Heather Purdie

Glacier Retreat and Tourism: Insights from New Zealand

Abstract Glacier tourism, a multimillion-dollar industry in New Zealand, is potentially under threat by ongoing glacial retreat. Surface morphology changes associated with retreat and thinning result in increasingly difficult access for guided walks on the Franz Josef Glacier, but simultaneously, an enlarging proglacial lake is increasing tourism opportunities at Tasman Glacier. Steepening ice slopes, increased debris cover, and an increase in the rockfall hazard are just some of the challenges glacier tourism operators face as glaciers around the world retreat. To date in New Zealand, glacier tourism has kept pace with ongoing glaciological change, often by increasing mechanized access. Focusing scientific research on short-term process studies—for example, determining thinning rates and assessing hazards—will help tour operators and policy-makers make decisions about future glacier utilization and accessibility.

Synoptic Influences on Snow Accumulation on Glaciers East and West of a Topographic Divide: Southern Alps, New Zealand

Abstract Understanding relationships between snow accumulation and synoptic climatology is important for assessing the way in which future climate variability will impact on glacier mass balance. However, few studies have as yet examined these relationships. Variability in snow accumulation on mid-latitude glaciers is strongly influenced by atmospheric circulation, orography, and redistribution of snow by wind. Very little is known about these processes in the New Zealand Southern Alps, where it is assumed that west-facing glaciers receive higher snow totals. However, few measurements are available to test this hypothesis. These processes were investigated over a 21-day period in winter 2008 on glaciers located west (Franz Josef Glacier) and east (Tasman Glacier) of the Main Divide of the Southern Alps. We directly measured snow accumulation and considered how it was affected by synoptic weather regime and location with respect to the Main Divide. Both glaciers received ∼75% of their snowfall during troughing regimes, which are characterized by strong westerly quadrant winds bringing humid air masses from the Tasman Sea over the Southern Alps. The Franz Josef Glacier site received ∼30% more snow than the Tasman Glacier site, but wind deflation meant that by the end of the study period, net snow accumulation was similar at both sites. Blocking synoptic regimes resulted in a reversal of prevailing westerly flow, generating strong downslope winds at Franz Josef Glacier and snow loss.

Isotopic and Elemental Changes in Winter Snow Accumulation on Glaciers in the Southern Alps of New Zealand

Abstract The authors present stable water isotope and trace element data for fresh winter snow from two temperate maritime glaciers located on opposite sides of the New Zealand Southern Alps. The isotopes δ18O and δD were more depleted at the eastern Tasman Glacier site because of prevailing westerly flow and preferential rainout of heavy isotopes as air masses crossed the Alps. The deuterium excess provided some indication of moisture provenance, with the Tasman Sea contributing ∼70% of the moisture received at Franz Josef and Tasman Glaciers. This source signal was also evident in trace elements, with a stronger marine signal (Na, Mg, and Sr) associated with snow from the Tasman Sea and larger concentrations of terrestrial species (Pb, V, and Zr) in air masses from the Southern and Pacific Oceans. Although postdepositional modification of signals was detected, the results indicate that there is exciting potential to learn more about climate trends and moisture source pathways and to learn from geochemic...

UAV- based Photogrammetry and Geocomputing for Hazards and Disaster Risk Monitoring – A Review

BackgroundThe unraveling of the human-induced climate-change crisis has put to the forth the ability of human-beings to impact the planet as a whole, but the discourse of politics has also emphasized the ability of the human race to adapt and counterweigh the environmental change, in turn increasing the public expectation that one should be able to control nature and its affects. Such cozy and reassured society consequently puts an increasing amount of pressure on hazards assessors, emergency and disaster managers “to get it right”, and not only to save the majority, but to save all. To reach such level of competency, emergency relief teams and disaster managers have to work always faster with an increasing need of high quality, high-resolution geospatial data. This need is being partly resolved with the usage of UAV (Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles), both on the ground and airborne.ResultsIn this contribution, we present a review of this field of research that has increased exponentially in the last few years. The rapid democratization of the tool has lead to a significant price reduction and consequently a broad scientific usage that have resulted in thousands of scientific contributions over the last decade. The main usages of UAVs are the mapping of land features and their evolution over time, the mapping of hazards and disasters as they happen, the observation of human activity during an emergency or a disaster, the replacement of telecommunication structures impacted by a natural hazards and the transport of material to isolated groups.ConclusionThose usages are mostly based on the use of single UAVs or UAVs as single agents eventually collaborating. The future is most certainly in the ability to accomplish complex tasks by leveraging the multiple platforms possibilities. As an example, we presented an experiment showing how multiple UAV platforms taking imagery together at the same time could provide true 4D (3D in time) of geo-processes such as river-bed evolution, or rockfalls, etc.

