Small Glaciers In Canadian Rockies Likely To Disappear In Coming Decades

[hatrack]

Global warming could lead to the disappearance of some of the smaller glaciers in the Rocky Mountains within the next 30 to 40 years, according to a new study. As warmer springs and autumns extend the melting season, the study predicts the snowline will increase in elevation and many of the area’s glaciers are expected to begin retreating. The report predicts lower elevation glaciers such as Peyto, and particularly those less than 100 metres thick, will disappear in the coming three to four decades.

The study, by Canadian climate change and tourism expert Daniel Scott, says glacier coverage is already estimated to have decreased 25 per cent in the 20th century. For example, the terminus of the giant Athabasca glacier - the main tourist attraction at the famed Columbia Icefield - has already retreated about 1,200 metres since 1900.

Scott’s report, which looks at the impact of climate change on recreation and tourism in Banff, says the Columbia Icefield could lose much of the current tourist attraction if glacier retreat occurs. Officials with Brewster, which runs the famed snow coach tours at the Athabasca Glacier, say the company will continue to adapt to any changes.

Andrew Whittick, the company’s vice-president of operations, said access points for tours on the glacier have been moved at various times since the 1960s and 1970s as the glacier retreats. “You adapt to it and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing,” he said. “We’re still investing heavily in our Icefield operation and we don’t anticipate that we’ll have any problems in accessing that glacier surface.’’

EDIT

http://www.rockymountainoutlook.ca/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=128&cat=23&id=561707&more=

[applegrove]

1. That is really sad. There goes our pretty blue lakes. There goes the

whole upper altitude ecosystem.