strategically significant infrastructure project with major implications for regional water security, India-China relations (as the river flows into India as the Brahmaputra), and climate risk management, warranting ongoing tracking as construction and climate research progress.