1 Background - mountain.PROJECTS

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TURKU UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY PUBLICATIONS B Nr 4glacier origin (Roland 2003). A hydro power plant needs both short and long term scenariosof glacier resource in order to plan the activities. In a short term, glacier retreat wouldincrease the glacier power availability, which would diminish after the glacier is disappeared(Figure 44). An advancing glacier is producing melt water and hydropower as well, but lessthan a retreating glacier. Through the nationwide electricity networks glacier power isimportant not only to the countries of origin, but also to the customers. In 2003, a group ofFinnish power companies bought a share of the hydro power plant next to Svartisen, whichacquires its hydro power from the glacier. There were two reasons for the action. Firstly,precipitation has been very small during the last years in Finland, which has been noticed inFinnish hydropower stations. Secondly glacier power does not produce green house gases.Due to the Kioto agreement it is good that power companies have part of the power producedby hydropower. Before the decision, the availability of the resource was studied carefully.Tourism and glacier hazardsThe natural beauty of glaciers has attracted people through times (Figure 45). Today glaciatedregions are popular tourists attractions offering a source of livelihood in remote areas (Ives1991), and are popular destinations for skiers, <strong>mountain</strong>eers and hikers. In some areas ofScandinavia and Alps glaciers are important to local and regional tourism. Due to thedecreasing snowfall in the Alps during the recent years, alpine skiing business has facedserious problems (Figure 46). On a glacier the ski slopes are easy to maintain since from acold surface snow does not melt as fast as from a ground. In addition, glacier topography isalso ideal for slalom. With retreating glaciers there are less skiing possibilities. Glacialenvironments are interesting also for summer tourists and hikers.Figure 45. Tourists admiring the beauty of Hintereisferner and Weisskugel on August 13, 2003.(Photo: Petri Pellikka).66
PETRI PELLIKKA AND KARI KAJUUTTI (ED)Global change is a potential threat for residents and businesses in these areas. Glacial retreatmeans that glaciers become unstable and can even become prone to sudden outburst floods ofwater, sometimes even threatening people’s lives. This glacier tourism has also some risks. In2001 a serious glacier avalanche took place in Caucasus <strong>mountain</strong>s killing tens of people.Apart from the direct safety risk to people living or staying in the area, business owners needto be aware of the economical risks involved in operating in this kind of environment.Changes in glacier dimensions and also in the characteristics of the ice flow may lead tounfamiliar conditions for those living and working in the area.Figure 46. Italian summer ski resort could not operate in August 2003 due to absence of snow andfirn cover on the Hochjochferner glacier. (Photo: Petri Pellikka).Glaciated areas are beautiful but also fragile environments. The effects of global changecombined with increasing tourism have to be taken into account while planning land use inorder to preserve these environments for the future. Developing a monitoring system will notstop global change but the more information we have about these changes, the more time wehave, to be prepared.OMEGA has provided accurate and up-to-date information to the authorities and the public.Glacier changes are monitored as far back in time as possible in order to help us to understandand predict the changes and the consequences of these changes for the inhabitants and touristsof a particular area. OMEGA project cannot prevent glaciers from retreating, but it has beenable to provide information on glacier changes. Intensive glacier monitoring, such as inOMEGA can also provide data for glacier risk assessment. Glacier change studies can alsoprovide data information for the alpine ski resort planners. During the OMEGA projectseveral tourist and information activities has taken place. In Vent, the town closest toHintereisferner, an information center for glacier changes in the area will be founded. The67
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1 Background - mountain.PROJECTS

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