Alaskan North Slope Flashcards
Where is the Alaskan North Slope?
Prudhoe Bay oil field Location of Prudhoe Bay oil field Country United States Region Alaska North Slope Offshore/onshore onshore
What is the Trans-Alaskan pipeline system?
An 800 mile pipeline starting at Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.
Describe the climate of the Alaskan North Slope.
7 inches of rainfall a year, 38 inches of snow a year
Lows of -30oC
December has 0 hours of sunlight
Permafrost
Ecosystem;
Describe the vegetation in Alaska.
Vegetation: Dwarf birch, Willow, Northern Labrador tea, and a nearly continuous cover of mosses on wet soils (Ditrichum).
Ecosystem;
Describe the mammal species in Alaska.
Polar bear, Grizzly bear, Dall sheep) Caribou, Snowshoe hare, Red fox, and Brown and collared lemmings.
Ecosystem;
Describe the bird species in Alaska.
Smith’s longspur, Bluethroat, Snowy owl, Gyrfalcons, Peregrine falcons and Rough-legged hawks.
The impacts of climate on the nature of the ecosystem
What specific adaptations for survival enable plants and animals to survive the Alaskan low temperatures
Birds migrate to avoid the harsh temperatures of the winter months. The American Golden Plover breeds in Alaska and migrates to the grasslands of central and southern South America.
Polar bears have small ears to reduce heat loss, a thick layer of blubber for insulation and an energy store and a thick layer of fur for insulation and camouflage to assist the animal in hunting.
The Chickadee bird has the ability to go into regulated hypothermia to conserve energy (thermoregulation) when it sleeps at night.
The impacts of climate on the nature of the ecosystem
What allows vegetation cover around the area of the Alaskan North slope?
Melting of the permafrost in summer months (August) enables vegetation cover on lower slopes and valleys.
Plants struggle to grow in the mountainous areas due to the permafrost
Low-growing vegetation have adapted to the exposed conditions (grasses, sedges, lichens, mosses, heathers and dwarf birch)
The impacts of climate on the nature of the ecosystem
What makes the ecosystem around the Alaskan North Slope particularly vulnerable to human activities?
Species are interdependent, if one species declined others would be greatly affected. For example the Caribou provide food for biting insects and grizzly bears, their carcasses are consumed by scavengers such as arctic foxes and their faeces provides nourishment for plants. The Arctic fox is an omnivore meaning it can feed on many species of Alaska as opposed to having an individual preference.
The impacts of climate on the nature of the ecosystem
Give an example of how humans are trying to preserve the native plants and animals in Alaska?
The Beaufort coastline along the Arctic Refuge is a designated area essential for declining female Polar bear populations.
The impacts of climate on the nature of the ecosystem
What is an adaption of Caribou?
Caribou have large hooves that spread widely to support the animal in snow and soft tundra. The edges can also can become sharp over time enabling them to walk over ice. Their shoes enable them to migrate over long distances for food.
How human factors make the environment ecologically vulnerable:
What problems does the Trans-Alaskan pipeline cause?
The Trans-Alaskan pipeline system has disrupted the seasonal migration of caribou herds (the Porcupine Caribou).
How human factors make the environment ecologically vulnerable:
Describe an example of the destruction that can be caused by oil spills in the Arctic.
Oil spillages (in January 2010 13,326 gallons of oil was released at the North Slope pump station) have degraded local habitats (including rare dwarf varieties and shrub plants) from corrosion of pipes due to a decrease in oil flow. The lack of recovery infrastructure (such as ice breakers) meaning responding to a spill would be difficult, increasing vulnerability. Polar bears also depend on the Chukchi Sea for its ice cover (it is quite shallow) and oil takes a long time to degrade in colder temperatures. Oil spills could also threaten phytoplankton, the essential part of the beginning of the food chain which could affect bowhead whale populations.
How human factors make the environment ecologically vulnerable:
What damage has been caused to wildlife in the building of the Trans-Alaskan pipeline?
Seismic exploration has disturbed wild animal populations (the company Seismic Ventures carry out activities). Over 30,000 beluga whales and 10,000 bowhead whales migrate along the North Slope coast.
Gravel exploitation from river beds has damaged fish populations
How human factors make the environment ecologically vulnerable:
How is the oil extraction in Alaska threatening the environment?
Landfill and waste tips around oil and gas installations have increased populations of predators and scavengers such as foxes and ravens that feed on species such as the Snowshoe hare or brown and collared lemmings.
Frozen ground and slow rates of organic decomposition create problems for solid waste disposal
