Oil Pollution Implications of Arctic

 Change Climate change impacts in the Arctic, particularly the decline of sea ice and retreating glaciers, has led to increased human activities in the region, some of which have the potential to create oil pollution. A primary concern is the threat of a large oil spill in the area. Although a major oil spill has not occurred in the Arctic, potential economic activity, such as tourism (cruise ships), oil and gas exploration, and cargo transportation, increases the risk of oil pollution (and other kinds of pollution) in the Arctic. Significant spills in high northern latitudes (e.g., the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill on the southern coast of Alaska and spills in the North Sea) suggest that the “potential impacts of an Arctic spill are likely to be severe for Arctic species and ecosystems.” 

Risk of Oil Pollution in the Arctic
A primary factor determining the risk of oil pollution in the Arctic is the level and type of human activity conducted in the region. Although changes to the Arctic climate are expected to increase access to natural resources and shipping lanes, the region will continue to present logistical challenges that may hinder human activity in the region. For example, unpredictable ice conditions may discourage trans-Arctic shipping. If trans-Arctic shipping were to occur frequently, it would likely represent a considerable portion of the overall oil pollution risk in the region. In recent decades, many of the world’s largest oil spills have been from oil tankers, which can carry millions of gallons of oil.
Offshore oil exploration and extraction activities in the Arctic may present a risk of oil pollution. Interest in these activities in the region has fluctuated in recent years. Historically, oil well blowouts from offshore oil operations have been a source of major oil spills, eclipsing the largest tanker spills. The largest unintentional oil spill in recent history was from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico.


Commentaires

Enregistrer un commentaire

Posts les plus consultés de ce blog

Siberian Development Vector

  In a report at the St. #Petersburg International #Economic #Forum on June 7, 2019, President of the Russian Federation V.V. #Putin emphasized: “Today we need to think about raising the vast territories of Central and Eastern Siberia, carefully prepare and calculate, and coordinate a development plan. This macroregion is rich in natural resources, it holds about a quarter of the forest reserves, more than half of the coal reserves, significant deposits of copper and nickel, huge energy reserves, many of which are already available” We don’t know it all Russia has invested heavily in Arctic infrastructure and touted its Northern Sea Route along the coast of northern Siberia as a faster, cheaper shipping route between Asia and Europe as the region’s ice rapidly shrinks. In 2020, a total of 32.97 million tons of goods were shipped on the Northern Sea Route, up 1.5 million tons in 2019. On the other hand, Siberia’s attractiveness for potential migrants/settlers is questionable, to say...
Lire la suite

Dome argus

  The highest ice feature (4 000 m+) in Antarctica. It is located within the AAT near the western boundary with Dronning Maud Land, and overlies the # Gamburtsev # Subglacial # Mountains. Mapped in detail by radio echo sounding by the Scott Polar Research Institute and formerly designated Dome "A". Named after Argus the ship that carried Jason and the Argonauts in Greek mythology. In Dec 2016, the name was changed from # Argus Dome to # Dome Argus. Documentation shows the approved name was Dome Argus. # Beijing is leading negotiations to turn Dome Argus into a special zone for ‘scientific research and protecting the environment’. # China is leading an effort to turn the highest point in # Antarctida into a special zone for “scientific research and protecting the environment” and says it is open to working with other countries. The foreign ministry said Beijing was taking the lead in “open negotiations” to turn Dome Argus, which is also known as Dome A, into a prot...
Lire la suite

The treaty protecting Antarctica from mining and military activity

  The following text was adopted at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Peru, May/June 1999, as an introduction to the Antarctic Treaty, particularly for intending visitors to the Antarctic: Introducing The Antarctic Treaty There are few places in the world where there has never been war, where the environment is fully protected, and where scientific research has priority. But there is a whole continent like this – it is the land the Antarctic Treaty parties call  “… a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science” . At the southern end of our world, those who share the challenges of distance and cold to visit the ice-bound continent have developed a tradition of warm cooperation. Such cooperation, unique on this scale, is cemented by the Antarctic Treaty. As a visitor to Antarctica, you will be privileged to enter this world. This document will tell you a little about the Antarctic Treaty, and why it is a unique agreement – for a unique place. Background ...
Lire la suite