CASE STUDY Svalbard + transalaskan pipeline(paper 1)

Question 1

Where is Svalbard located?

Answer 1

In the Arctic Ocean, around 1,000 km from the North Pole.

Question 2

What is the population of Svalbard?

Answer 2

Around 2,700 people, mostly in Longyearbyen.

Question 3

How much of Svalbard is covered by glaciers?

Answer 3

60% of the land is covered by glaciers.

Question 4

What is the average winter temperature in Svalbard?

Answer 4

-16°C to -30°C.

Question 5

16°C to -30°C.

Answer 5

Longyearbyen, which has around 2,400 residents.

Question 6

How many people are employed in coal mining in Svalbard?

Answer 6

Around 300 people.

Question 7

How many coal mines are still active?

Answer 7

One (Mine 7, near Longyearbyen), but others have closed due to economic and environmental concerns.

Question 8

How much coal does Svalbard produce per year?

Answer 8

Around 100,000 tonnes per year (most for local use).

Question 9

What is Svalbard’s main energy source?

Answer 9

Coal-fired power station (the only one in Norway).

Question 10

How much energy does Svalbard’s coal plant produce?

Answer 10

Enough to power Longyearbyen, but plans exist to transition to renewables.

Question 11

What renewable energy sources are being considered for Svalbard?

Answer 11

Geothermal energy and wind power, due to its location near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Question 12

How many tourists visit Svalbard each year?

Answer 12

Around 70,000 per year (before COVID-19).

Question 13

How many cruise ship passengers visit Svalbard annually?

Answer 13

Around 30,000 tourists come via cruise ships.

Question 14

How many jobs in Svalbard depend on tourism?

Answer 14

About 300 jobs are linked to tourism.

Question 15

What percentage of Svalbard’s economy is based on tourism?

Answer 15

Tourism contributes around 20% to the local economy.

Question 16

How big is the Barents Sea fishing industry?

Answer 16

It is one of the richest fishing grounds in the world, with over 150 species of fish.

Question 17

What is the annual fish catch from the Barents Sea?

Answer 17

Over 1 million tonnes of fish are caught annually.

Question 18

How is fishing regulated in Svalbard?

Answer 18

Strict quotas are in place to prevent overfishing.

Question 19

What is the coldest temperature recorded in Svalbard?

Answer 19

-46.3°C.

Question 20

How does the extreme cold affect life in Svalbard?

Answer 20

Short growing season makes farming impossible.

Outdoor work is difficult due to freezing conditions.

Roads and buildings require insulation due to permafrost.

Question 21

How does permafrost affect construction?

Answer 21

Buildings must be built on stilts to prevent collapse when permafrost melts.

Roads and pipelines are elevated to avoid ground movement.

Question 22

How much of Svalbard is covered in permafrost?

Answer 22

Nearly 100% of the land.

Question 23

How many roads are there in Svalbard?

Answer 23

Only 50 km of roads, mostly in Longyearbyen.

Question 24

How do people travel in Svalbard?

Answer 24

Snowmobiles are the main transport in winter.

Boats and planes are used in summer.

Question 25

What is the nearest mainland airport to Svalbard?

Answer 25

Tromsø, Norway (about 950 km away).

Question 26

How is climate change affecting Svalbard?

Answer 26

Glaciers are retreating by 1-3 metres per year. Permafrost is thawing, causing damage to buildings. Rising sea levels could flood coastal areas.

Question 27

How much has the average temperature in Svalbard risen in the last 50 years?

Answer 27

By around 4°C, which is 5 times the global average.

Question 28

How many polar bears live in Svalbard?

Answer 28

Around 3,000 polar bears, but they are under threat due to habitat loss.

Question 29

What is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault?

Answer 29

A storage facility holding over 1 million seed samples from around the world to protect biodiversity.

Question 30

What is being done to reduce Svalbard’s environmental impact?

Answer 30

Plans to phase out coal and switch to renewable energy. Tourism regulations to prevent environmental damage. Protected nature reserves covering over 60% of Svalbard.

Question 31

How much oil does the pipeline transport daily?

Answer 31

Originally 2 million barrels per day in the 1980s, but now reduced to around 500,000 barrels per day.

Question 32

What is the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS)?

Answer 32

A 1,300 km long pipeline that transports oil from Prudhoe Bay (north) to Valdez (south) in Alaska.

Question 33

How much of the USA’s oil demand does the pipeline supply?

Answer 33

At its peak, it supplied 20% of U.S. oil needs, now around 5%.

Question 34

How much money has the pipeline generated in revenue?

Answer 34

Over $50 billion in revenue for Alaska.

Question 35

How many people were employed during construction?

Answer 35

Around 70,000 jobs were created during its construction.

Question 36

How much money does oil contribute to Alaska’s economy?

Answer 36

Oil and gas account for 85% of the state’s income.

Question 37

How does the pipeline deal with permafrost?

Answer 37

420 km (nearly half) of the pipeline is built on stilts to prevent it from melting the permafrost.

Question 38

How many oil spills have occurred along the pipeline?

Answer 38

Over 500 recorded spills since its construction.

Question 39

How do they monitor the pipeline for leaks?

Answer 39

Over 100,000 sensors monitor temperature and pressure 24/7.

Question 40

How is the pipeline designed to allow wildlife to pass?

Answer 40

More than 550 animal crossings (elevated sections for caribou).

Question 41

What percentage of the pipeline is built above ground?

Answer 41

Around 50% (620 km) is elevated.