Value of Glaciated Landscapes Flashcards
What research takes place in Antarctica
-Antarctica is a pristine landscape
-Scientists use ice cores to understand past and present climate change (Look at concentration of greenhouses gases trapped in ice layers)
-Understanding the scale and pace of melting through satellites and field data
-Researching ‘life on the edge’ to explore how ecosystems cope with intensely harsh conditions
Economic value of glaciated landscapes
FARMING:
-Indigenous people gain their living from agriculture
HEP:
-Major use of water derived from glaciers
-Reservoirs in glaciated valleys provide HEP
-E.g. Used in Nepal to improve quality of life
MINING:
-Glacial erosion removes lose soil which exposes valuable rocks
-Outwash deposits provide people with a source of sand and gravel for building in developing areas
