Unit 6 - Part 2

Question 1

What’s this unit about?

Answer 1

How the Arctic Biome can be used sustainably

Question 2

What is meant by sustainability?

Answer 2

defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs

(environmental, social and economic)

Question 3

What are the three threats to the Arctic Biome?

Answer 3

1. Climate change
2. Mineral extraction
3. Tourism in the Arctic

Question 4

How much of the Arctic sea ice that was present in the 1970’s was lost by 2010?

Answer 4

40%

Question 5

When was the first time on record when both North East and North West passages had ice free conditions?

Answer 5

2008

Question 6

What will happen in 2100, if sea ice loss continues at current rates?

Answer 6

75% of sea ice will be gone

Question 7

What does the (IPCC) Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change predict will happen to temps in the Arctic by 2090?

Answer 7

could increase by more than 10 degrees, if anthropogenic greenhouse gasses continue to rise at present rates

Question 8

What are some of the direct impacts of Arctic sea ice shrinking at increasing rates?

Answer 8

• loss of apex predator = polar bears
• rapid spike in Caribou, indigenous can’t control
• indigenous people lose their way of life
• loss of biodiversity = only 48 mammal species in arctic, need to conserve

Question 9

What are some of the direct impacts of the treeline (the point at which trees cannot grow) moving north?

Answer 9

Climax communities in the Arctic are affected
- invasive species impact on biodiversity
- affects indigenous again they lose food sources + way of life

Question 10

How has the permafrost in the Arctic been affected by climate change?

Answer 10

(continued to warm and thaw)
- depth of the active layer increasing
- degrading affecting wetlands, could lead to widespread disappearance of wetlands

Question 11

Why does melting permafrost lead to loss of lakes and wetlands?

Answer 11

due to increased infiltration rates in the soil, and can lead to depletion of surface stores as more is infiltrating the soils

Question 12

What are the indirect environmental impacts of climate change affecting the Arctic region? (all - )

Answer 12

-> very few species, has significant impacts on them
-> thawing of permafrost releases gases such as CO2 AND CH4 = positive feedback loop
-> changes in ocean currents = change in global weather patterns

Question 13

What are the indirect ecological impacts of climate change affecting the Arctic region? (all - but one +)

Answer 13

-> changes in climatic regions means habitat’s of some species are being lost or reduced
-> melting ice sheets will mean injection of fresh water into the sea, changes the density of water could disrupt currents such as the North Atlantic Drift
+in other parts of arctic ocean with temps increase biodiversity may flourish

Question 14

What are the indirect socio-economic impacts of climate change affecting the Arctic Region? (+ and -)

Answer 14

+ shrinking sea ice = new shipping routes
+ natural resources exploited = fish/oil
+ gas reserves easier to extract
- conflict between countries over access to resources
- thawing permafrost = damage to infrastructure

Question 15

What is an example of an indigenous people in the Arctic?

Answer 15

The Inuit Northern Canada

Question 16

What in ANWR?

Answer 16

Arctic National Wildlife Refugee

Alaska, USA

Question 17

What are some of the minerals available for extraction within the Arctic circle?

Answer 17

• major oil and gas reserves
• minerals include = iron ore, copper, nickel and diamonds

Question 18

When did the political controversy over ANWR begin in the USA?

Answer 18

1977

Question 19

In 1980 what was the act called that was created by congress to make ANWR the largest protected wilderness in the US?

Answer 19

Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act

Question 20

Jan 20th 2021, what did Joe Biden do in ANWR?

Answer 20

issues an executive order for a temporary moratorium on drilling activity in ANWR

Question 21

21st March 2025 what did Trump do in ANWR?

Answer 21

Trump opened the area in ANWR to drill lease, in the region that Joe Biden closed

Question 22

What are Trumps current plans for ANWR?

Answer 22

build a pipeline across the state of Alaska, including ANWR

Question 23

What are the economic advantages of drilling in ANWR?

Answer 23

• oil prices rising = economic opportunity
• could produce 1 million barrels of oil a day

Question 24

What are the social advantages of drilling in ANWR?

Answer 24

• 75% of Alaskans support the refuge exploitation
• 4/5 native groups support the pipeline as long as they’re compensated (money, housing, healthcare)

Question 25

What are the political advantages of drilling in ANWR?

Answer 25

- Political strength USA energy independence - less reliance on unstable countries such as Russia

Question 26

What are the environmental disadvantages of drilling in ANWR?

Answer 26

- catastrophic oil spills e.g. Exxon Valdez - fragile ecosystem, if pipe built along 19.6 million acre refuge, severe impacts - pipeline production would permanently change the permafrost

Question 27

How many oil spills are there annually in Alaska?

Answer 27

400 annually

Question 28

What is meant by a stakeholder?

Answer 28

the different people involved within an issue (e.g. what to do with ANWR)

Question 29

What would the opinion of oil and gas companies be on drilling in ANWR and why?

Answer 29

- they will economically benefit - Alaska oil and gas association (1970) design, build and operate + maintain the Trans-Alaskan pipeline - which has successfully transported 17 billion barrels

Question 30

What would the opinion of the indigenous people living in the area be on drilling in ANWR and why?