Valley cross‐profile morphology and glaciation in Park Valley, Tararua Range, New Zealand

Abstract Previous anecdotal research by G. L. Adkin over 90 years ago suggested that Park Valley in the Tararua Range was glaciated during the Late Quaternary, on the basis of the “U‐shaped” cross‐profile character of the uppermost parts of the valley. We quantitatively describe the cross‐profile morphology of the upper parts of Park Valley in the Tararua Range, using the power‐law model (y = axb ) and the form ratio model (FR = D/2W). Comparison of these results with morphological data published in global studies of glaciated landscapes suggests the upper parts of Park Valley have indeed been glaciated. Palaeoglacier reconstruction of this area gives a surface area of c. 1.41 km2, a maximum thickness of 130 m and a maximum basal shear stress value of 99 kPa. The equilibrium‐line altitude of the former glacier has been calculated as c. 1210 m, and with the absence of any dated moraines, the glacier is assumed to have formed during the Otira Glaciation.

Implications of climate change for glacier tourism

ABSTRACT For more than 100 years, the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers in Westland Tai Poutini National Park have attracted thousands of tourists annually and have emerged as iconic destinations in New Zealand. However, in recent years, the recession of both glaciers has been increasingly rapid and the impacts on, and implications for, visitor experiences in these settings remain relatively unexplored. A mixed-method approach was adopted to investigate visitor experiences and stakeholder perspectives through an assessment of climate-related changes on tourism at the glaciers in Westland Tai Poutini National Park. The bio-physical conditions at both the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers were reviewed in order to assess the magnitude and rate of retreat. Perceptions of climate change risk and awareness of impacts in the National Park were assessed through stakeholder interviews (n = 13) and a visitor survey (n = 500) was used to better understand how impacts at these sites have affected and may continue to affect visitor experiences. Research results were reported to local communities via a series of public talks. Results revealed the fundamental importance of viewing the glaciers as a significant travel motive of visitors, suggesting that there is a ‘last chance’ dimension to their experience. Furthermore, the results demonstrate a high adaptive capacity of local tourism operators under rapidly changing environmental conditions. The implications of altered visitor experiences for tourism operators and protected area managers are discussed in light of these findings.

The Impact Of Extreme Summer Melt on Net Accumulation of an Avalanche Fed Glacier, as Determined by Ground‐Penetrating Radar

Abstract Glacier mass balance is more sensitive to warming than cooling, but feedbacks related to the exposure of previously buried firn and ice in very warm years is not generally considered in sensitivity studies. A ground‐penetrating radar survey in the accumulation area of Rolleston Glacier, New Zealand shows that five years of previous net accumulation was removed by melt from parts of the glacier above the long‐term equilibrium line altitude during a single negative mass balance year. Rolleston Glacier receives a large amount of accumulation from snow avalanches, which may temporarily buffer it from climate warming by providing additional mass that has accumulated at higher elevations, effectively increasing the elevation range of the glacier. However, glaciers reliant on avalanche input may have high sensitivity to climatic variations because the extra mass is concentrated on a small part of the glacier, and small variations in avalanche input could have a large impact on overall glacier accumulation. Further research is needed to better estimate the amount and spatial distribution of accumulation by avalanche in order to quantify the climate sensitivity of small avalanche‐fed glaciers.

Revisiting glaciological measurements on Haupapa/Tasman Glacier, New Zealand, in a contemporary context

ABSTRACT Compilation of fragmented glaciological data, spanning more than a century at Haupapa/Tasman Glacier, provides new insight on how this glacier is changing over time. Despite consistency in high accumulation on the glacier, dramatic surface thinning and up-glacier expansion of supraglacial debris highlights that the glacier is currently in disequilibrium with climate. However, pauses in the rate of debris emergence indicate that despite ongoing terminus retreat at the proglacial lake, a subtle response to climate is still detectable mid-glacier. Analysis of surface velocity data at key locations reveals no trend over time at the Malte Brun site in the upper ablation area, but recent deceleration was recorded near the Ball Glacier confluence, located 5 km up-glacier from the current terminus. Near-terminus acceleration during a period of rapid lake expansion, followed by more recent deceleration, demonstrates that at this time, ice thinning at Haupapa/Tasman Glacier is likely being driven by negative surface mass balance as opposed to dynamic thinning associated with proglacial lake enlargement.

Adrift in the Anthropocene

This chapter examines likely future changes in New Zealand over the intermediate (100 year) and a longer term (5000 year) futures. The first section examines the underlying processes and concludes that in the longer term future, tectonic and volcanic processes are likely to have a stronger impact on New Zealand, as a landmass, than foreseeable future climate change. The risks to human activity from fault movement and volcanic eruptions are highlighted. The latter part of the chapter looks at likely geomorphic and biological changes. Geomorphic systems are more strongly modulated by tectonic processes but it is concluded that climate change will significantly impact glaciers and high mountain areas. These changes are largely negative but some new tourism opportunities may emerge. In contrast, the combination of climate change, increasing human pressure and geological disasters are cumulatively likely to significantly affect the remaining native biota of New Zealand. This is the most sensitive component of the New Zealand landscape and we are pessimistic about the prospects of maintaining native biodiversity.