Sand and gravel are taken from eskers and used in the construction industry. Glacial lakes provide a water supply for industry and urban areas.
( Figure 11.28 Gravel mining at an esker Negative influences of glaciation
Poor agricultural land in upland areas
Glaciers remove much of the soil cover in upland areas, often leaving them unsuitable for productive agriculture. Sheep farming and forestry may be the only options for farmers in these regions.
Poor drainage
Glacial deposits such as drumlins can lead to poor drainage, causing bogs to develop in some areas.
: Figure 11.29 Farming options are limited in upland areas Flooding
Although the ice sheets that once covered Ireland are long gone, today’s glaciers and ice caps in the Arctic and Antarctica are melting at an alarming rate. This causes sea levels to rise. If they continue to rise, lowland coastal areas of Ireland will be at risk of flooding.
: Figure 11.30 The melting Antarctic ice sheet will lead to a rise in sea levels
ACT VITY Go online to find out how quickly the polar ice caps are melting each year. What is the impact of this? ACT VITY
Check out ‘The Action of Ice’ clip at https://educateplus.ie/go/action-ice to find out more about how glaciers form and how they are affected by global warming.
(i) Name one positive and one negative impact of glaciation. (ii) Name two ways that glaciation attracts tourists. (iii) How does glaciation influence farming?
/ I can explain the positive and negative influences of glaciation on human activity. 189
