Alaska - Periglacial

Question 1

Alaska

Answer 1

• Aprox 63° north of equator
• North west of America
• Borders Canada to east
• Part of pacific ring of fire

Question 2

History

Answer 2

• Interest in WW2
• Alaskan highway, carry heavy weapons, threat of Japanese invasion
• USSR + cold war increased significance
• Military infrastructure 25% pop were military

Question 3

Global warming

Answer 3

• Active layer deepening / widening
• Surface permafrost temp risen by 1.5°
• Release of co2 trapped in ice
• Positive feedback: More green house gas = more melting, more green house gas
• Longer worm periods
• Shrinking permafrost
• Urban heat island, area 2.2° warmer

Question 4

Exploitation

Answer 4

• Gold rush
• Fishing using big nets, damages ecosystem
• Mining produces solid waste water, some facilities not equipped to dispose, dumped in wild
• Housing: heat / tilting due to water logged hollows

Question 5

Oil

Answer 5

• First discovered in Prudhoe bay 1968
• Largest oil field in N America
• Exploited for 30 years, 20% of USA oil requirements

Question 6

Damage to ecosystems

Answer 6

• Exxton Valdez oil tanker, 1989, spilled 40m litres of oil of coast
• 250000 birds and fish killed
• 30 to 40 oil spills, 1977 - 1994

Question 7

Trans Alaskan pipeline (TAP)

Answer 7

• Could not be buried due to melting permafrost (elevated)
• Earthquakes + other hazards
• Can shift sideways
• Zig Zag to expand and contract
• Refrigeration units to keep ground frozen
• Demand ment that it was important to build
• 3 year design, 5 year build
• $8b
• Max output of 1.4m barrels
• 65° oil

Question 8

Protection

Answer 8

• 1964 Wilderness Act in several areas

- Denali national park in 1917, extended 1980, banned vehicles, people travel in approved buses + routes

Question 9

Future developments

Answer 9

• Oil sites declining, more sites to be discovered
• Can be used for gas and oil in emergencies
• Used by indigenous tribes for food, clothing, shelter
• Used for migration routes for herds