Alaska Case Study

Question 1

Where is Alaska?

Answer 1

State of USA which borders Canada.

Question 2

What is Alaska’s population?

Answer 2

738,000

Question 3

Name three Characteristics of Alaska:

Answer 3

One of the following:
* Annual rainfall is low due to the cold conditions reducing evaporation
* The soil is very poor due to a lack of decomposing material. Any dead organisms take a long time to decompose.
* Only the unfrozen active layer can support plant roots, restricting vegetation height
* Much of Alaska is covered by permafrost (ground which remains frozen through at least one summer melt season)

Question 4

Name an animal that lives in Alaska and it’s adaption:

Answer 4

One of the following:
* Musk Ox - Has warm fur in order to keep warm in the cold climate.
* Tundra Wolves - Have short legs and small ears to conserve heat.
* Snowshoe Hare - Has changed colour to camouflage.

Question 5

Name two opportunities in Alaska:

Answer 5

One of the following:
Opportunities in Alaska
* River, lake and sea fishing employs 78 500 people in Alaska, adding $6 billion to economy
* HEP plants have been built in the state, now has over 50 with more planned
* 2 million tourists are attracted to the region each year (60% on cruise ships)
* Gold mining has been present since late 1800’s but starting to shut down
* Oil industry in Alaska provides 100 000 jobs and generates $40 billion per year
* Working on improving oils infrastructure and maintenance of trans-Alaskan

Question 6

Name two challenges in Alaska:

Answer 6

One of following:
* Oil pipeline cost $8 billion to build due to need to lift it to prevent permafrost melt
* Many of the jobs in the fishing industry are only seasonal, reducing economic stability
* Many oil workers are economic migrants who spend little in the local economy
* Solifluction of soil occurs when active layer melts and ground flows downhill
* Cold conditions mean communities are isolated for months of the year
* Building is costly due to permafrost
* Oil spills such as EXXON Valdex spill in 1989 release millions of barrels of oil (1m in 1989)

Question 7

What adaptations do plants have in Alaska? Why?

Answer 7

Plants in Alaska are small due to lack of nutrition in soil but also to stay out of the wind. Some plants have small leaves to reduce water loss by transpiration.

Question 8

How have people adapted to living in Alaska?

Answer 8

• Homes are built on stilts (as shown above) to keep the warmth of the house away from the permafrost and hopefully keep the ground frozen as a result
• Trans-Alaska pipeline zig-zags across the state making it flexible so it can cope with ground movement. Also lifted off the ground to prevent melting and buried in places to allow for animal migrations
• Water, electricity and gas connections are put in utilidors (corridors above ground) as they would be frozen if underground
• Runways are painted white to reflect the sunlight and cause minimal warming to the ground below
• Awareness campaigns run to show the need for global assistance in reducing GHG emissions
• Roads are now built on thick gravel beds to insulate the permafrost beneath from the warming effective of the tarmac and vehicles