Glacier National Park Concept Map
This concept map shows the effect of climate change on Glacier National Park,
connecting both social and ecological issues to climate change. One ecological issue includes
endangerment of species, such as the stonefly (Bittel, 2020). Another ecological issue includes
melting glaciers, due to global warming, causing decreased habitats for species (Graw, 2017).
One solution for this could be to increase conservation initiatives to preserve their habitats and
increase biodiversity. Another significant issue includes the impacted landscape of Glacier. The
fires that occur in the park, increasing due to climate change, leave significant damages to the
park (NASA, n.d.). The increased number of fires also increases the risk of human disease,
increasing the amount of smoke, causing respiratory illnesses (U.S. Department of the Interior,
n.d.). Vehicle emissions also increase the risk for health issues, which could be aided by
decreasing parking and increasing public transportation in the park.
References
Bittel, J. (2020, February 5). In Glacier National Park, ice isn't the only thing that's
disappearing. NRDC. Retrieved April 8, 2022, from
https://www.nrdc.org/onearth/glacier-national-park-ice-isnt-only-thing-thats-disappearing
Graw, M. (2017, March 15). Climate change and the transformation of Glacier National Park.
The Best Hiking Trails, Camping, and Adventures Near You. Retrieved April 8, 2022,
from
https://www.theoutbound.com/michael-graw/climate-change-and-the-transformation-of-g
lacier-national-park
NASA. (n.d.). World of change: Ice loss in Glacier National Park. NASA. Retrieved April 8,
2022, from https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/Glacier
U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.). Climate change. National Parks Service. Retrieved April
6, 2022, from https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/nature/climate-change.htm