Case study - Alaska

Alaska location

State in America, borders Canada and the Arctic Ocean

Alaska history

indigenous groups joined by European settlers

Alaska population

nearly 750,000

how many Alaskans does commercial fishing employ

1 in 10

how many jobs does commercial fishing in Alaska supply

78,500

how much money does commercial fishing in Alaska make annually

$6 billion

how much fish in Alaska caught annually

over 5 billion lbs

why is fishing abundant in Alaska

3000 rivers and 3 million lakes

subsistence fishing in Alaska

native tribes use fishing for food, oil and bones

how much of Alaska’s mining wealth comes from gold

1/4

what part of gold mining can harm ecosystems

chemicals used to process the gold ore

Alaskan mining development and environmental campaigns example

in 2013 Pebble mine was shut down

native Alaskan's campaigning against mining

50 businesses supported the “No Dirty Gold” campaign

how many summer tourists in Alaska annually

1 to 2 million

social and economic negative of tourism in Alaska

it is heavily seasonal

Alaskan tourism activities

historical sites, rock climbing, skiing, hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing

environmental example of tourism in Alaska

Chena Hot Springs is a resort powered by geothermal power

what % of Alaskan summer tourists come by cruise ship

60%

how many hydroelectric power plants in Alaska provide communities with how much of their electricity?

over 50 hydroelectric power plants supply communities with ⅕ of their electricity

geothermal energy in Alaska

being harnessed in tectonically active parts of the state

why does geothermal energy work in Alaska

the coastline is part of the ring of fire

challenge of climate and crops in Alaska

permafrost hinders crop production

challenge of population in Alaska

hardly anyone is in the northern interior due to harsh climate

challenge of infrastructure in Alaska

the urban heat island, the heat created from settlements, melts permafrost which leave buildings damaged, and damages permafrost

how are buildings built in Alaska

high pitched, steep roofs so snow slides off, triple glazed windows insulate heat, built on raised piles to protect permafrost

challenge of accessibility in Alaska

low population density and harsh weather means lack of surfaced roads, and roads are often closed

thermokarst

uneven ground surface caused by seasonal melting and refreezing of the active layer

solifluction

on slopes, the soil’s active layer starts to flow downhill and slide over the frozen layer

challenge of solifluction in Alaska

large amounts of soils and mud can collect at the base of slopes, cutting places off for months

why is oil accessible in Alaska

vast reserves found on land and offshore

how long is the trans Alaskan oil pipeline

800km

why was the trans Alaskan oil pipeline built

to transport oil to the south port of Valdez

how expensive was the trans Alaskan oil pipeline

$8 billion

trans Alaskan oil pipeline characteristics

11m stilts, suspension bridges to cross bridges, can adjust to movement via earthquakes

how much of the USA's oil did Alaska produce in 1980s

1/4

how much oil is under the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (banned from drilling)

6-16 billion barrels

social and economic cost of the trans Alaskan oil pipeline

only employ 400 of the 2000 available local workers

environmental cost of using oil

oil tankers can cause spills

1989 Alaska oil spill

killed 5000 otters, seals, eagles

social cost of using oil in Alaska

can cause problems with native people so drilling bans are in place

how many jobs does the trans Alaskan oil pipeline offer

100,00

how many Alaskans are employed in the trans Alaskan oil pipeline

1 in 7

how much of the annual earnings do oil and gas contribute to in Alaska

1/3

what % of Alaskan taxes come from oil

90% (pays for social benefits)

environmental benefit of trans Alaskan oil pipeline

goes underground at some point to protect migrating caribou

why is the trans Alaskan oil pipeline insulated

to stop it freezing and to protect permafrost from melting