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AQA GCSE Geography > 3.1.2.4 Cold Environment - Alaska Case Study > Flashcards

3.1.2.4 Cold Environment - Alaska Case Study Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the highest point on the Trans-Alaskan pipeline?

A

4739 ft above sea level

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2
Q

How many barrels of oil did the Trans-Alaskan pipeline transport to be exported in the port of Valdez?

A

226,000,000 barrels of oil

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3
Q

How much did the Trans-Alaskan pipeline cost to build?

A

$8bn to build

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4
Q

How long is the Trans-Alaskan pipeline?

A

800mi long

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5
Q

Why was the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline needed?

A
  • 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
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5
Q

How has the Trans-Alaskan pipeline been modified to fit with the environment?

A
  • 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
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6
Q

How many barrels of oil can the Trans-Alaskan pipeline transport per day?

A

can transport up to 1.4mil barrels of oil a day

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7
Q

Advantages of the Trans-Alaskan pipeline:

A
  • 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
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8
Q

Disadvantages of the Trans-Alaskan pipeline:

A
  • 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
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9
Q

Why is the Tundra so fragile?

A
  • 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
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10
Q

If you stand on the ground in the tundra how long would your footprint stay there?

A

10years

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11
Q

Where were tire tracks in the Tundra found?

A

Alaska’s Wrangelli- St. Elias National Park

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12
Q

What happened in Alaska’s Wrangelli- St. Elias National Park?

A
  • 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
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13
Q

Why were there tire tracks found in the tundra in Alaska?

A
  • 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
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14
Q

When did the tire tracks in Alaska become made?

A
  • 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
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15
Q

How does industry affect cold environments?

A
  • 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
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16
Q

What are some environmental issues with drilling for oil in cold environments?

A
  • 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
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17
Q

What are some local challenges of drilling for oil im Alaska?

A
  • 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
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18
Q

At one point at what rate was oil being extracted form the North Slope Reserve?

A

2mil barrels per day

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19
Q

How many barrels of oil do BP experts think is left in the North Slope Reserve alone?

A

2mil barrels of oil left in North Slope Oil Reserve alone - when it runs out lots of jobs will be lost

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20
Q

What are some International challenges of drilling for oil in Alaska?

A
  • 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
21
Q

How many jobs are created through drilling for oil in Alaska?

A
  • increase job prospect 44,800 people employed in oil
22
Q

How many additional jobs do every oil and gas job generate?

A

every direct oil and gas job generates 20 additional jobs

23
Q

What are some local opportunities in drilling for oil in Alaska?

A
  • 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
24
Q

What are some International opportunities in drilling for oil in Alaska?

A
  • 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
25
Q

Where did the Exxon Valdez oil spill take place?

A

Prince William Sound, Alaska, US

26
Q

What happened at the Exxon Valdez oil spill?

A

Ruptured hull of an oil supertanker began spewing crude oil almost immediately after it grounded outside the port or Valdez

27
Q

How many L of oil as released at the Exxon Valdez oil spill?

A

more than 40mill L of oil was released

28
Q

Why did the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill take place?

A

ran aground on the “Big Reef” due to the captain being drunk in cabin

29
Q

When did the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill take place?

A

24th March 1989

30
Q

How many and which animals died due to the Exxon Valdez oil spill?

A
  • 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
31
Q

What did the animals that survived the Exxon Valdez oil spill had to have done?

A

those who survived a coating of oil had to be cleaned and often nursed back to health

32
Q

What are some long-term environmental impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill?

A
  • 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
33
Q

How was the local economy impact by the Exxon Valdez oil spill?

A

negatively effected from loss of jobs

34
Q

What happened to the fishing industry due to the Exxon Valdez oil spill?

A

collapse of local fishing industry due to loss of sea life

35
Q

How many. jobs did the tourism industry lose due to the Exxon Valdez oil spill?

A

tourism industry immediately lost over 26,000 jobs

36
Q

How much money in sales did the tourism industry lose in sales due to the Exxon Valdez oil spill?

A

more than $2.4bil in sales

37
Q

What are some social impacts that the Exxon Valdez oil spill cause?

A
  • 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
38
Q

What are the different methods of managing Alaska?

A
  • International Agreements
  • National Governments
  • Non-Governmental Organisations
39
Q

What is the International Whaling Convention?

A

an International body formed to provide proper conservation of whale stocks therefore developing whale industry

40
Q

How successful has the International Whaling Convention been?

A

reduced whale hunting dramatically from its peak in 1960s and brought almost all species of whale from danger of extinction

41
Q

How many gov’s are members of the International Whaling Convention?

A

88 gov’s are members

42
Q

Why is this activity (International Whaling Convention) sustainable?

A

less illegal whaling and allows whale population to increase while still getting whale products

43
Q

What is the Arctic Council’s Role in managing Alaska?

A
  • 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
44
Q

What powers do national governments have?

A

can coin money, regulate mail, declare war, or conduct foreign affairs to create laws

45
Q

What is Greenpeace?

A

NGO that seeks to protect the environment - pressure group, put pressure on the gov

46
Q

How is Greenpeace funded?

A
  • donations and foundations
  • no funding from gov
47
Q

How does Greenpeace attract support?

A

publicise everything they do to attract attention - media attention

48
Q

What is Greenpeace doing to protect Alaska?

A

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

49
Q

What is Greenpeace doing to protect the Arctic?

A

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

50
Q

How have officials responded to Greenpeace’s activism?

A

some politicians think that Greenpeace’s actions are unfair because they are unable to see any economic benefits

AQA GCSE Geography (45 decks)

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