Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Flashcards
1
Q
What is Valdez?
A
- Ice-free port at the end of the Alaskan pipeline
2
Q
When?
A
1989
3
Q
What happened?
A
- Occurred due to human negligence
- Supertanker Exxon Valdez = 50 million tonnes of crude oil
- Drunk captain = oil spilt 2600km2 area
4
Q
Impacts?
A
Dramatic effects on the ecosystem
- 35,000 seabirds and 3000 otters bodies recovered
- Local economy relied heavily on fishing which was hit badly - salmon hatcheries polluted + deep-sea fishing ruined.
5
Q
Land animals
A
- Caribou poisoned by eating seaweed
- Bears’ diet reduced as fewer salmon
6
Q
Sea otters
A
- Die = fur coat gets clogged by oil
7
Q
Birds
A
- Bald eagles die eating carrion
- Ducks and geese covered in oil
- Wading birds can’t reach food = oil on beach
8
Q
Fish
A
- Less plankton = less food for herring and salmon
9
Q
Sea mammals
A
- Whales and dolphins driven elsewhere
10
Q
Coastline
A
- Covered in oil
11
Q
Local fishing industry
A
- Ruined
- Salmon hatcheries polluted
12
Q
Water plants
A
- Seaweed = poisonous and inedible
13
Q
Crustaceans and molluscs
A
- Shrimps and other small shellfish suffocated by oil
14
Q
Seals
A
- Suffocate
- Sink to bed
15
Q
Micro-organisms
A
- Plankton reduced in numbers due to less PHS
