Case Study: Prudhoe Bay

Question 1

What were the environmental impacts of oil production?

Answer 1

1. Fragile tundra habitats destroyed
2. Noise pollution from offshore drilling disturbs marine species
3. 60,000 + nitrogen oxides released due to gas flaring
4. Groundwater use: brought to surface containing salt, oil etc damages ecosystems. Decrease in lake heights > too shallow so freeze through in winter > destroys habitats

Question 2

What were the environmental impacts of oil distribution?

Answer 2

1. Leaking pipelines > remote so slow recovery and repair e.g. Leak near Prudhoe Feb 2001 started Dec 2001 > over 270,000 litres leaked > damage to wetlands
2. Oil spills from ships e.g. 1989 Exxon Valdez > over 50 million litres of oil leaked over 1,600 km of coastline, damaging ecosystems
3. Road transport > roads allow standing water to collect > impacts water cycle > new habitats e.g. for mosquitoes
4. Dust blown up from roads can settle on vegetation, adding nutrients to the ecosystem and changing the species to grow there. Thick dust deposits smother small plants