Environmental impacts of oil production in Alaska

The page authored by Richa, Stanford University and Tony Kovscek, Stanford University
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Summary

Development of energy resources generally involves tradeoffs with respect to environmental impacts such as land use and human interaction with wildlife. It is virtually impossible to have a zero-impact energy development. Nevertheless, it is possible to differentiate among scenarios with greater or lesser impact. One widely used gauge of the impact of a primary energy development scheme is the land area required. Another gauge for impact is the disruption to wildlife migratory, grazing, and reproduction.

In this exercise, students explore issues of land-use intensity and the interactions of wildlife with energy infrastructure, making connections between cause and effect by analyzing land area requirements and examining human impact on animal populations.

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Learning Goals

Upon completion of this exercise, students will be able to:
  • Plot and analyze data using Excel
  • Use spatial analysis tools within Google Earth
  • Assess the impact of energy infrastructure on a sensitive environment
  • Express their opinion on a current issue based on the data

Context for Use

This is an interactive exercise designed using Google Earth. This requires students to read some material which can be distributed to them before the class or during the class. Questions based on these questions are provided for students to answer an discuss them in class. As the questions are subjective, two groups can be formed in class and a debate/discussion can be organized.

A small to medium class size is needed in order for this exercise to work properly. It will require at least one lecture class. It will be better if a help session is organized before the class to ensure that the students can work through the activity smoothly.

Google Earth is fairly easy to use and is available publicly. Students need access to a computer with internet connection.

Description and Teaching Materials

Assignment Handout (Microsoft Word 43kB Jul10 08)
The assignment handout provides background information for the students, the steps they need to take to go through the assignment, and has several questions for them to answer as they work.

Associated KML file for Google Earth ( 6kB Jul10 08)
This is the file that must be added as a layer to Google Earth.

ANWR Flyer for reading as Question 3 in activity (Acrobat (PDF) 39kB Jul10 08)
Data for Off-road traffic for Tundra: Question 4 (Excel 36kB Jul10 08)

References and Resources