Lesson 15: Threats Flashcards
Examples of natural threats?
Landslides/debris slides
Rockfall
Glacial outburst floods
Avalanches
Examples of human threats?
Leisure and tourism
Reservoir construction
Urbanisation
Define avalanche?
An avalanche exists where sheer stress exceeds sheer strength of a mass of snow located on a slope
How many deaths from avalanches a year?
200
Where do most avalanche deaths occur?
Alps and Rockies
Define glacial outburst flood
A powerful flood caused by the sudden discharge of a subglacial or ice moraine dammed lake
How many visitors a year does Zermatt, Switzerland attract?
2 million
What can the population be in Zermatt at the height of the ski season?
35 000
How does tourism act as a threat?
Creates a huge demand for energy and water and threatens environmental degradation due to urbanisation, increased noise and vehicle emissions and the expansion of ski areas
% of fresh water stored in glcaiers?
69%
How many glaciers in Chinese Tibetan Plateau?
37 000
How many rely on water from these glaciers?
2 billion people
How many reservoirs does China want to build?
59
Impact to environment from dam and reservoir construction?
Requires intense, heavy machinery and the clearing of land as well as irreversible damage to wildlife
How does urbanisation threaten the glacial environment?
-Settlements in polar regions tend to be surrounded by nothing and tend to be built for resource exploitation purposes including whaling, mining and fishing
-Issues with pollution and toxic waste
Cause of glacial outburst floods in Iceland?
Volcanic activity generates both meltwater beneath glaciers and acts as a trigger for ice instability and sudden release of meltwater
Where does the heat come from in Iceland? Which ice cap does it affect?
Heat fromGrimsvotn volcano
Beneath Vatnajokull ice cap
Discharge of ice cap in Iceland?
0.5-3.5 km3 every 3-6 years
Eruption in 1996 saw an ash plume of how high?
10 km
Cost of damage to infrastructure in Iceland?
$15 million
How is Zermatt ski resort sustainable?
Town is car-free, only electric buses or taxis as transport, use of solar and geothermal energy on buildings, waste water collected and purified for reuse for sanitation
% of slopes claimed to be repaired in Zermatt with vegetation?
85%
How much is invested into environmental projects in Zermatt each year?
1 million Swiss Francs
How many protected forests and designated wildlife sanctuaries does Zermatt have?
6 forests
10 sanctuaries
Proposal to build a tower on Klein Matterhorn height and concerns?
4000m high
Concern for further degradation of the natural landscape
How many car spaces in 2010 proposal for a new car park? Which environmental groups got involved?
2000 spaces
WWF and Pro Natura
Amount of forest that would have to be removed for car park?
9000 m2
4 human activities affecting the Lake District?
Soil erosion
Deforestation
Trampling
Landslides
What is the Lake District an example of?
Relict Glaciated Landscape
Miles of footpath in the Lake District?
2000 miles
Number of tourists who visit the Lake District every year?
16 million tourists
How is footpath erosion occurring in the Lake District?
Activities such as walking, climbing and camping
How does footpath erosion destroy the environment?
-Destroy vegetation and compact soil, which reduces infiltration rate
-Exposed soil is more easily washed away by heavy rain
-Gullies may form, which channel even more water and cause further erosion
-Walkers try to avoid badly eroded sections of footpath - inevitably end up widening them
How much did visitors spend in the Lake District in 2014?
£1.1 billion
How many jobs does the LD Park provide?
16,000 jobs
What theory does the LD support?
Multiplier effect
Year an aqueduct was connected between Thirlmere and Manchester?
1894
How long is the aqueduct?
96 miles
% of land used in the fell tops in LD?
60%
Height of the fell tops in LD?
600m high
% of land use in lower slopes? Use?
30%
Raising sheep for wool and lamb - autumn and spring
% of land used on the flat valley floor? Use?
10%
Growing crops, shearing and cattle
What is Sagarmatha National Park an example of?
Active Glaciated Landscape
Famous landmark in Sagarmatha?
Mt. Everest
Number of Sherpa people in Sagarmatha?
6000
Number of people who visited Sagarmatha in 2014?
37 000
Height of Mt. Everest?
8848 m
Causes of deforestation in Sagarmatha?
Farming
Use of firewood as fuel
Clearing forested areas to build roads, reservoirs
% of Nepalese forests remaining?
30%
Consequences of reduced Nepalese forestry?
-Loss of wildlife habitats and biodiversity
-Erosion of exposed soils leading to infertile soil as nutrients are washed away.
-Increased risk of landslides
-Disruption of the water cycle
% of Sherpa who are Buddhist?
93%
Cultural significance of Everest to Sherpa?
-Worshipped as part of Buddhist beliefs - caves, forests and mountains
-Restricted hunting and respect for all living things
Number to reach Everest Summit?
6000
% of those to reach summit who were guided clients?
90%
Issues with the number of people now paying thousands to climb everest?
Polluting camps with litter, abandoned equipment and human waste
What is being called for to reduce effects of the number of tourists on Everest?
-Limit the number of permits given to climbers each year
-Restrict group sizes to reduce dangerous traffic jams - particularly at the Hillary Step
-Insist all guides are qualified
% glaciers around Everest shrunk by in last 50 years up to 2013?
13%
How much has the snow line around Everest shrunk by in the last 50 years up to 2013?
180m
