Nmajor oil spills in the arctic books

I am a third grade teacher and the book oil spill was a fantastic addition to my science hands on lesson on causes and effects of oil spills and on the environment and wildlife in america. Russia, worlds worst oil polluter, now drilling in arctic. Dead porgy fish stuck in oil near port sulphur, louisiana. Significant oil reserves lie offshore, in the arctics shallow and biologically productive shelf seas. A major oil spill that occurs in severe arctic conditions will never be cleaned up to the point that serious environmental damage will be avoided. The threat of a major arctic oil spill and the potential impacts on the regions marine ecosystems are of concern for a broad range of u. A history of oil in the arctic today in alaska, the vast majority of oil from the states arctic region comes from onshore drilling wells.

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. By all measures, the arctic region will be more challenging than the gulf of mexico for well blowouts, oil spill containment, and oil recovery due to the remote and unforgiving environment, lack of infrastructure, logistical difficulties, potential ice, harsh weather, and high sea states. Discover librarianselected research resources on oil pollution from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Oil spills in arctic, deep water would cause challenges for. Oil spills oil spills are an increasing form of pollution in antarctica as a result of increasing shipping activity in the region. Oil captured in ice during freezeup is typically returned to the surface during spring thaw when it can be removed with isb. Even so, the consequences of a spill in the arctic would. In the field of offshore oil pollution prevention, preparedness and response, the u. The deepwater horizon oil spill blowout did much to change the perception of oil. The identification and evaluation of oil spill risk is important for contingency planning, as well. Basaran as the arctic ocean is becoming a busier place for shipping due to an unprecedented sea ice retreat and integration of the regional resources with the world economy, regulatory challenges for the protection and. Were not ready to deal with oil spills in the arctic. The final chapter summarizes progress made on major research issues such as.

An internal report warns the federal government isnt fully prepared to respond in the event of an oil spill in the arctic or in deep water offshore. The oil industry also makes the following points when questioned about oil spills in arctic waters. On the brightyellow tundra outside this oil town near the arctic circle, a pitchblack pool of crude stretches toward the horizon. Recent years have seen increasing interest in offshore oil exploration in the arctic and other frontier regions. Oil destroys the insulating ability of furbearing mammals, such as sea otters, and the water repellency of a birds feathers, thus. And because heavy fuel oil persists much longer in the environment than other fuels, the damage a major heavy fuel oil spill would inflict would be longlasting and devastating. And at four minutes past midnight on march 24, 1989 23 years ago on saturday the singlehulled supertanker exxon valdez, loaded with 1. However, the history shows multiple oil spill accidents in the western part of the arctic. With an increase in maritime traffic and an interest in the untapped petroleum reserves of the arctic, the likelihood of an oil spill increases significantly. Can the civil liability convention of oil pollution withstand the pressure of a major oil spill in the arctic ocean. The 2010 bp oil spill in the gulf of mexico was one of the largest environmental disasters in american history. States such as alaska, however, depend on oil to keep their state running, and about 85 percent of its budget is supplied by oil revenues.

There are many rumors and tales and even media reports about oil spills from pipelines in the former soviet union, but few have been well investigated, studied, andor reported. Photographs of alaska s north slope introduces readers to a remote region north of the arctic circle. Komi is one of russias largest and oldest oil provinces but ruptures in aging pipelines. Komi is one of russias largest and oldest oil provinces. And its why we cant afford to allow risky offshore drilling in remote arctic waters. Fate, behaviour and response to oil spills in the arctic. Generally, responding to major oil spills remains a challenge in remote, icy environments. The natural history of an arctic oil field synthesizes decades of research on these myriad impacts. Letting shell drill in arctic could lead to catastrophic oil.

Norway court backs arctic oil exploration bbc news. Maisa nevalainen, as part of the 2017 young scientists summer program yssp, is working to assess the extent of the risk posed by oil spills in the arctic marine areas. The fight to keep oil and gas rigs out of our waters. Oil spill response in the arctic while shell made its way up north, techknow travelled to the arctic circle aboard the us coastguard icebreaker healy. President obama must act now to ensure that their home is not sacrificed to tomorrows oil disaster. Why an oil spill in arctic waters would be devastating environment. As sea ice melts and the oil industry prepares to exploit the arctics vast resources, the united states faces big gaps in its preparedness for an oil spill in the region, according to a report released wednesday by the national research council nrc. The leak was caused by the operator bps failure to prevent internal corrosion in a 29yearold pipeline that had not been properly maintained and inspected. The dynamics of the ice pack combined with the long life of the oil could allow an oil spill to have a major. Predicting the fate of oil spills in arctic sea ice. Us arctic research commission recommends steps to expanded us funding for arctic subarctic oil spill research. Offshore activity in the arctic, a favorite target of conservation groups, still lags behind other areas as well. One event was the spill in 1994 near the town of usinsk, just south of the arctic circle.

