2.10 Flashcards
Cultural Value of glaciated landscapes
- Scientific reasearch
- Indigenous cultue
- Wilderness recreation
- Spirtitual sites
Environmental value of glaciated landscapes
- Unique ecosystem and and endemic species
- Carbon and water cycling
- Role in climate regulation
Economic value of glacited landscapes
- Farming And fishing
- Mining
- HEP
- Tourism
- Forestry
What makes HEP appropriate in glaciated areas
Glaciers provide meltwater to power the turbines. The u-shaped valleys are easy to damn.
Example of Tourism in glaciated areas
The swiss alps have a system of fully developed infrastructure to allow tourism in the alps.
Decribe the tundra ecosystem
The tundra ecosystem has low energy and is fragile. Very short summers, low rainfall and cold winters mena very little biomass, with low nutrient cycling. This means pollutants stay in the ecosystem for longer.
Water in glacited environments
75% of fresh wate ris currently stored as ice
Water role does glacial melt water play?
The meltwater is the source of many rivers and is vital to irrigation. The UN predicts that 40% 9of the world’s population will be effected by changes to meltwater regimes in Asia.
How does permafrost relate to carbon?
Permafrost stores 1.5 trillion tonnes of carbon, if it melts this carbon will be released causing a postive feedback loop. The car4bon dioxide released will cause further warming, melting more permafrost which continues the cycle.
