Glaciers - Alaska oil extraction

Question 1

What type of glacial environment is Alaska?

Answer 1

Periglacial

Question 2

Name of Alaskan pipeline

Answer 2

Alyeska

Question 3

How much oil is transported via Alyeska pipeline everyday?

Answer 3

500,000L oil daily

Question 4

How long is the Alyeska pipeline?

Answer 4

1300km long.
From Prudhoe Bay to Port Valdez in Southern Alaska.

Question 5

Where is oil extracted from in Alaska?

Answer 5

Area 1002 because it is a 75000km2 oil field holding 12 billion oil barrels.
- Only 6million of these are currently available with technology.

Question 6

How large is Area 1002 oil field?

Answer 6

75000km2

Question 7

Where does the Alyeska pipeline go to and from?

Answer 7

Prudhoe Bay to Port Valdez

Question 8

Positives of the Alyeska pipeline in Alaska

Answer 8

• Improves energy security in USA = boosts economy
• 700 jobs for locals
• Encourages USA investment in Alaskan infrastructure eg. roads leading to more FDI
• Heat homes = QOL
• Energy for leisure = socioeconomic opportunity

Question 9

How many jobs does Alyeska provide?

Answer 9

700 jobs

Question 10

Negatives of the Alyeska pipeline in Alaska

Answer 10

• Drilling and oil spills release CH4 and CO2 = worsened air quality and EGHE
• Localised heating reduces stability of built environment due to melted permafrost
• Barrow urban heat island = +2.2°c
• Area without humans is 6°c cooler
• Creates patterned ground, thermokarst and alases = change environment affects infrastructure

Question 11

How much cooler is the area without humans in Alaska?

Answer 11

6°c cooler without humans

Question 12

What is the significance of Barrow in Alaska?

Answer 12

It is an urban heat island which has a +2.2°c microclimate

Question 13

What is thermokast and why does it arise in Alaska?

Answer 13

Hummocky ground because of ground ice thawing due to localised melting from drilling for oil

Question 14

What are alases and why do they appear in Alaska?

Answer 14

5-50m hollows that fill with meltwater. Form due to localised melting of permafrost.

Question 15

Examples of management strategies implemented in Alaska to reduce impacts of oil extraction.

Answer 15

• Flaring to burn released CO2 and CH4, not entirely effective but reduces their concentrations.
• Insulating gravel pads reduce direct head dispersion into permafrost
• Infrastructure on stilts eg. pipeline and homes.