Oil spills from blowouts, pipeline leaks or shipping accidents pose a tremendous risk to arctic ecosystems. This two volume book series synthesizes oil spill science since. Most of the oil comes from the north slope, referring to the land adjacent to the chukchi and beaufort seas down to the brooks mountain range the area of land depicted on the map above. The risk of a serious oil spill in the arctic is escalating due to potential increases in shipping traffic and oil and gas activities. Why an oil spill in arctic waters would be devastating.

The warning comes as congress prepares to open up more drilling in a region. In addition to conducting tests in the hamburg ship. Specialists with years of field experience have contributed to this volume to create the first widely available synopsis of the ecology and wildlife biology of animals and plants living in close association with an actively producing oil field. Sep 28, 2016 a report prepared for the nunavut planning commission cites lack of knowledge about arctic oil spills and a dearth of cleanup capabilities.

Coast guard during oil spill response operations in alaska and maintains a role on the alaska regional response team. It exemplifies consequences to the ecosystem after oil spill. Deep oil spills facts, fate, and effects steven murawski springer. Itac meeting, plymouth 26 th 28th september, 2017 fate, behaviour and response to oil spills in the arctic. In the last decade, over 1 billion gallons of oil were spilled worldwide and 6 million tonnes per year entered the oceans abdulhamid et al. Noaa estimates that within the next 30 years the arctic ocean will be free of multiyear ice in the summer, increasing opportunities for maritime transportation, tourism, and oil and gas exploration. We identify research entities in governmental, nongovernmental, industrial, and private organizations, and provide an inventory of research projects. Jan 14, 2008 14 january 2008 in a phd thesis by livguri faksness new information about what happens with oil spills in an arctic environment is revealed. One of the conclusions of the amap report was that there are no effective means of containing and cleaning up oil spills in broken sea ice. Can the civil liability convention of oil pollution. Although the exxon valdez oil spill was not the biggest oil spill in the world, it is still widely considered to have caused more environmental damage than any other.

Jul 19, 2017 is not ready to clean up an arctic oil spill. Nrdc played a key role in banning offshore drilling in the arctic and atlantic. The united states is not ready to clean up an oil spill in the arctic, the head of the coast guard said yesterday. Some major oil spills such as the exxon valdez oil spill in 1989 and the recent bp deepwater horizon dwh oil spill in 2010 have captured global attention due to their catastrophic impacts. Jan 08, 2020 conditions in the arctic are changing rapidly. Apr 22, 2011 no oil company is remotely prepared for a major spill in the arctic, says wwf. In 2017, the first 300m long commercial lng oil tanker crossed the northern sea route between europe and asia without the protection of an icebreaker. Low visibility, mobilized icebergs, and extreme cold make cleanup efforts difficult, and the presence of any sea ice at an oil spill site makes the task even more complex. Oil pooled around the rupture site for eight months, contained by a dike, but the dike later gave way, spilling roughly 84 million gallons of oil into the kolva river. Even with the growth of maritime activity in the arctic, the chances of a major oil spill remain small compared with more heavily travelled shipping lanes. List of books and articles about oil pollution online. Oil spills have killed small proportions of pacific loon populations on their wintering areas. The 25th anniversary of the exxon valdez oil spill is a good opportunity to evaluate the threat of an oil spill in the arctic. A history of oil in the arctic climate interpreter.

An introduction and inventory of research activities and usarc recommendations. Jan 04, 2018 the issuing of oil exploration licences breached a constitutional right to a healthy environment, the groups said. Noaas sampling guidelines for arctic oil spill damage assessments. If oil spills in open water, there are models that can be used to track where it. We are developing an arctic environmental response management application, a critical gis tool to support decision makers during oil spills and training exercises. Human impacts on antarctica and threats to the environment. What would an arctic oil spill in the beaufort sea look like. No oil company is remotely prepared for a major spill in the arctic, says wwf. In 2010, usarc recommended to the federal government an invigorated oil spill research effort in the arctic and a funding strategy that did not require new fiscal appropriation. Oil spills have posed a persistent threat to the arctic. The natural history of an arctic oil field 1st edition.

