Starter Task
What is ANWR?
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
Identify some of the ways that humans alter the physical characteristics of biomes for industry or urbanisation.
Explain how and why these alterations occur.
Assess the use of sustainable strategies that minimise environmental impacts of industry.
What continent is Alaska in?
Which country is it in?
Which ocean is it next to?
Using your compass directions and positional language, describe where the Wildlife Refuge is
located.
Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) (click on link to go to Google Maps) is a vast expanse of land, primarily made up of tundra and ocean biomes. Here, large reserves of oil sit beneath the ice and the ocean floor, making drilling a tantalising prospect for large oil companies. However, ANWR is a pristine (untouched) environment, home to a diversity of plants and animals. Economic development puts these fragile ecosystems at serious risk of damage and therefore these areas need to be protected.
Striking a balance between economic developments and protecting cold environments can be achieved through careful management.
But is this enough?...
a) Watch the video on drilling in the ANWR
b) Why would it be easier to extract from the tundra biome rather than elsewhere?
Sort the following impacts into:
Positive
Negative
And then into:
Social
Economic
Enviromental
What do you think is the worst impact?
Discuss the positive and negative impacts of mining in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Make sure to include social, economic and environmental impacts, using geographical terms and concepts.
Introduction: The Arctic National Park is a ________ biome located in the (North/South/East/West) of (State) in (Country).
Outline why mining is taking place in this region.
Paragraph 1: Outline the negative impacts.
Paragraph 2: Outline the positive impacts/ any management methods used to reduce the impacts.
Conclusion: Summarise your main points and state your opinion- do you think we should go ahead with drilling in Alaska?
When analysing, make sure to use connectives:
However...
Therefore....
On the other hand...
Overall...
Construction of pipelines
Disruptive drilling
Altering and damaging the landscape
Habitat destruction/ impacts on wildlife
Air pollution
Climate change
Loss of biodiversity
Land use change
Explain (factorial - the different factors involved) the process of drilling in the ANRW by creating a flow chart of the typical sequence of events that will occur when drilling occurs. Add some relevant images when you have finished. This website will help you but you will need to break each of the seven stages down into even smaller chunks.
Watch the video for an update on what's happening in the ANWR!