Answer 30

4/5 of the native people support the pipeline as long as they're compensated

Question 31

What would the opinion of the environmental lobbyists be on drilling in ANWR and why?

Answer 31

disagree with drilling, due to detrimental affect on the tundra ecosystem

Question 32

What would the opinion of the USA and Canadian Government be on drilling in ANWR and why?

Answer 32

-> Biden wants to conserve -> Trump wants to exploit -> Canadian gov = biggest consumer of gas from the USA they are FOR drilling in ANWR

Question 33

What are the different conflicts between stakeholders? (haven't written explanation because its obvious)

Answer 33

1. Oil and gas companies x indigenous people = (minimal conflict) 2. Oil and gas companies x environmental lobbyists = (lots of conflict) 3. Oil and gas companies x Governments = (basically agree) 4. Indigenous people x governments = (high conflict) 5. Environmental lobbyists x Governments = (high and low depending on president)

Question 34

How effective are the strategies to manage ANWR and why?

Answer 34

-> Joe Biden, first day in office put a temporary moratorium -> trump wants to exploit = will cause irreversible damage to the fragile ecosystem

Question 35

What is the case study for tourism in the Arctic?

Answer 35

Tourism in Svalbard, Norway

Question 36

Since when has tourism been increasing in Svalbard, Norway?

Answer 36

1990s

Question 37

How many people visit Longyearbyen directly (village in Svalbard)?

Answer 37

30,000 annually and another 30,000 from cruise ships

Question 38

What campaign did the government of Svalbard create to deal with plastic pollution?

Answer 38

'Clean Up Svalbard' -> due to litter being washed up on the shore from fishermen and ocean plastic pollution (cruise operators encourage guests to bring rubbish back to ship for proper disposal

Question 39

What did the Svalbard authorities introduce for all visitors to Svalbard in 2014?

Answer 39

an 'environmental fee' that is £15 pp

Question 40

In 2014, how much did the environmental protection fund in Svalbard have to allocate?

Answer 40

£1.5 million

Question 41

What are the threats that tourists pose?

Answer 41

1. Erosion of Tundra 2. Litter 3. Pollution 4. Disturbance

Question 42

How do tourist's eroding the tundra threaten the Arctic?

Answer 42

(tundra soil and vegetation very fragile) when tourists walk on tundra, they compact the sparse vegetation and soil once the soil loses its thin vegetation cover it can be open to erosion by rainwater and meltwater, and to frost action

Question 43

How do tourists littering threaten the Arctic?

Answer 43

can be dropped in wilderness areas litter can be unsightly, but also eaten by animals and birds, sometimes with fatal results

Question 44

How does pollution from tourists threaten the Arctic?

Answer 44

- cruise ships are a source of pollution in an area where there are little other sources of emissions - release CO2, soot and ash from their funnels - vessels can leak oil - noise from vehicles will drive away wildlife e.g. fish

Question 45

How does disturbance from the tourists threaten the Arctic?

Answer 45

- five people have been killed by polar bears in Svalbard since 1970 and over 120 bears shot in self defence - 1996 = 63 sites for tourists to visit - 2013 = 172 sites for tourists

Question 46

By what % has the cruise ship industry grown over the past decade in the Arcitc?

Answer 46

60%

Question 47

Where are the Nunavut communities located?

Answer 47

Northern Canada territory

Question 48

What are the positive consequences of tourism in the Nunavut communities?

Answer 48

- the cruise's bring more than 1000 passengers - left more than 100,000 in the community - in 2015, 200,000 people visited the Northern Canada area

Question 49

What % of Svalbard's land is protected by law (national parks/reserves)?

Answer 49

65%, which helps manage tourism

Question 50

What is the AECO, and what is their aim?

Answer 50

Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators aim = manage responsible, environmentally friendly and safe cruise operations in the Arctic

Question 51

How have AECO minimised unwanted impacts from Arctic tourism?

Answer 51

created 'Guidelines for visitors to the Arctic' e.g. don't leave any lasting signs of your visit e.g. do not disturb animals or birds vessels typically do not contain more than 500 passengers

Question 52

Questions for evaluation

Answer 52

- how effective is the management - how sustainable is tourism in svalbard

Question 53

How socially sustainable is tourism in Svalbard?

Answer 53

- indigenous people may suffer socially and economically - disturbs their daily lives and are not protected - education provided from cruise ships to tourists (raises awareness)

Question 54

How environmentally sustainable is tourism in Svalbard?

Answer 54

- law protects 65% of the area - some sites are prohibited

Question 55

How economically sustainable is tourism in Svalbard?

Answer 55

- tourists charged £15 when visiting - economic gain, to help it be more sustainable

Question 56

What else can be done to increase sustainability of tourism in Svalbard?

Answer 56

- prohibited areas has now gone up to 43 sites - new proposal (2024) not allowing drones closer than 500m to bird cliff - general ban in breaking fast ice (doesn't apply to motor vehicles)