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Resource Extinction In The Arctic

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The Arctic, though it is also an ocean, is widely considered to be a geographical area that extends outwards from the North Pole to the Tree line (the imaginary line drawn on the map above which trees cannot grow due to the harsh climate). According to this definition, the Arctic includes both the Arctic Ocean as well as certain parts of the eight Arctic states. It covers an area of about 5.5 million square miles and is home to a plethora of animal species. Prior to the 20th Century, extreme weather conditions, harsh inaccessible environments and poor visibility had forced policymakers to relegate the Arctic to a region of near insignificance. However, with the rapid technological and industrial breakthroughs of the twentieth century, the geopolitical …show more content…

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While environmental activists are concerned about resource extraction projects in the Arctic, questioning the lack of definitive proof regarding the presence of recoverable oil and therefore its commercial viability, it should be kept in mind that such projects are not entirely new to the region. In fact, oil and natural gas discoveries in the Arctic were made as early as the 1920s while extraction started in the 1960s. Many international oil companies (IOCs) have successfully discovered oil and natural gas, built several rigs and have also extracted them safely, with a few stray incidents. While the Exxon Valdez tanker incident in Alaska is commonly cited by environmental activists as a reason to stop Arctic oil exploration, it should be noted that the incident occurred during oil transportation by a vessel and not during extraction. However, it is also true that the remoteness of the “ground-zero” of the spill and inadequate oil spill response mechanisms at the time contributed to the disaster. Technological advances, putting in place a proper oil response regime and supplying necessary infrastructure to support such projects can significantly reduce the risk factor involved. Therefore, to conclude, natural resource

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In “Is Humanity a Special Threat?” author Greg Easterbrook states his thoughts about the Prince William Sound site oil spill, saying that in 10 years the William sound site will look as if it had never been affected by the destructive oil spill. In 1992, Easterbrook recalls himself aboard the research vessel Arctic Dream, in the waters of Prince William Sound. What he found amazed him. Author Easterbrook recalls the scene saying, “it was just 3 years later, and already the sound was so close to its former state, it was impossible to determine where the spill had occurred without resorting to navigation charts.”

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722 Words | 3 Pages

For centuries the United States has been a beacon of hope for environmentalism, and it is imperative for our country that we preserve this identity. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or ANWR is in the secluded northeastern corner of Alaska and could contain large reserves of oil in the Prudhoe Bay region. The question of whether or not to drill for oil has been a controversial topic in American politics for decades, though the evidence will show that drilling for oil is a mistake for this country. This is because it will devastate and destroy the fragile environment. Additionally, drilling in Prudhoe Bay will not solve our oil problems.

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760 Words | 4 Pages

The article “Tarmageddon”, written by Andrew Nikiforuk,starts by stating how Europeans felt towards Canada before and continues by explaining what has changed their stance towards Canada. He then bulges on by describing oil and the specifics of the oil Canada is refining while perceiving its problems along the way while portraying how Canada changed, explaining why those changes happened. Towards the end of the article Andrew looks into the government’s approach on the matter and how it is ignoring the entire incident. Finally, in the end he comes to his conclusion and warning about the country’s future and how it will become if nothing is done. In short Nikiforuk, elaborates about the negative effects of the tar sands on Canada.

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537 Words | 3 Pages

He talks about the possible benefits of the drilling while showing how they do not compare to the downsides by saying “At best, the Arctic Refuge might provide 1 to 2 percent of the oil our country consumes each day. We can easily conserve more than that amount by driving more fuel-efficient vehicles. Instead of tearing open the heart of our greatest refuge, we should use our resources more wisely.” Carter explains that even though a small percentage of our daily use will be covered by drilling into the Arctic Refuge, there are much better ways to go about it that don’t involve destroying nature. More fuel-efficient vehicles are given as an example that could be seen as an alternative solution that doesn’t damage the wildlife.

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489 Words | 2 Pages

While drilling, the oil can also pollute the ocean. Everyone is asking ‘Should The United States should Drill for Oil in Alaskan Wilderness?’ The best way to sort this out is by looking at the Economic factors, Environmental Factors, and Other Factors. Drilling in Alaskan wilderness would cause economic problems.

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1029 Words | 5 Pages

The purpose of the article is to argue the importance of the Arctic region, and Case uses rhetorical strategies to persuade readers to accept her point of view. This suggests that the author has a bias toward the topic and that her goal is to influence the reader's opinion. However, it is important to note that it is not necessarily a negative thing for the author to own the point or argument they are trying to make. It is up to the reader to evaluate the arguments presented and decide if they are convincing.

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262 Words | 2 Pages

My perceptions regarding Alaskan drilling have not changed, I believe that the Alaskan Wilderness should not be drilled for oil. My decision rests on the fact that the Alaskan wilderness is an irreplaceable natural resource and the possible oil resources it may or may not yield, are not worthy of its destruction. Viewing this situation as a dispassionate observer, there is no overwhelming motive for the U.S. to drill in Alaska. Scientists have largely stated that the oil reserves in Alaska may not yield the amount or quality of oil once believed, therefore it does not warrant the expenditure of time, money, and resources to disrupt the environment. Advocates argue that drilling would decrease fuel prices, create new jobs, and end our foreign

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594 Words | 3 Pages

He states that “at best, the Arctic Refuge might provide 1 to 2 percent of the oil our country consumes each day” (Carter 7). Why on earth would industry pillage this environmental bounty for such a small amount of oil? Carter’s evidence plainly illustrates that destruction in this area is foolhardy. Much of Carter’s reasoning stems from emotional eye witness accounts of his own encounters with the wildlife in this region.

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599 Words | 3 Pages

With such a fighting spirit, even the damage of industrialization was no match for it. After using calming and soothing words to describe the beauty of the Arctic Refuge, the author immediately pulls the readers to the harsh reality and blackness of a “web of roads and pipelines, drilling rigs and industrial facilities’. He describes the effects that it will have on the ecosystem and on America’s only Arctic Refuge.

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1038 Words | 5 Pages

There are small and large communities in this region, and the small communities have stores, schools, and churches; those who live in the larger communities will have places for people to go if someone ends up getting sick (www.aitc.sk.ca). Tundra comes from tunturia, a Finnish word identified by a plain of land in which has no trees. The tundra has seven characteristics, which consists of an extremely low climate, a low biotic diversity and simple structure of vegetation, not enough drainage, short growing and reproduction season, dead organic material as energy and nutrients, and large population oscillations. This biome can be split into two types, which are the arctic tundra and alpine tundra (www.ucmp.berkeley.edu), and snow geese, bar-tailed godwits, arctic loons, lapland longspurs, and golden plovers can be found in both tundras (www.adfg.alaska.gov).

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152 Words | 1 Pages

However, subsistence hunting on the frozen ocean is becoming harder and more dangerous due to the increase in global temperature. The sea ice is melting and there is now open ocean where there should be ice at a certain time of year. Loss of sea ice also changes marine animals’ migration patters, and hunters may have to hunt for many species in one season. With no ice, the sea picks up

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1745 Words | 7 Pages

The spread out in a mat across the tundra floor and produce flowers. Trees need a lot more room than just a few inches of wet soil to grow and the frozen ground is to hard for their roots to penetrate. This is why the few trees that are able to grow never get as big as they could be. Even through this many animals are able to find (ursus maritimus or polar bear) this area hospitable. The Polar Bear, Caribou, Arctic Fox, Arctic Hare, Snowy Owl, and the Musk Ox.

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1685 Words | 7 Pages

In Prisoners of Geography, Tim Marshall argues that geography constrains and shapes all nations and their leaders. Their actions are limited by mountains, rivers, seas, and concrete. He argues that to really understand world events, one must also consider geography. Physical characteristics affect the strengths and vulnerabilities of regions. In his book, Tim Marshall examines Russia, China, the Middle East, Latin America, the United States, Africa, Western Europe, Japan and Korea, and Greenland and the Arctic.

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315 Words | 2 Pages

Climate The Canadian Arctic is one of the extremely coldest climates known on Earth with the temperature of -28°C and -70°C during winter and in summer around 12°C which makes it very hard to survive unless you have appropriate shelter to keep you warm in freezing cold temperature. They had to discover a natural way of keeping them warm under shelter, For this particular reason, people who lived in that environment were forced to accommodate themselves by building with the material they had available and survive by using the techniques of passive engineering. Structure Design and Purpose People have always been fascinated by this traditional vernacular building called Igloo which is commonly found in Canada Arctic. The inventors of this vernacular

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1156 Words | 5 Pages

Apart from the sea ice, the polar bears have very few alternatives left when the ice melts and when their access to the ringed seal prey disappears with their habitat. The charismatic arctic hunters cannot adjust and sustain themselves on another food source. If the devastating process of climate change continues, there wouldn’t be a thin sheet of ice left for these extraordinary animals to survive

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