What are characteristics of active glaciated regions?
-Remote & wilderness
-Harsh environments with low population
-Spiritual and cultural value
-Biodiversity
-Scientific research
What are characteristics of relict glaciated regions?
-Often highly populated
-Opportunities for economic development
-Mining and farming
-Tourism
-HEP
What is the economic value of glaciated regions?
-Farming
-Forestry
-Mining and quarrying
-HEP
-Tourism
-Science
How does farming bring economic value?
-In LICs the poor and indigenous live off farming
-70% of Bolivians live in the high Andes and rely on farming
How does Forestry bring economic value?
-There is forestry commission in the uk
-Commercial Forestry in places like the Lake District
How does mining and quarrying bring economic value?
-Erosion can expose economically valuable rocks, minerals and ore
-E.g Honister Pass Slate Mine
How does HEP bring economic value?
-Norway and NZ get 90% of their power from HEP
-Considered eco friendly but creates the issue of impacting migratory species
How does tourism bring economic value?
-Skiing in the Alps
-Climbing and walking in the Lakes
-30% increase in tourism in the past 30 years
How does science bring economic value?
-Antartica used by NASA for testing equipment
-Greenland used by climate researchers for ice cores
What is the ecological and environmental value of glaciated landscapes?
-75% of all freshwater is in ice
-Glaciers contain 2% of global water
-Permafrost and tundra peat act as carbon sinks (but this will reduce as positive feedback within the warming climate)
High Andes example:
*Tropical Andean glaciers are a vital part of the water budget
*Provide drinking water, irrigation and HEP
*Support year-round river flow in semi-arid regions
*Glaciers have declined by 16% since 1970
*Some glaciers have disappeared (e.g. Cotacachi, Ecuador)
*Urban centres like La Paz, El Alto and Quito rely heavily on glacial meltwater
What are the economic costs of glacial retreat in the High Andes?
*Reduced HEP generation (Ecuador 50%, Peru 80% reliant on HEP)
*Increased cost of electricity
*Threats to irrigation-based agriculture
*Potential rationing of water supplies
*High costs of building reservoirs and new power stations
*Loss of income from agriculture and tourism
What are the social and cultural costs of glacial retreat in the High Andes?
*Water insecurity for millions (Quito relies on 50% glacial meltwater)
*Subsistence farmers’ livelihoods at risk
*Changes to traditional farming methods
*Andean mountains hold religious and cultural significance
*Communities forced to adapt to new environmental conditions
Name the threats to glaciated landscapes
-Avalanches
-Lahars
-Glacial outburst floods
-Jökulhlaups
-Human activity
-Climate change
-Changes to the hydrological cycle
-Changes to the carbon cycle
What is an Avalanche?
-Rapid flow of snow down a hill or mountain
Name the types of snowpack failure
-Loose snow: acts like dry sand and a small amount moves down the slope
-Slab avalanches: when a strong cohesive slab of snow breaks away from a weaker one. Changes in temperature melts top layer which then refreezes, creating instability
What are the types of avalanche motion?
-Powder
-Dry flow
-Wet flow
Avalanche deaths
-Kill around 200 people per year
-The 2015 earthquake in Nepal set off multiple avalanches and killed many people
How is human activity a threat to glaciated environments?
-Resource exploitation
-Pollution
-New workers lifestyles conflict with indigenous’
-Causing cultural and identity erosion
-Tourism
Threats to hydrological cycle
*Increased rates of glacier melt disrupt the hydrological cycle in mountain regions
*Changes in river discharge affect sediment yield and water quality
*Glacier-fed rivers lose steady meltwater supply
*Reduced meltwater threatens water security for millions of people
*Water shortages increase in heavily irrigated regions
Threats to the carbon cycle
*Rising river temperatures increase decomposition rates by fungi
*Greater decomposition releases more carbon, including methane
*Melting permafrost releases trapped carbon, creating positive feedback loops
*Loss of permafrost allows treeline movement, increasing carbon sink environments
*Glacier shrinkage reduces albedo, increasing heat absorption and accelerating warming
Mitigation vs adaptation in glacial management
Mitigation: managing causes of threat
Adaptation: adapting to the threat
How is Alaska managed?
-There are many pockets of oil
-US went to produce more of their own fuels to rely less on Russia and Middle East
-ANWR is a National Park with restricted development
-Willow Project aims to increase fossil fuels production by 500m barrels
-But will add the extra carbon of 70 coal power plants
How is Antartica managed?
-ATS
-Many activities are completely banned
-Some or still permitted like scientific research
-ATS is managed by joint co-operation between UN members
