Arctic lake drainage types and drainage month (2000-2020)

Lake drainage events may cause catastrophic flooding in the Arctic, impacting topography, ecosystems, and permafrost carbon dynamics. Among the 3,955 drainage events recorded between 2000 and 2020, lateral drainage was the predominant type, with most events occurring in May and June. In this context, lake drainage events are defined as those involving lakes with an initial area greater than 10 hectares and a loss of more than 50% of their surface area.