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Glacier recession and the changing rockfall hazard: Implications for glacier tourism
Author(s) -
Purdie Heather,
Gomez Christopher,
Espiner Stephen
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
new zealand geographer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.335
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1745-7939
pISSN - 0028-8144
DOI - 10.1111/nzg.12091
Subject(s) - rockfall , glacier , geology , hazard , natural hazard , rock glacier , physical geography , tourism , debris , recession , geomorphology , geography , landslide , archaeology , oceanography , ecology , keynesian economics , economics , biology
Abstract Rapid recession and thinning of mountain glaciers worldwide are resulting in changes to glacier surface morphology, which are exacerbated by increased rockfall and debris accumulation at lateral margins. Rockfall can be a hazard to people visiting and working on glaciers. Relationships between rockfall and the changing glacier surface were explored at F ox G lacier, where tourism is a key industry. Using a simple rockfall model, it was found that rocks could travel a further 50 m out onto the glacier in 2012 compared with 2008. An improved understanding of natural hazards is essential to the sustainability of the industry, given the importance of glacier‐related tourism in the local and regional economies.