The Arctic Tundra, Case study

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Where is it located?
Northern Canada, Alaska and Siberia
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How many months out of the year does the Tundra have a negative heat balance?
8 or 9
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What is the annual precipitation
50-350mm - most falling as snow
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How much carbon does the permafrost hold globally?
1600GT
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What is the Net Primary Productivity?
less than 200g /m2 /year
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Where on the North slope of Alaska was oil and gas discovered in 1968?
Prudhoe Bay
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What is the tundra biomass?
Between 4 and 29 tonnes/ha
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Insulated ice and gravel pads
constructing on ice or gravel pads to prevent the permafrost from melting
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Buildings and pipelines elevated on piles
Allows cold air to circulate beneath
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Drilling laterally beyond drilling platforms
allows oil and gas to be assessed several km from the drilling site, meaning fewer sites needed for drilling rigs. Reduces the impact on vegetation and permafrost
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More powerful computers - detect oil and gas remotely
Fewer exploration wells are needed
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Refrigeration supports
Used on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline to stabilise the temperature of the permafrost. Similar supports used beneath buildings to conserve the permafrost.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

How many months out of the year does the Tundra have a negative heat balance?

Back

8 or 9

Card 3

Front

What is the annual precipitation

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How much carbon does the permafrost hold globally?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is the Net Primary Productivity?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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