Cold

Question 1

Brief summary of The Alps?

Answer 1

• Tourism began in 19th century and grew hugely after WW2, now 1 million tourists visit per year.
• 80% of jobs are based on tourism.
  Environmental Impacts of tourism:
• Construction of ski pistes and related facilities (car parks, apartments, cafes)
• Skiing removes habitats
• Degrades natural landscape, removes natural protection against avalanches
• Travelling by car/plane = pollution
• Skiers can damage trees by knocking off branhces, killing young shoots
• Litter takes a year to break down
• Deforestation has increased avalanches, 100km squared removed
• High demand meant more accommodation, so had to start building on hill slopes
  Sustainability in the MATTERHORN SKI REGION, SWITZERLAND:
• Electronically powered buses serve all three resort stations
• Inventory made of earlier damage to ski lifts, pylons, huts etc - by 2004 all was made good
• 2003, gamekeepers, biologists, forest wardens drew up a forest protection programme to improve conditions of forests - segregated conservation area fenced off, game observation points

Question 2

Environmental impacts of tourism in the Alps? (up to 8)

Answer 2

• Construction of ski pistes and related facilities (car parks, apartments, cafes)
• Skiing removes habitats
• Degrades natural landscape, removes natural protection against avalanches
• Travelling by car/plane = pollution
• Skiers can damage trees by knocking off branhces, killing young shoots
• Litter takes a year to break down
• Deforestation has increased avalanches, 100km squared removed
• High demand meant more accommodation, so had to start building on hill slopes

Question 3

How have they tried to make it sustainable in the Matterhorn Ski Region, Switzerland? (3)

Answer 3

• Electronically powered buses serve all three resort stations
• Inventory made of earlier damage to ski lifts, pylons, huts etc - by 2004 all was made good
• 2003, gamekeepers, biologists, forest wardens drew up a forest protection programme to improve conditions of forests - segregated conservation area fenced off, game observation points

Question 4

Brief summary of Alaska - White Mountain NRA?

Answer 4

• 1 million acre White Mountain National Recreation Area offers: outstanding scenery, covers approx 0.4 million ha
• The BLM are involved in planning, constructing, maintaining 11 cabins, 400km of trails, 27km of road, 3 campsites and 176km of the Beaver Creek National Wild River.
  Impacts of tourism on the area:
• Vehicle trails - traffic on these degrade upper layers of permafrost.
• Gold mining - due to gold mining in early 1900s, left behind large spoil heaps that continue to be degraded
• Sport fishing and hunting - affecting migration patterns, foodchains
  How BLM is making these more sustainable:
• Vehicle trails - enforced weight restrictions and built drainage ditches next to the trails.
• Gold mining - 6.5km section of the Nome Creek has now been designated for tourists who want to try their luck with gold mining.
• Sport fishing - Studying number of chinook and churn salmon and data used to plot migration and monitor changes in fish population over time.
• Hunting - have to own a license to fish/hunt and comply with specific hunting dates

Question 5

Impacts of tourism on the White Mountains NRA, Alaska? (3)

Answer 5

• Vehicle trails - traffic on these degrade upper layers of permafrost.
• Gold mining - due to gold mining in early 1900s, left behind large spoil heaps that continue to be degraded
• Sport fishing and hunting - affecting migration patterns, foodchains

Question 6

How is the BLM making the White Mountains NRA, Alaska more sustainable? (4)

Answer 6

• Vehicle trails - enforced weight restrictions and built drainage ditches next to the trails.
• Gold mining - 6.5km section of the Nome Creek has now been designated for tourists who want to try their luck with gold mining.
• Sport fishing - Studying number of chinook and churn salmon and data used to plot migration and monitor changes in fish population over time.
• Hunting - have to own a license to fish/hunt and comply with specific hunting dates

Question 7

Brief summary of the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline?

Answer 7

• 1980 oil was discovered at Prudhoe Bay, then took 10 years to constructs TAP to transport oil.
• Creation of tens of thousands of jobs.
  Impacts:
• Short term - industry is used to fund projects and resident payments
• Long term - to support development when oil industry declines
• Oil and gas companies have to cope with sub-zero temperatures for 8 months of year, averages below -30 Jan to Feb
• Exploration can only take place in Winter when the ground is frozen - ground thaws out in summer, so is unable to support heavy machinery then.
• Permafrost must be protected from heat generated buildings and pipelines - elevate structures
  Damaging effects:
• Oil spillages degrade habitats and can persist in the environment for 30 years.
• Disturbs animals on tundra and near waters.
• Gravel extraction from river beds has had damaging effects on fish population and aquatic environments.
• Disposal of solid wastes is difficult due to low temps that slow down rates of organic composition.

Question 8

What are the impacts of the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline? (3)

Answer 8

• Oil and gas companies have to cope with sub-zero temperatures for 8 months of year, averages below -30 Jan to Feb.
• Exploration can only take place in winter when the ground is frozen –> ground thaws out in summer so is unable to support heavy machinery then.
• Permafrost must be protected from heat generated by buildings and pipelines –> elevated structures

Question 9

What are the damaging effects of the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline? (4)

Answer 9

• Oil spillages degrade habitats and can persist in the environment for 30 years.
• Disturbs animals on tundra and in waters.
• Gravel extraction from river beds has had damaging effects on fish population and aquatic environment.
• Disposal of solid wastes is difficult due to low temps that slow down rates of organic composition.