Case Study: Glacial Retreat

Case Study: Glacial Retreat

PART A

1. Himalayas: due to the rising temperature in the Himalayas, the glaciers are melting at a faster rate than the rest of the world. Warmer summers and less snow in the winters will cause a negative mass balance and the glaciers will retreat.

    Glacier National Park: mountain snowpacks hold less water and melt two weeks earlier in the spring, this drastically impacts wildlife drinking water. Some of the parks glaciers might actually vanish by 2030, and if the climate continues, all of them could disappear as well.

    Antarctic Peninsula: warming has been much slower in spring and summer than in fall and winter, but has been sufficient at increasing positive-degree-days by 74%. Seasonal snow coverage has decreased, floating ice shelves have been lost, and glacier termini have retreated.

2. Social: over one million people in Bangladesh have been displaced due to rising sea levels. People depend on river runoff for water, and even transport. Years from now when glaciers melt even more, this will be an issue.

Environmental: sea level has risen by 6 to 8 inches over the last 100 years. Water is stored in glaciers, and the melted water helps maintain river systems. There will be an increase in river runoff, but a sharp decline of it once glaciers melt more.

Economic: ice will no longer be available for winter sports and game, and sightseeing. Less tourists will want to visit if there is not much to see, causing income for tourism to be very low in certain areas (where there are glaciers). Mountain/snow related jobs that people may have could be worthless and could cause them to have to quit their job, or their place of work goes out of business. This could be true for ski lodges, and hotels.

PART B

As stated above in the economic impacts, tourism would be a huge issue. Skiing, snowboarding, and sightseeing would be no more if the glaciers retreated drastically. People would lose their jobs and places would go out of business such as hotels and resorts.

PART C

Sea levels rising is really the only thing that may impact Vanuatu, but even so, the impacts may not be seen for decades or even centuries because of how far Vanuatu is from any glaciers. Sea level is reported to rise 60-70cm by the year 2100, by then you may be able to notice some impact on these countries further away.