3.1.2.3 Environment - Case Studys Flashcards
What is the highest point on the Trans-Alaskan pipeline?
4739 ft above sea level
How many barrels of oil did the Trans-Alaskan pipeline transport to be exported in the port of Valdez?
226,000,000 barrels of oil
How much did the Trans-Alaskan pipeline cost to build?
$8bn to build
How long is the Trans-Alaskan pipeline?
800mi long
Why the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline was needed?
- The Trans-Alaskan Pipeline was needed as the largest stores of oil in the USA was found in Prudhoe bay in 1968.
- Unable to be feasibly reached by any other methods (e.g. tanker) the pipeline was the best way to transport the oil to a far away port
How has the Trans-Alaskan pipeline been modified to fit with the environment?
- built in a zig-zag so it can withstand movement from earthquake tremors
- built above ground so it doesn’t melt permafrost
- the flow of oil in the Trans-Alaskan pipeline can be shut down and isolated within 15mins if a leak or blockage is detected
How many barrels of oil can the Trans-Alaskan pipeline transport per day?
can transport up to 1.4mil barrels of oil a day
Advantages of the Trans-Alaskan pipeline:
- can transport up to 1.4mil barrels of oil a day
- revenue collected from oil means cities of Alaska pay reduced taxes
- trucks can only pass Prudhoe bay 10 weeks of the years, it is too dangerous otherwise - the pipeline allows oil to pass all year
Disadvantages of the Trans-Alaskan pipeline:
- the pipeline can stop the migration of Caribou - a common species to Alaska
- the pipeline is an environmental eyesore
- the temp of oil could cause permafrost to melt, the could cause subsidence and the pipeline could collapse - a major disaster
Why is the Tundra so fragile?
- Tundra vegetation takes a long time to be established
- relatively minor developments such as construction a footpath can have serious long-term effects
- tundra is a fragile environment and can take a very long time to recover from any damage that is done by human activity
If you stand on the ground in the tundra how long would your footprint stay there?
10years
Where were tire tracks in the Tundra found?
Alaska’s Wrangelli- St. Elias National Park
What happened in Alaska’s Wrangelli- St. Elias National Park?
- off-road vehicles have left deep tire tracks in the swampy tundra
- over time, as other vehicles skirt the muddy pool
- damage extends over a large area
Why were there tire tracks found in the tundra in Alaska?
- off-road vehicle driving is a popular tourist activity in the Alaskan wilderness
- people may be hunting for wild animals or simply want to travel to a remote area for walking or fishing
When did the tire tracks in Alaska become made?
- most off-road driving takes place in the Summer when the snow has melted
- warmer temps melt the upper surface of the soil (active layer) making it extremely soggy
How does industry affect cold environments?
- cold environments have rich reserves of oil, gas and other precious minerals such as gold
- oil and gas in particular are in high demand as a source of energy and countries are keen to exploit these resources, roads have to be constructed through forests and across the tundra and supply bases built
- housing for 100s of workers also needs to be constructed
- all of this can have huge impact on environment
What are some environmental issues with drilling for oil in cold environments?
- trees killed by oil spill
- risk of fire, either started deliberately or by lightning strike
- river has become polluted and is now totally lifeless
- river edge habitats polluted and destroyed - the vegetation may never recover
- electricity pylons will have resulted in tree clearance and environmental damage
What are some local challenges of drilling for oil im Alaska?
- oil is being extracted in a National Park, an area protected by law
- citizens do not pay any state tax
- the nature of the environment in Alaska means the Trans-Alaskan pipeline is fragile
- store of oil will run out
At one point at what rate was oil being extracted form the North Slope Reserve?
2mil barrels per day
How many barrels of oil do BP experts think is left in the North Slope Reserve alone?
2mil barrels of oil left in North Slope Oil Reserve alone - when it runs out lots of jobs will be lost
What are some International challenges of drilling for oil in Alaska?
- oil is a non-renewable finite source of energy
- when oil in countries run out, countries the oil was being exported to will be negatively affected
- decrease in tourism because oil pipelines are an environmental eyesore
How many jobs are created through drilling for oil in Alaska?
- increase job prospect 44,800 people employed in oil
How many additional jobs do every oil and gas job generate?
every direct oil and gas job generates 20 additional jobs
What are some local opportunities in drilling for oil in Alaska?
- creates more jobs
- increase demand for housing, helps to boost construction industry
- no taxation allows standard of living to increase, along with personal wealth - this helps to increase spending - a multiplier effect
- charities and NGO’s benefit from generous donations each year
- investment in the future, Alaskans are paid dividends, meaning future generations benefit whether they are involved in oil or not
What are some International opportunities in drilling for oil in Alaska?
- lots of investment from companies such as BP or Royal Dutch Shell, places Alaska on the map
- as there is no income tax in Alaska, this is helping to attract lots of skilled workers to the areas
- Alaska is seen to be the world lead-in oil exploration, their knowledge has attracted lots of attention from other countries wishing to make money from oil
Where did the Exxon Valdez oil spill take place?
