cold environments (Svalbard, Alaska) Flashcards
where is svalbard
svalbard is a noregian territory in the artic ocean. it has five major islands, the largest of which is spitzbergen
how many people are in svalbard
a population of about 2700 people, most living in the main town of longyearbeyn
what opportunities does mining create
Svalbard is rich in reserves of coal. coal mining is the main economic activity in Svalbard. more than 300 people are employed in the mines and as support staff. By creating job employment Svalbard allows for people to have a disposable income. this creates a positive multiplier effect: jobs lead to taxes being paid and a disposable income allowing expenditure on businesses. this allows Svalbard to use this money for development which boosts the economy.
however environmental groups are against it as burning coal is a major source of greenhouse gases.
what opportunities does energy create
some coal mined in Svalbard is burned to generate electricity in the Longyearbyen power station. it is Norway’s only coal-fired power station and supplies all of Svalbard’s energy needs.
environmentalists believe the power station should be closed down and renewable sources should be explored. the most likely future source is geothermal energy. tapping into the heat of the earth and using it to generate electricity.
Svalbard is located in the mid-Atlantic ridge, a constructive plate margin. Here the earth’s crust is thin and hot rocks are close to the surface
another further option involves capturing carbon dioxide from burning coal and circulating this instead of water to generate electricity. this is called carbon capture and storage.
what opportunities has fishing created
the cold waters of the Barents sea south of Svalbard are one of the richest fishing grounds in the world. apart from cod, there are an estimated 150 species of fish here, including herring and haddock
. these waters are extremely important breeding and nursing grounds for fish stocks and need to be protected from pollution.
fishing in the Barents sea is jointly controlled and monitored by Norway and Russia to ensure that fishing is sustainable and the ecosystem is protected
what opportunities has tourism created
tourisim in svalbard has grown in recent years as people seek to explore extreme natural environments.
for example in 2011, 70, 000 people in Longyearbyen tourisim provides around 300 jobs for local people. most tourists come from norway and most visit as part of organised tours
what challenges does extreme temperatures cause
extreme temperatures even in longyearbeyn winter temperatures can fall below -30 degrees in the northern glacial regions, it can be even colder. such extreme temperatures make it dangerous to work outside, with a serious risk of frostbite. people have to dress very warmly and this can make outdoor work very slow and difficult.
what are the challenges of construction
permafrost can provide good solid foundations but it has to be protected from melting.
if the top surface of the permafrost melts, then it becomes unstable and could lead to buildings and roads cracking or even collapsing.
most roads are dirt or gravel roads raised up above the surface of the ground.
these roads are relatively cheap and easy to maintain from year to year
what challenges do services create
services include water, electricity and sanitation. these are very important both to the resident population and also to tourists who expect comfortable living conditions with warm rooms and hot showers
unlike the UK most services are provided to individual buildings by overground heated water and sewage pipes. they need to be kept off the ground to prevent them causing any possible thawing of the permafrost and to allow easy maintainance
what challenges are created by svalbards location
Svalbard is located in a remote part of Europe and can only be reached by plane or ship. the islands themselves are inaccessible and almost all transport systems are restricted to the immediate area around Longyearbyen
there is one airport close to Longyearbyen capable of handling international flights from Norway and Russia. smaller aircraft can be used to connect to other islands. there is 50km of road in Longyearbyen. no roads serve the other outlying communities
most people use snowmobiles, particularly in the winter
describe how action by governments can balance economic development
US government has been involved in theprotection of Alaska since oil was discovered in1960s.
- Fisheries & marine habitats are monitoredand protected by National Oceanographic &Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- Department of the Interior has created theWestern Arctic Reserve in the north ofAlaska to protect the area from oil & gasdevelopments and conserve the habitats ofanimals such as caribou and migrating birds.
describe how technology can balance economic development
- Large scale – trans-Alaskan pipelineconstructed in 1974, 1300km pipelinetransports oil from Prudhoe Bay to the PacificOcean port ofValdez
- Insulating pipes contained within utilidors tocarry domestic services to people’shomes.
- Pipeline is insulated to retain heat of oil &prevent melting ofpermafrost
- Raised above ground so herds of wild animalse.g.caribou can migrate across thearea
- Pumping stations keep oil flowing overmountainous areas & rivervalleys.
- Special slides allow the pipeline to moveduring an earthquakes and prevent fracturing.
describe how international agreements can balance economic development
Continent of Antarctica is often described as‘last greatwilderness’. It has rich reserves buthas remained undeveloped due to aninternational agreement signed in 1959, theAntarctic Treaty which came into force in1961. This treaty:
- Antarctica should only be used forpeaceful purposes, all military activitybanned.
- Promotes international co-operation inscientific research much evidence forclimate change has come from here.
- Bans the disposal of nuclear waste.
- Encourages tourism but applies strictcontrolled in terms of numbers andlanding sites to minimise impact.
describe how conservation groups can balacne economic developmet
WWF works with governments, businesses &local communities across the Arctic to protectthe regions biodiversity. In 1992 it launched theWWF Arctic Programme to work withgovernments on issues such as: climate change,shipping, oil & gas& polar bears. Expertspromote their vision on ‘Stewardship’ throughprojects:
