arctic natural resources

Oil & Gas The Arctic contains a wealth of petroleum and mineral resources. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.18 Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Colville River Unit, Alpine Oil Pool.19 Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Production.20 U.S. Bureau of Land Management (2015). In addition to these sub-regions, the Arctic Ocean and its multiple seasGreenland Sea, Barents Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea, Chuckchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, etc.-- make the arctic a vast region with a variety of natural resources. Read about our approach to external linking. Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau says he has held discussions with Canada's Nordic allies about #Beijing's growing threat to Arctic sovereignty through its interest in natural resources and exploration in the region. While exploring and extracting these natural resources is both challenging and expensive, further development is likely to continue due to improvements in technology and shifting energy policies in Arctic countries. While global warming-induced climate change has elicited a sense of urgency to transition away from polluting natural resources such oil and gas, the intermittency of renewable sources and the lack of low-carbon infrastructure makes alternatives energy sources inadequate to power current development needs, which include the need to decarbonise the global economy for the wellbeing of the planet. The Arctic basin is an ice-covered ocean that has strong feedback effects on many parts of the climate system. Oil and Gas in the U.S. Arctic The Arctic consists of multiple sub-regions: Russian Arctic, Canadian Arctic, Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat), Northern Alaska (USA), Svalbard (Norway), Iceland, Fennoscandia. Fish such assalmon, cod, and pollock abound inArctic and sub-Arctic waters, supporting valuable commercial fisheries. One solution is, therefore, to understand when it is necessary to continue to rely on fossil fuels to ensure that decarbonisation itself is not put at risk during the energy transition. In 2018, the intersection between oil, gas, and the Arctic environment is a topic of much current discussion due to recent federal decisions to expand federal oil and gas leasing in the coastal area of the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (the 1002 area), in a larger area of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA), and offshore.3 Concerns over increased environmental risks in a region already experiencing rapid environmental and climatic changes are often weighed against the economic benefits of increased exploration and production. ACAF and ArcticHubs projects joined their forces at the Arctic Circle Assembly 2021, by organizing a panel discussion on Arctic food security and solutions for resilience. Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Alpine Satellite Development Plan for the Proposed Greater Mooses Tooth One Development Project: Record of Decision, February 2015.21 Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Safety & Environment: Permafrost.22 Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Trans Alaska Pipeline System Facts.23 Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Earthquake Protection.24 U.S. Geological Survey Denali Fault: Alaska Pipeline.25 Nuka Research and Planning Group (2013). Our work illustrates the complex link between the drivers of catchment-scale impacts on one hand, and lake proxy responses on the other, highlighting the importance of an integrated historical and palaeolimnological . et al. [38] However, indigenous people have recently had their political organizations recognized by international communities and the human rights of indigenous people have solidified in those communities as well. [54] Another effect of climate change on the Arctic will include the creation of new trade waterways through the north, further exploiting the area. Responding to Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment.Arctic Council. During a large (magnitude 7.9) earthquake in 2002, this system allowed the pipeline to move without breaking. The major oil and gas area inRussia, and one ofthe largest oil regions inthe world is Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Region (KMAR). Migratory birds use the Arctic to feed, nest, and raise their young. The arctic region of Russia, the most developed of all the arctic regions, is a vast storehouse of mineral wealth, including deposits of nickel, copper, coal, gold, uranium, tungsten, and diamonds. [30] Adding to the uncertainty of this issue is the fact that under this new administration, U.S. Secretary of State and former CEO of Exxon Mobil, Rex Tillerson, was on the U.S. Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. As the ice retreats, nations try to advance their undersea borders and resource claims. And finally, as Arctic interests such as natural resources and transportation routes have become tied to national growth, capability, and strategy, . [36] Particularly, non-Arctic nations are concerned with the effects that changes in the Arctic climate will have on global climate change. Biodiversity: state of habitats and species, Climate change impacts, risks and adaptation, Climate change mitigation: reducing emissions, Extreme weather: floods, droughts and heatwaves, /data-and-maps/figures/ga-downloads/OQX5FIERSK/arctic-resources, 82297_Map6-Oil-and-gas-activities-in-the-Arctic_1.eps.75dpi.gif, 82297_Map6-Oil-and-gas-activities-in-the-Arctic_1.eps.75dpi.tif, 82297_Map6-Oil-and-gas-activities-in-the-Arctic_1.eps.75dpi.png, This European Environment Agency (EEA) report 115th Congress (2017-2018).10 U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Outer Continental Shelf.11 Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Northstar Oil Pool Statistics.12 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.13Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.14 U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Fact Sheet: Arctic Drilling Rule.15 The Pew Charitable Trusts (2013). All countries with territory in the Arctic Circle have rights over the sea-floor close to their own shores. Shipping regulations developed in response to the spill, and supplemented in 2009, primarily focus on Alaskan oil exports. 3. from version 23.3.11, Software version: 1. U.S. Production may expand to other arctic nations in the future. [7] Many marine species have traditional cultural value to Alaska Natives; these marine species are being threatened by climate change. How many people are exposed to air pollution? The Pinedale Gas Field, Wyoming Welcome back! In reality, the Earth has huge reserves of oil, gas, and other critical resources that do not yet fit this criterium due to an absence of infrastructure. National Academies Ocean Studies Board (2014). Arctic Oil and Natural Gas Provinces Map: The United States Geological Survey estimates that over 87% of the Arctic's oil and natural gas resource (about 360 billion barrels oil equivalent) is located in seven Arctic basin provinces: Amerasian Basin, Arctic Alaska Basin, East Barents Basin, East Greenland Rift Basin, West Greenland-East Canada B. Mia Chamberlain is second on the right. Learn more about the White House Arctic Science Ministerial. Oil Refining and Gas Processing In August 2007, in an "openly choreographed publicity stunt" extensively covered by Russian state-controlled television, two Russian submersibles in the Arktika 2007 expedition planted a Russian flag on the sea bottom at the North Pole, in a bid to symbolically bolster Russia's disputed claim to "nearly half of the floor of the Arctic Ocean and potential oil or other resources there". 10. The developed area is focused on a narrow coastal strip running about 100 miles east to west in the vicinity of Prudhoe Bay (see map). Regulations now require double-hulled tankers, tugboat escorts with spill response capability, U.S. Coast Guard electronic tracking throughout Prince William Sound and 60 miles into the Gulf of Alaska, and local availability of response and recovery equipment and trained personnel.30 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration continues to monitor the ongoing wildlife recovery from the Exxon Valdez spill.31. 6. Production from federal lands in NPRA is expected to start in the near future. The Arctic contains significant amounts of minerals, boreal forests, marine life, and fresh water . Charles Ebinger, John P. Banks, & Alisa Schackmann. [10], By 2009, more than 40 companies were engaging in bioprospecting in the Arctic. The research revealed that a least 50 million barrels of natural gas and oil have accumulation underneath the arctic seabed. Attempting to balance these priorities, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that, before any exploratory studies are authorized, federal agencies must consider impacts on sociocultural, economic, and other natural resources in consultation with other government agencies and the public. Privacy Policy. 2. The consequences of these shorter trade routes are less fuel consumption, less carbon emissions and faster transportation of goods. State and Native Lands: 28% of Alaska is state-owned and 12% is Native land. The Russian North accounts for "20 percent of [its GDP] and 22 percent of the total Russian export []. Whoever eventually succeeds can also claim the 55,000 square miles of sea around the North Pole. The stated mission of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is to "preserve unique wildlife, wilderness and recreational values; to conserve caribou herds, polar bears, grizzly bears, muskox, Dall sheep, wolves, wolverines, snow geese, peregrine falcons, other migratory birds, Dolly Varden, and grayling; to provide opportunities for subsistence uses; and to ensure necessary water quantity and quality." The Arctic Ocean fosters shorter trade routes between 80 percent of the most industrialized nations. VideoThe endangered languages that are fighting back, When Miss World in India threatened 'cultural apocalypse', Belarus leader welcomes Wagner boss into exile. More oil drilling will only exacerbate the challenges brought on by climate change in this region. As many as 300,000 snow geese visit the coastal plain each fall to feed on the tundra. In 2021, six young Norwegians . Oil production on the North Slope of Alaska began in 1977. The Arctic is also of interest to many industrialized countries trying to find secure supplies of many natural resources. [citation needed][improper synthesis?] The majority of the Arctic near the North Pole is covered in sea ice. Although improvements have been made, the safety and environmental impacts of offshore oil and gas development in the Arctic remain highly controversial.15,16. Kingdom of Denmark Strategy for the Arctic 20112020. In this module we'll first take stock of some of the renewable and non-renewable resources in the Arctic, and . Such projects require great investment, cooperation with countries and companies, adaptability, and intelligent energy choices. Using Produced Water Most of northwestern Alaska consists of the 23-million-acre National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA), the largest single tract of public land in the country. Because of its polar location and the tilt of the Earth, the Arctic does not have the normal seasons that we are used to in the continental United States. These nations have the legal right to exploit the resources within their EEZs. [3], Emerging