First, because interest in oil and gas development in the arctic is on the rise, as is marine shipping, the likelihood of oil spills is increasing. Preparing to respond to oil spills in the arctic u. In april, the us national research council highlighted the lack of technological capacity to respond to oil spills in arctic waters. Largescale work on oil spills in sea ice began in the early 1970s in canada and the united states with the beaufort sea project and the outer continental shelf environmental assessment program, respectively e. Her experiments show that the air temperature in the period before the oil spill is important for the leakage degree of water soluble oil components in the ice. Arctic oil spill containment and cleanup endeavor management. Thats why ocean conservancy is working to make reduce risks from increasing ship traffic in the region. The threat of a major arctic oil spill and the potential impacts on the regions marine. One example, the exxon valdez oil spill in prince william sound in 1989, is the largest marine spill in the vicinity of the arctic thus far. Oil spill response guide abebooks passion for books. Letting shell drill in arctic could lead to catastrophic oil spill, experts warn.

This is the online version of a job aid designed for volunteers who report aerial. Drilling the arctic comes with a 75 percent chance of a large oil spill. But the infrastructure to respond to oil spills and other accidents is inadequate. This report describes the unique ecosystems and environment of the arctic and. Kenneth kertell, in the natural history of an arctic oil field, 2000. Take a look at how a handful of the arctics abundant wildlife would be impacted by offshore drilling and a potential oil spill in the arctic. To provide an effective response effort in challenging arctic. As sea ice melts and the oil industry prepares to exploit the arctic s vast resources, the united states faces big gaps in its preparedness for an oil spill in the region, according to a report. Following an oil spill, there are specialists and veterinarians to deal with oiled wildlife. For example, after the exxon valdez oil spill in prince william sound on the southern coast of alaska in 1989, 395 loon carcasses all loon species combined were retrieved field et al. Oil spills can be devastating to arctic marine environments given. While ships often have facilities to contain waste oil and separate oil from water which is then taken out of antarctica for disposal, an ever greater presence is bound to lead to more accidents which do happen.

This book is a compilation of research on oil spills in icecovered arctic waters and recommendations for future work. The kolva river spill 1994 the kolva river oil spill was caused by a breach in a corroded oil pipeline in the russian arctic. A major oil spill in the beaufort sea world could be a disaster for the people and wildlife who depend on a healthy arctic ocean. Once again, its fighting to protect those oceansand the rest of americas waters. Key lessons learned from the responses to previous deep spills, as well as unresolved. Jan 16, 2018 scientists have created the ideal nontoxic supersponge for cleaning oil spills in the icy, turbulent waters of the arctic, by chemically modifying sawdust to make it exceptionally oil. Oil spill in the russian arctic spitsbergen svalbard. Sunken antarctic cruise ship left oil spill nbc news. The largest oil spills in history mnn mother nature. Transportation research board and national research council. The 10 licences were issued in 2016 to explore the barents sea above the arctic. As arctic sea ice declines, industrial development from shipping to offshore oil and gas is increasing. The gas traveled up the rigs riser to the platform, where it ignited, killing 11 workers and. No new development without effective spill response we lack the demonstrated ability to respond to and effectively contain or clean up major oil spills in the arctic.

Imo field guide oil spill response and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Whether such a spill has a chance to happen is largely dependent on what the interior department. Leaders of the department of the environment of the autonomous nenets observed an oil fountain, about 25 metres high, for at least one day on april 20 and 21 on the field trebs, which is located on the mainland of russia south of the island of novaya zemlya. Although the arctic may be moving toward icefree summers, it will remain a difficult place to respond to oil spills. Exxon valdez oil spill a cautionary tale for arctic ocean. Marine oil spillsoil pollution, sources and effects. The trump administration called for the removal of crucial arctic protections in a new draft proposal of where oil and gas companies can purchase leases for offshore drilling. Only the native peoples who lived there for centuries and the small workforce that keeps alaska s mammoth oil fields producing had previously known the area. Worse, when the soot released from burning heavy fuel oil settles on sea ice, it darkens the surface.

