Warming may both hurt and help critical tourism business in Southeast Alaska
US Forest Service officials announced Friday, July 18, 2014, that the ceiling of a popular Mendenhall Glacier ice cave collapsed near the entry.
Global warming could threaten Alaska's status as one of the nation's most desirable tourist destinations, warn scientists studying climate change.
"Biodiversity changes, particularly if they relate to charismatic wildlife -- everybody talks about polar bears, and whales and seals in the marine environment. Anything that impacts those negatively runs the risk of sort of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs," said Peter Convey, polar ecologist with the British Antarctic Survey.
Convey and Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Director John Neary spoke with reporters in a teleconference Tuesday, discussing the International Panel on Climate Change's June report on tourism impacts. It was organized by the Climate Change Campaign, a joint effort by several environmental groups to call attention to the issue.
In Juneau, at the U.S. Forest Service's glacier visitor center, Neary is worried about the impact of warming on one of the state's top attractions for out-of-state visitors.
The Mendenhall Glacier has been retreating since the end of the Little Ice Age 200 years ago but lately that loss has accelerated, Neary said.
"We have all watched it retreating up the valley behind the lake, wondering exactly what's going to happen when it disappears from view," he said.
A similar retreat by Portage Glacier near Girdwood eventually left the ice out of sight, prompting a decrease in visitors.
A less exciting trip for future visitors might mean less willingness by tourist companies and others to invest in new facilities and infrastructure, he said.
A more immediate concern at Mendenhall is the glacier pulling back out of the lake, he said.
"We're probably going to see icebergs disappear from the lake in the next few years," Neary said.
Complete Article: http://www.adn.com/article/20140729/warming-may-both-hurt-and-help-critical-tourism-business-southeast-alaska
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A real concern Larry.
Good to see you again, you've been missed.
Glad for your return.
Those who genuflect to the church of "The Market Place is God," will kill us all before acknowledging "Global Climate Change."
The fact that Exxon-Mobil paid "scientists" to lie about the veracity of the phenomenon, says it all. And the Obama-haters will disagree with anything he advocates. If Obama declared that it was unhealthy to eat feces, tea party types all across America would stop flushing "Number 2" and stock up.
Thanks Kavika good to be active again. I have been watching from the side lines so not really gone.
Thanks AMac, I post these types of articles to remind us that no matter what people want to call it, IT is happening and getting worse everyday we try to ignore it.