glaciers

Question 1

🌍 Environmental + Cultural Value of Glacial Landscapes

Answer 1

Some landscapes are sacred or culturally significant 🙏:
* 🧊 Inuit storytelling around the North American tundra.
* 🏔 Himalayas are highly sacred to Nepalese people.
* 🎏 Tibetan Buddhists use prayer flags on mountains like Everest and on homes.

Question 2

🧪 Environmental Research Value

Answer 2

• Polar research stations like British ‘Halley VI’ 🏠 are set up in Antarctica.
• Used to study 🌊 climatic and 🌍 oceanic processes.
• Helped model future climate change predictions.

Question 3

🎿 Recreational Value of Glacial Landscapes

Answer 3

• Glaciers = Areas for outdoor adventure sports 🎿🏂
• Activities like hiking and climbing offer escape from stress 🧘‍

Question 4

⛏️ Economic Value: Mining

Answer 4

• Glacial areas rich in mineral resources (gold, silver, iron, lead, copper) 💎
• Mining = Big Economic Impact:
• Example: Alaska’s mining industry was worth $2.9 billion in 2018 💰

Question 5

🧳 Economic Value: Tourism

Answer 5

Stunning glacial scenery attracts millions! 📸
* Example: Alaska attracted 2 million visitors per year 🧳
* Famous sites: ❄️ Northern Lights, 🏔 Mountains, Wildlife
* Boosts economy by creating 💼 employment opportunities (creates seasonal unemployment).
* Resorts in places like the Alps = famous ski resorts 🎿 can create litter

Question 6

🚜 Economic Value: Farming

Answer 6

Upland areas in glacial landscapes used for pastoral farming 🐑
Example:
* Lake District National Park farmers maintain landscape beauty.
* 28% of the Lake District = common land designation 🌾
* Shared grazing rights!

Question 7

⚡ Economic Value: Hydro-Electric Power (HEP)

Answer 7

Companies use glacial meltwater 💧 to generate energy:
* E.g., Arctic Circle HEP schemes ⚡
* Some HEP plants = over 80 GW of electricity in the Arctic!
* Examples in Nepal: micro-hydro systems give up to 100 kWh per day ⚡
* Rivers with ribbon lakes are easy to dam 🏞

Question 8

🌱 Biodiversity in the Tundra

Answer 8

Tundra = harsh + cold 🥶 → low biodiversity
Adaptations:
* 🌿 Short growing seasons
* 🌬 Adapted to strong winds
* Dominated by low level plants like grasses + mosses.
* Few mammals 🦌 but Arctic hares, caribou, musk oxen survive!

common in russia and canada

Question 9

🌎 Importance of Biodiversity in Tundra

Answer 9

• Species may hold pharmaceutical value 💊 in future
• Harsh conditions make surviving species very resilient 🧬

Question 10

💧 Natural Systems: Water Cycle in Glacial Landscapes

Answer 10

• ❄️ Cryosphere stores 20% of world’s water as ice.
• Meltwater replenishes drinking water in Alps, Andes 🚰
• Farmers use glacial meltwater for irrigation 🚜
• Water cycle impacts:
• Snow and ice ➡️ rain patterns.
• Precipitation + meltwater affect rivers and lakes.

Question 11

🧊 Permafrost and Carbon Storage

Answer 11

• Permafrost = major carbon store 🧊
• Estimated 1500 gigatonnes of carbon frozen.
• Glacial areas also hold fossil fuels 💨 (e.g., under Canadian tundra).