7.2: The threats to glaciated upland landscapes Flashcards
Name 3 natural hazards of glacial environments
- Avalanches
- Lahars
- Glacial Outburst floods
Explain how Avalanches are a natural hazard in glacial environments
while they tend to follow well known tracks and can often be predicted, they are a significant hazard, usually killing around 200 people per year with most deaths in the Alpes or Rockies
In 2015 the Nepalese earthquake set off an avalanche that jilled a number of people at an Everest base camp
Explain how Lahars are a natural hazard in glacial environments
In 1985 after the volcanic eruption of Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia a Lahar was triggered by the volcanic activity which engulfed the town if Armero in a 3-8 meter deep mudflow 50Km downstream killing 23,000 people
Explain how Glacial Outburst Floods are a natural hazard in glacial environments
They can destroy property and kill people being able to travel 10 - 100’s of kilometers
Explain what an Avalanche is
a mass of snow, rock, ice, soil, and other material slides swiftly down a mountainside.
Explain what an Lahar is
a hot or cold mixture of water and rock fragments that flow quickly down the slopes of a volcano.
Explain what an Glacial Outburst Flood is
a type of outburst flood caused by the failure of a dam containing a glacial lake
Name 3 threats that Polar Tourism poses to these landscapes
- Disturbance of Wildlife
- Litter and waste
- Environmental degradation
- removal of historic artefacts
- Disturbance of environmental research
What is being done in order to mitigate the risks to glacial landscapes posed by tourism
Refer to the study on the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO)
They have helped to police a framework out in place to mange Antarctic Tourism
Name 2 measures that could be taken in order to limit the impacts of polar tourism
- limiting Tourist Numbers
- mandatory safety codes for tourist vessels
- ratification of laws to prevent ships of more than 500 passengers from landing
