Case Study: Glacial Retreat

Part A. How are the Glaciers in each area behaving?

1.  The climate and affect it has on glaciers are interwoven, Glaciers respond to change in climate in terms of glacier length, mass balance and runoff.

I) In the Himalayas due to the rising temperature, Himalayan glaciers are melting faster than in other areas of the world. It has been recorded that there is less snowfall during the winter and an increase in temperature of 1.6 degrees Celsius in the summer. Less snow in the winter and warmer temperatures in the summer will cause a higher equilibrium line and in result of that, a negative mass balance causing the glacier to retreat. According to satellite images study and field investigations at the Chhota Shigri glacier done in 1988 and 2003 suggest a retreat of 800 meters from 1988- 2003.

Himalayan Glacier

II) In Glacial National Park glacier recession is extremely potent, and many glaciers have dissipated completely. The retreat of these small alpine glaciers reflects changes in recent climate as glaciers respond to altered temperature and precipitation. It has been estimated that there were approximately 150 glaciers present in 1850, and most glaciers were still present in 1910 when the park was established but by 2010 only 25 glaciers larger than 25 acres were left remaining. Tree-ring based climate records reveal Pacific Decadal Oscillation effects that have resulted in 20-30 year time frames of hot, dry summers coupled with decreased winter snow-pack which is whats influenced GNP's regional climate so negatively.

III) The Antarctic Peninsula is a rugged mountain chain typically over 2,000 m high, differing from most of Antarctica by having a summer melting season. Records show mean annual temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula have increased rapidly over the past 50 years. On the west coast, warming has been much slower in summer and spring than in winter or autumn, but has been sufficient to raise the number of positive degree days by 74% and the increase in melt has caused dramatic impacts on the Antarctic Peninsula glacial survival. The rate of warming on the Antarctic Peninsula is among the highest seen anywhere on Earth in recent times, and is a dramatic reminder of how subtle climate-dynamic processes can drive regional climate change, and the complexity of its impacts in an environment where human influence is at a minimum.

Antarctic Glacier retreat

2. Discuss social, economic and environmental impacts of Glacial Retreat.

Economic impacts:
- Loss of money from lack of tourists
- Expense to rebuild homes and towns from possible destruction
- Relief and recovery costs from possible destruction

Social impacts:
- Livelihoods at stake in case of natural disaster
- Rising sea levels cause people to relocate
- Farms and crops can be destroyed

Environmental impacts:
- Sea level increase of 6 to 8 inches due to melting glaciers in the past 100 years
- Wildlife that live near glaciers are losing their habitats and becoming extinct
- Causes natural disasters
- Can alter flow of downstream rivers

Part B.

Glacial retreat has a horrific impact on the tourist industry. People spend thousands of dollars to go on cruises and trips to see the glaciers and if they are quickly disappearing tourist industries are at a catastrophic financial loss. Alaska, Banff, Swiss Alps, Glacier national park are all huge tourist attractions and thousands of tourists visit Alaska's glaciers every single year. As they shrink due to global warming and other reasons, many of them are becoming less available to tourists. The Swiss Alps have a massive tourist industry for mountain biking and hiking however as the glaciers are melting so rapidly rock falls are increasing creating dangerous risks to tourists resulting in a steeply declining tourist visit rate. Banff is one of the worlds most visited national parks however with the Rockies glaciers loss of 25% of their mass in just the 20th century, the only industry in Banff being the tourist industry is at a torrential downfall.

Part C.

Glacial retreat has no immediate affect on Haiti therefore I will choose to discuss general impacts of glacial retreat. The general impacts of glacial retreat have occurred worldwide affecting the survival of plants and animals, the availability of fresh water for irrigation and domestic use and mountain recreation. These factors all depend on glacier-melt, and in the long run and to some extent so do sea levels. In areas that are heavily dependent on water runoff from glaciers that melt during the hotter summer months, if the current rate of glacial retreat continues at the same pace, the glacial ice will eventually be entirely depleted and substantially reduce or eliminate runoff. A reduction in runoff will affect the ability to irrigate crops and will reduce summer stream flows necessary to keep dams and reservoirs replenished.