fisheries are another resource in the Arctic. Sources Without the work of geoscientists, we would have neither the energy system nor the Introduction 9. In these zones, they have the right to fish, build infrastructure and extract natural resources. The endangered languages that are fighting back. [1] A Brookings Institution summary reported: By the mid to late 2000s, interest in offshore hydrocarbons had surged owing to receding sea ice making more of the region accessible, rising global energy demand, U.S. Government estimates of large undiscovered oil and gas reserves throughout the Arctic, and a more politically stable investment climate relative to other global regions with large hydrocarbon resources. The most successful pathway toward strong sustainability is collaborative. The natural resources of the Arctic are the mineral and animal resources within the Arctic Circle that can provide utility or economic benefit to humans. Read about our approach to external linking. Wagner's network in Africa faces uncertain future, Prigozhin's soldiers rage while others cry conspiracy, How one temple feeds 100,000 people a day. Additionally, food security is vulnerable to climate change because the food supply consists of local species that are themselves sensitive to climatic changes. 11. While currently supplying only 10 percent of the worlds oil and 25 percent of the worlds natural gas, the Arctic is, nevertheless, an economically attractive source of future energy resources and is on track to becoming the worlds most important. Picture 1 Research Scientist Jaana Sorvali from the Natural Resources Institute Finland opened and moderated the . [42], In 2003 it was identified by the Army Corps of Engineers that four Alaskan villages would need to relocate because of risk of flooding and erosion. Water in the Oil and Gas Industry Countries can extend these zones, if they can show that their land masses go further into the sea. Download a full PDF ofPetroleum and the Environment(free) orpurchase a printed version($19.99). In 4 seconds, you will be redirected to nwfactionfund.org, the site of the National Wildlife Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) organization. The National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA) is managed by the Bureau of Land Management for both the protection of high fish and wildlife values and development of oil and gas. Promoting more-inclusive outdoor experiences for all. ; unstable and unpredictable ice patterns have affected mobility vital for transportation, hunting, travel, and communication. [48] There is also concern over the toxins found in local species and the risk of oil contamination in indigenous communities' food supplies. Many Arctic people now live with modern homes and appliances, however, there's still a desire to pass on traditional knowledge and skillssuch as hunting, fishing, herding, and native languagesto younger generations. Russian oil giant Rosneft on Wednesday announced the start of operations for its giant Vostok oil project in the Arctic, part of the country's strategic energy plan which has been criticised by. They say that drilling in the Arctic could pollute the polar ice sheets and cause them to melt at a faster rate. North Slope oil is collected by a network of local pipelines and then sent 800 miles through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) to the south coast of Alaska. There is currently a dispute over who owns a 1,070-mile long (1,721 km) chain of undersea mountains called the Lomonosov Ridge, which runs through the North Pole. [29] It is not entirely clear whether Trump has the authority to unilaterally withdrawal the outer continental shelf protection; most legal experts believe that the protection may only be withdrawn by an act of Congress. [5] Resource extraction is extremely difficult, however. Oil and Gas Development However, paleoenvironmental signals tracking natural hydroclimate variability are also clearly discernible in the proxy data. Arctic resources Created 15 May 2017 Published 14 Jun 2017 Last modified 07 Jun 2017 1 min read This map shows the different gas, oil, and mining resources in the Arctic. In 2017, the U.S. Department of the Interior started a multi-year process to develop a new five-year leasing plan that would allow large areas of offshore Alaska to be leased.12, Oil and gas in the North Slope region of Alaska (north of the dotted blue line). The Arctic contains abundant oil and gas reserves underneath its icy exterior. The reserve is also home to spectacular terrestrial and marine mammals, including grizzly bears, polar bears, caribou, wolves, and wolverines, as well as beluga whales, bowhead whales, walruses, and several species of seals. In Kara Sea there are 2 gas condensate offshore fields, Leningradskoye and Rusanovskoye. 7 - 12+ Subjects Biology, Ecology, Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography Photograph Arctic Ice The Arctic is the northernmost region on Earth. There are 180 fields inTiman-Pechora province, including the so-called fountain ones, which can yield upto 1,000 tons per day. In practice, this means building ports and roads that use clean sources of energy, introducing net zero regulation, remediating environments that have been compromised by past development, and ultimately having sustainable development at the very core of new projects and never putting economic gain above environmental wellbeing. These factors have spurred the Arctic coastal states to support offshore oil and gas development[2], The first offshore oil platform in the Arctic was Prirazlomnaya in the Pechora Sea off Russia, operated by the Russian company Gazprom; it began production in late 2013. Small nuclear reactors (including floating ones), also being a zero emissions energy source, can both supply energy and heating to resource extraction sites in the Arctic and help spur development in remote locations in a sustainable way. , Our nation's diverse and wondrous lands provide invaluable resources that require bold, future-focused management strategies. These include having equipment on hand to cap an out-of-control well and capture any leaking oil, and having access to a separate rig that can drill a relief well and plug a compromised well permanently before seasonal ice encroaches on the drill site or within 45 days, whichever is sooner. All of these changes have profound effects on wildlife and the human communities that depend on wildlife for their survival. 