The united states is not prepared for oil spills and does not yet even have adequate capability of icebreakers that can access hardtoreach areas. Oil destroys the insulating ability of furbearing mammals, such as sea otters, and the waterrepelling abilities of a birds feathers, exposing them to the harsh elements. The largest russian energy companies are looking to explore more arctic oil and gas resources on and offshore russia, while norwegian and other western oil firms are digging exploration wells in. Effects of oil spills in arctic waters by karl magnus eger oil in the arctic marine ecosystem originates mainly from two sources. An introduction and inventory of research activities and usarc recommendations u. The report included some key findings related to emergency response in the arctic. While these activities may seem like new developments, in fact arctic oil exploration, and in some cases production, has been going on for about half a century. Zoology and wildlife conservation international relations environmental issues oil spills environmental aspects wildlife conservation planning. Hundreds of wells have been drilled in arctic waters without any sustained, uncontrolled release of oil or gas. Arctic spill the hull of a hitech oil tanker takes a beating from the barrage of massive icebergs in the arctic until it is ripped apart, causing a major oil spill. Super sponge to clean up oil spills in arctic the hindu. Arctic spills can contaminate local environments for decades, and effectively wipe out local populations of certain species, affecting local livelihoods and food security.

The existing capability to deal with a major tanker oil spill in the arctic is presented, with particular. May 16, 2014 the risk of a serious oil spill in the arctic is escalating due to potential increases in shipping traffic and oil and gas activities. Oil spills can be devastating to arctic marine environments given the current lack of oil spill response capabilities. How would offshore oil and gas drilling in the arctic impact. Introduction as climate change extends the icefree period in highlatitude areas, the arctic faces increasing maritime tra. Science synthesis produces books on deepwater horizon findings. Oil and water sprayed out of a 2foot lengthwise rupture along the bottom of the pipe. Climate change, the retreat of arctic ice, and global economic. Oil and natural gas resources map of the arctic ocean.

Record high temperatures attributed to global warming have once again opened the region to a new era of trans arctic shipping. May 12, 2015 5 dangers of oil drilling in the arctic ocean the obama administration just gave shell conditional approval to drill for oil in the u. The largest accidental oil spill in history began in the gulf of mexico on april 20, 2010, after a surge of natural gas blasted through a cement well cap that had recently been installed to seal a well drilled by the deepwater horizon oil platform. This white paper is a compilation of research on oil spills in icecovered arctic waters and recommendations for future work. These experts are trained on how to clean oil from animals, rehabilitate them, and return them to the environment. With commercialization of the arctic ocean heating up, were coming to realize that were not prepared to deal with the likely disasters that will accompany itespecially oil spills. Dying trees are shown next to an oil spill near the town of usinsk in the komi province. This is a reversechronological list of oil spills that have occurred throughout the world and spill s that are currently ongoing.

Wetzel has served on panels to develop and assess protocols for oil spill response research and for oil dispersant use in the arctic. Arctic oil spill response arctic fact sheets iogp bookstore. Depending on the circumstances, oil spills can be very harmful to marine birds, sea turtles and mammals, and also can harm fish and shellfish. This is a series of sampling guidelines for collecting highpriority, timesensitive, ephemeral data in the arctic after an oil spill to support natural resource damage assessment and other oil spill science. Quantities are measured in tonnes of crude oil with one tonne roughly equal to 308 us gallons, 256 imperial gallons, 7. The largest oil spills in history heres a look at the largest spills in world history and how the gulf oil spill and the exxon valdez disaster compare. Sunken antarctic cruise ship left oil spill milelong slick is near breeding grounds for 2,500 penguins. I highly recommend it and the pictures and content are relevant for elementary age children. Amerasian basin, arctic alaska basin, east barents basin, east greenland rift basin, west greenlandeast canada basin, west siberian basin, and the yenisey. May 15, 2012 a serious oil spill occurred in the russian arctic in late april. The slow rate of biological degradation of oil at nearzero temperatures has led biologists to suggest that oil spills in the arctic ocean might remain there for periods of 50 years or more. The arctic council and offshore oil pollution prevention. The largest north slope oil spill occurred in 2006, when a pipeline leaked 267,000 gallons of crude oil onto the tundra in the prudhoe bay field. When i visit the arctic coast next month ill see sandpipers who have flown over the gulf oil spill on their way back to their summer home where they will hatch a new generation.