value of glaciated landscapes

Question 1

scientific research

Answer 1

-need to maintain a gene pool of wild organisms to ensure maintenance of genetic variety
-need to retain wilderness so that animal communities can remain in natural environment
-use natural communities that still exist as control systems for comparison with exploited, mismanaged systems

Question 2

antartica scientific research

Answer 2

-investigating subglacial lake Vostock and other lakes beneath ice sheets
-understanding how Antartic ice is melting, in terms of scale and using satellites and field data
-understanding global change - past, present, and future - by looking at ice cores

Question 3

economic use

Answer 3

-farming = in mountainous, isolated communities, limited opportunities so farming e.g. Bolivia, 70% pop. live in high Andes, growing crops but only earn 30% countries GDP
- forestry = uplands increasingly used
in uk, forestry commission and private investors with main trees being non native trees and conifers e.g. sitka tree grown for timber and paper as conifers tolerate harsh climate and acidic soil

Question 4

mining and quarrying

Answer 4

• glacial erosion plays important role in moving regolith (loose overlying rock) and vegetation to expose valuable rocks
• in active/relict areas, there are mines and quarries of mineral deposits and ores
  -in lowland areas = outwash deposits from Pleistocene ice sheets provide important source of sand and gravel for building industry

Question 5

hydroelectricity

Answer 5

• major useof water derived from glaciers
  -norway and new zealand derive over 90% electricity from this
• provided by natural ribbon lakes, dam or resevoir
  -issues with reliability of water supply and environment concerns over damning rivers
  -micro-hydros e.g. in Bolivia or Nepal can revolutionise quality of life in many villages

Question 6

tourism

Answer 6

-econ benefits to mountainous regions with visitors at present day relict and glaciated landscapes
-huge range of year long activities e.g. skiing, hill walking in alpines - cause capitalising tourist potential
-econ value of mountain tourism requires careful management of benefits so not outweighed by env costs and locals culture

Question 7

environmental value

Answer 7

-source of water for irrigation in late spring/summer when other sources dry up e.g. US Arapaho glacier 260mil gallion drinking water per year for boulder city and irrigating crops
-glacier image promotes sales of bottled water

Question 8

spiritual/religious associations
and good things for everest

Answer 8

-sherpas = cultural group that migrated from tibet into highe regions
1953= hillary climbed everest
jet travel, internet, healthcare
more income
-40-120 thousand dollars payed to sherpas to help climb but death rates of sherpas on climb higher than US soldiers in Iraq
-Namche Bazaar - hub of tourism, last place to buy gear before everest, Khumbu climbing school and send kids to boarding school so they don’t climb