ANWR
- Created by: Anoush
- Created on: 31-12-15 14:49
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- The Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)
- Vast, unspoilt and pristine place. Called 'America's Serengeti' as it's the most biologically diverse Artic region in the world.
- Tundra ecosystem
- ANWR lies in the Artic tundra and has a polar climate
- Climate
- Winters are long, dark and cold. Darkness can last for months.
- Summers are short. The angle of the sun is so low that temperatures rarely reach 6OC (min. temp. needed for continuous plant growth).
- precipitation is low ('cold desert')
- Vegetation
- Plants in the Artic tundra have adapted to the extreme cold and lack of moisture.
- Low-lying to avoid the strong winds.
- Most have small leaves to limit transpiration and short roots to avoid permafrost..
- Short life-cycle (from germination to producing seeds), which is adapted to the short available growing season.
- Plants in the Artic tundra have adapted to the extreme cold and lack of moisture.
- Soils
- Develop on permafrost (permanently frozen subsurface which is impermeable).
- Soils are frozen in winter and thaw slightly in summer.
- Waterlogged due to the low temp. and low evapo. rates.
- Shallow, infertile, acidic, peaty.
- The ANWR is in Northern Alaska. Runs from mountains of the Brooks Range north to the Artic Ocean.
- 1.5 m acres of Coastal Plain isn't protected.
- Could be opened up for oil exploration and drilling, like Prudhoe Bay in 60's and 70's.
- Scientists consider coast Plain to be the 'biological heartland' of ANWR. 200 species of wildlife are found there:
- Caribou travel in herds of 120 000+.
- E.g. Bowhead Wales depend on the rich coastal waters off the ANWR's coast.
- 135+ species of birds gather on the Coastal Plain in brief summer.
- Scientists consider coast Plain to be the 'biological heartland' of ANWR. 200 species of wildlife are found there:
- Could be opened up for oil exploration and drilling, like Prudhoe Bay in 60's and 70's.
- 1.5 m acres of Coastal Plain isn't protected.
- Wilderness vs development
- The coastal plain is the last 5% of Alaska's vast North Slope in which oil exploration and development haven't been allowed.
- Fragile and vulnerable ecosystem.
- If disturbed by human activity, it could take many years to become re-established.
- Fragile and vulnerable ecosystem.
- Oil
- Prudhoe Bay is on the northern coast of Alaska, near ANWR.
- Production began in 1977.
- Peaked at 19 m acres a day in 1988, but has declined since.
- All of the oil will be extracted by 2015, so a new source is needed.
- Peaked at 19 m acres a day in 1988, but has declined since.
- Production began in 1977.
- USA imports a m barrels a day from Iraq and rest elsewhere.
- Less reliant on imports and increase self-sufficiency.
- Prudhoe Bay is on the northern coast of Alaska, near ANWR.
- The coastal plain is the last 5% of Alaska's vast North Slope in which oil exploration and development haven't been allowed.
- ANWR is 19m acres (nearly as big as Scotland) and Coastal Plain is 1.5 m acres- a lot of oil is believed to be there.
- Players?
- Politiicians
- Republicans- support development of Coastal Plain for oil. G.W. Bush (family funded by oil) couldn't get enough votes in Congress to allow its development.
- Democrats- 'left' of Republicans. Oppose Coastal Plain development.
- Artic Power- NPO with 10 000+ member (miners, fishermen, service industries)..
- 1992 to expedite congressionall and presidential approval of oil exploration + production in Coastal Plain of ANWR.
- Alaskan residents- 75% support development but also believe healthy enviro. and modern oil develop. are compatible.
- Inupiat- oil industry around Prudhoe Bay has brought benefits.
- 'Development can exist alongside our natural resources + way of life'.
- Gwich'in- 'Sacred Place Where Life Begins'.
- Drilling for oil violate their human rights, because of impacts on culture+ way of life.
- Enviro. groups- i.e. Center for Biological Diversity has 40 000+ members.
- Protect bio. across Artic + marine waters.
- Politiicians
- For/against
- 8% of total ANWR is being considered.
- 250 000 +735 000 jobs would be created.
- 9-16bn barrels under Coastal Plain. 16bn =30 yrs' worth USA's imports from ME.
- 2007, USA imported 60% oil at enormous expense.
- Oil/gas develop. successfully co-existed in Alaska's Artic.
- Centrall Artic Caribou herd grew from 3000 to 32000 since 1970's.
- Advances in tech. reduced 'footprint'- if Prudhoe Bay oilfield built today, footprint 64% smaller.
- Not Serengeti. CP is frozen, barren land for 9 months. Temp. go low as -40oC.
- Centrall Artic Caribou herd grew from 3000 to 32000 since 1970's.
- Oil/gas develop. successfully co-existed in Alaska's Artic.
- 2007, USA imported 60% oil at enormous expense.
- 9-16bn barrels under Coastal Plain. 16bn =30 yrs' worth USA's imports from ME.
- 250 000 +735 000 jobs would be created.
- Porcupine River Caribou displaced to areas of more predators+mosquitoes.
- Female PB may abandon dens to industrial activity.
- Snow geese disrupted by aircraft 4 miles away.
- Female PB may abandon dens to industrial activity.
- Bay- 60+ waste sites leak pesticides, diesel, acids
- Exxon Valdez supertanker 1989 spilled 11m gallons oil in sea off S Al. killing e.g. grey whale
- Can take 50-60yrs for A veg. to recover oil contamination.
- Exxon Valdez supertanker 1989 spilled 11m gallons oil in sea off S Al. killing e.g. grey whale
- 8% of total ANWR is being considered.
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