Glaciers come in many shapes and sizes, and are found all over the world. However due to Climate Change most of those glaciers are disappearing. During the 20th Century, glaciers in the Canadian Rockies have decreased by 25%, whereas glaciers in the European Alps have decreased by 30-40%. Of the once 150 glaciers in Glacier National Park, USA, only 35 remain and over the next 30 years are expected to disappear completely.
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| Angel Glacier (a hanging glacier) at Mt. Edith Cavil, Jasper National Park |
In 2004, 80% of Mountain Biosphere Reserves (MBR) identified the number one concern of Climate Change was the impact on tourism and recreation. Not only does Climate Change impact the aesthetic nature that tourists are coming to see, but the water supply is also affected by the change in water-storage capabilities. These changes can also lead to glacier avalanches, and landslides.
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| Avalanche on Mt. Snow Dome near the head wall of the Athabasca Glacier |
That all being said, the bright side (if there is a bright side) to Climate Change, is new tourism opportunities can develop. The tourism industry is always suffering from seasonality, but with the warmer weather some glacier destinations can add new activities or extended the season for current activities, such as hiking and mountain biking, or even swimming in glacial lakes.
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| Polar Bear Dip 2011 in Lake Sunwapta near the toe of the Athabasca Glacier (3 different flip flops were lost that day, mine included) |
Going back to the water-storage aspect of glaciers and Climate Change, it is not just the local water supply that is affected but the nearby oceans as well. The Dome Glacier, for example, is one of the only triple continental divides in the world. Water from this glacier flows into 3 different oceans, the Pacific, Atlantic, and the Arctic.
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| Dome Glacier in Jasper National Park |
The glacier is called Dome Glacier because it is on Mt. Snow Dome, which got its name from being dome shaped. This glacier, much like the Andromeda Glacier nearby, has carved a bowl shape in the side of the mountain, hence why both these glaciers are known as bowl shaped glaciers. Andromeda, however also has hanging glacier aspect to it as well.
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