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Arctic Tundra - human vs physical activity - Coggle Diagram
Arctic Tundra - human vs physical activity
Where is it located?
The Arctic tundra are found on high-latitude landmasses, above the arctic circle - in Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland, Iceland and Scandinavia, for example.
Very cold climate, short season of growth and reproduction, low biodiversity, energy and nutrients in the form of dead organic material
Human activity
Prudhoe bay
Begun oil production in 1977
Production peaked in 1988 at 2 million barrels a day but has since declined
The USA imports 3,500,000,000 barrels of oil per year and wants to become more self sufficient
4300 gas and exploration wells
Complex infrastructure of pipes, pumping stations, roads and bridges
Impacts of the oil and gas industry
On the land oil production will require miles of new roads, new drilling pads, pipelines, pumping stations and airports. All of these will damage fragile arctic ecosystems, leading to a loss of habitat, fish and wildlife.
The drilling pads would require massive quarrying of local rivers to produce gravel for construction sites, again leading to a loss of important riverine ecosystems. The quarrying would create huge holes in the landscape, as well as interfering with both he permafrost and the natural drainage systems.
The area would produce over 50,000 tonnes of nitrous oxides which contribute to both rain and global warming.
Drilling creates about 40,000m3 of oily waste per well. This has to be disposed of so pits would need to be dug in the sands and gravels. However the waste may seep through the sand and into water supplies, as well as killing local fish and birds.
Stratergies to reduce the impact of development on the water and carbon cycles
Building and pipelines elevated on piles : This allows cold air to circulate beneath these structures and provides insulation against against heat-engendering buildings, pipework etc which would otherwise melt the permafrost.
Refridgerated supports : Used on the trans-alaska pipeline to stabilise the temperature of the permafrost. Similar supports are used to conserve the permafrost beneath buildings and other infrastructure.
Insulated ice and gravel pads : Roads and other infrastructure features can be constructed on insulating ice and gravel pads, thus protecting the permafrost from melting.
Drilling laterally beyond drilling platforms : new drilling techniques allow oil and gas to be accessed several kms from the drilling site. With fewer sites needed for drilling rigs, the impact of vegetation and permafrost due to construction is greatly reduced.
Technological advancements : More powerful computers can detect oil and gas bearing geological structures remotely. This means that fewer exploration wells and needed which therefore reduce the impact on the environment. along with this,
Physical actitivty