Prince William Sound, Alaska, US
What happened at the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
Ruptured hull of an oil supertanker began spewing crude oil almost immediately after it grounded outside the port or Valdez
How many L of oil as released at the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
more than 40mill L of oil was released
Why did the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill take place?
ran aground on the “Big Reef” due to the captain being drunk in cabin
When did the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill take place?
24th March 1989
How many and which animals died due to the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
- bald eagles, gulls, killer whales, seals, and otters died in the 10,000s
- lots of fish died
- species and habitats destroyed - coated in toxic tar
What did the animals that survived the Exxon Valdez oil spill had to have done?
those who survived a coating of oil had to be cleaned and often nursed back to health
What are some long-term environmental impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
- if you dig on the back you’ll find oil within 10mins - going to take 100s of yrs to recover
- clean up went on for yrs
How was the local economy impact by the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
negatively effected from loss of jobs
What happened to the fishing industry due to the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
collapse of local fishing industry due to loss of sea life
How many. jobs did the tourism industry lose due to the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
tourism industry immediately lost over 26,000 jobs
How much money in sales did the tourism industry lose in sales due to the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
more than $2.4bil in sales
What are some social impacts that the Exxon Valdez oil spill cause?
- fisherman suffered health problems such as auto-immune diseases which was blamed on the chemicals released in the oil spill
- loss of jobs and livelihood
What are the different methods of managing Alaska?
- International Agreements
- National Governments
- Non-Governmental Organisations
What is the International Whaling Convention?
an International body formed to provide proper conservation of whale stocks therefore developing whale industry
How successful has the International Whaling Convention been?
reduced whale hunting dramatically from its peak in 1960s and brought almost all species of whale from danger of extinction
How many gov’s are members of the International Whaling Convention?
88 gov’s are members
Why is this activity (International Whaling Convention) sustainable?
less illegal whaling and allows whale population to increase while still getting whale products
What is the Arctic Council’s Role in managing Alaska?
- forum for promoting cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the Arctic States
- involvement with the Arctic Indigenous community and inhabitants on issues such as sustainable development and environmental protection
- encourage gov’s to reduce GHG emissions
What powers do national governments have?
can coin money, regulate mail, declare war, or conduct foreign affairs to create laws
What is Greenpeace?
NGO that seeks to protect the environment - pressure group, put pressure on the gov
How is Greenpeace funded?
- donations and foundations
- no funding from gov
How does Greenpeace attract support?
publicise everything they do to attract attention - media attention
What is Greenpeace doing to protect Alaska?
takes action to protect oceans and forests, eliminates the use of harmful chemicals and helps transition to a world powered by clean and unlimited E sources e.g. wind and sun
What is Greenpeace doing to protect the Arctic?
plan for an Arctic sanctuary which would protect ocean from people and keep out fishing fleets and drilling tips - provided a safe haven for Arctic wildlife as they struggle to deal with changing environment
How have officials responded to Greenpeace’s activism?
some politicians think that Greenpeace’s actions are unfair because they are unable to see any economic benefits
Why was the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline needed?
- The Trans-Alaskan Pipeline was needed as the largest stores of oil in the USA was found in Prudhoe bay in 1968
- Unable to be feasibly reached by any other methods (e.g. tanker) the pipeline was the best way to transport the oil to a far away port
How big is the Thar Desert and the location?
.200,000km²
.northwest India
What are opportunities of mineral extraction in the Thar desert?
-gypsum(plaster)
—feldspar(cermaics)
-phospherate(fertiliser)
-kaolin(whitener in paper)
-Jaisamer sanu limestone for India’s steel industry quarried at Jodhpur
What are opportunities of tourism in Thar desert?
-desert safaris on camels
-annual desert festival held each winter
What are opportunities of energy in the Thar desert?
-Coal, extensive lignite coal deposits and thermal energy plant at Giral
-Oil, large oilfield in Barmer district
-Wind, Jaisalmer Wind Park constructed in 2001 is India’s largest wind park
-Solar, ideal conditions for solar panels and at Bhaleri solar power is used in water treatment
What are opportunities of farming in Thar desert?
-most farming is subsistence
-commercial farming become possible due to irrigation
-Indira Ghandi canal built in 1958 has revolutionised farming
-crops like wheat and cotton now thrive
Challenge: Extreme temperature in Thar desert?
-can exceed 50 degrees Celsius
-difficult to work outside
-high evaporation rates leads to water shortages
-livestock require shade
Challenge of water supply in Thar desert
increase demand due to bigger population and more farming
-high evaporation due to high temp, low annual rainfall and strong winds
-Indira Ghandi canal was built in 1958
-Is 650km long
-Irrigates 3500km squared of land
Challenge of inaccessibility in Thar Desert
-very limited road network
-high temperatures cause tarmac to melt
-strong winds blow sand across road
-public transport involves seriously overladen buses
-many places only accessible by camel
Definition of desertification
the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.
Causes of desertification
Erosion, overgrazing, drought, soil compaction, agriculture, climate change