1 An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018. A groundbreaking bipartisan bill aims to address the looming wildlife crisis before it's too late, while creating sorely needed jobs. [13], Some cruise ships offer visits to the Arctic Ocean.[14]. [17], While some indigenous communities believe that the resource race will provide economic opportunity, others are skeptical of how much it will actually benefit them economically. Throughout the year, temperatures can span a wide range. Join our conservation army. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [21], The Kingdom of Denmark has expressed interest in resource exploitation, but has stressed the need to do so in a manner that respects the Arctic's nature and environment. [40], Accelerated climate change in the Arctic- as a direct result from resource exploitation and increased anthropogenic activity in the region- will drastically alter the livelihoods of indigenous people in this Arctic. 1 U.S. Geological Survey (2008). drilling could damage Arctic fisheries and endanger their way of life. The National Wildlife Federation is working to stop Arctic drilling and combatclimate change to stop the loss of tundra and sea ice in the Arctic. Some fish that live in or under the ice have antifreeze compounds in their blood, while seals, whales, and walruses have a thick layer of fat, called blubber, that helps insulate them from the cold. Protecting the coastal plain is necessary to preserving the culture and lifestyle of the Gwich'in Nation. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): The Refuge was initially protected in 1960; in 1980, it was expanded and parts were designated as wilderness to preserve their unique wildlife, wilderness, and recreational value.7 At the same time, Congress set aside an area on the North Coast (the 1002 area) to allow for future development of potentially large oil and gas resources.8 The tax reform bill of 2017 (Public Law 115-97) opened the 1002 area to energy development.9 This is the first time since 1980 that the 1002 area has been open to leasing or any activity (such as geophysical surveys) that could lead to producing oil or natural gas.3. Walruses use the ice as a place to rest. [32], The United States currently has two icebreakers.[33]. Millions ofmigratory birds fromaround the globe breed and live seasonally inthe Arctic and a variety ofmarine mammals inhabit the regional ocean waters. Offshore: The state of Alaska regulates resources up to 3 nautical miles from the coast. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has held discussions with Canada's Nordic allies about Beijing's growing threat to Arctic sovereignty through its interest in natural resources . How much have new cars co2 emissions decreased? The Arctic region is also home to an estimated 400,000 indigenous people. Oil and gas companies consistently pressure politicians to open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drillingwhich would put the wildlife who live in this largest refuge in the United States at risk. National Petroleum Council (2015). Natural Resources ~50 years left till accessible oil and natural gas reserves run out 22% of the world's undiscovered, technically recoverable resources in the Arctic 40% of the world's palladium production is in the Russian Arctic Role in energy transition American Geosciences Institute. How many premature deaths are attributed to PM2.5? The American Geosciences Institute represents and serves the geoscience community by providing collaborative leadership and information to connect Earth, science, and people. Managing resources in an oil- and gas-rich but harsh and fragile environment, The Arctic hosts large oil and natural gas resources both onshore and offshore.1 However, the harsh climate, extreme weather, remote locations, and limited infrastructure make exploration and production expensive and sometimes hazardous. Practicing strong sustainability in the Arctic means implementing measures to ensure that any future development helps in the fight against climate change instead of facilitating climate change itself. Advances in exploration, drilling, and production technologies allow production in water more than 10,000 feet deep and more than 100 miles offshore. [31] In April 2017, it was reported that Trump was preparing an order to reverse the U.S.'s Arctic drilling ban. In terms of environmental degradation, the negative effects of resource extraction in the Arctic region are not limited to the borders of the countries in which they originated. Yet the Arctic is actually teeming with wildlife, from large mammals like walruses and polar bears to birds, fish, small plants, and even tiny ocean organisms called plankton. To adapt to the harsh climate, they developed warm dwellings and protective clothing. In recent decades, decreased summer sea ice has resulted in increased shipping traffic and may encourage more offshore oil and gas exploration . Arctic wildlife have special adaptations that enable them to survive in their icy and changeable environment.
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