Heres what oil drilling looks like in the arctic refuge, 30. To frame climate change in the arctic as simply a story of liquefying. These satellite images of a small part of the arctic national wildlife refuge show the site of what, so far, is the only oil well ever drilled in the refuge, an exploratory well known as kic1. Trudeau promises ban on oil drilling in the arctic, but. Oil and gas exploration, shipping, and military activities bombard marine creatures with noise. Our community here of clyde river experienced seismic blasting in our area. But the area is also believed to contain large petroleum reserves. The trudeau government must make it clear there should be no exploratory activity in our arctic waters unless the inuit have consented and unless the proposed activity meets rigorous, sciencebased environmental. For former mayor natanine and his generation, the decision to oppose drilling for oil and gas was something he initially did not consider until he spoke with elders about the consequences of seismic testing carried out in the 1970s. In other cases, the connection between seismic testing and effects on animals is less certain, as with the mass beaching of 900 longbeaked common dolphins and. The global implications implied by the canadian supreme. Obama permanently protects huge portions of arctic, atlantic. Effects of seismic activity on the behavior and activity of. Arctic sunrise in wilmington, nc carolina blogging.
Canadian supreme court prepares to hear inuit case with. According to government estimates, as many as 8,000 whales and dolphins along the east coast from delaware to florida could soon be injured or possibly killed if seismic blasting is allowed. This concern is of direct relevance to inuit who are fighting proposed seismic blasting in baffin bay. Scientists alarmed by seismic blasting for oil in the arctic ocean by ahnationtalk on august 28, 2015 769 views 24 august 2015 greenland sea the practice of firing seismic airguns to find new oil reserves beneath the arctic ocean is alarming and. Jun 05, 2017 over resident opposition, trump administration approves atlantic blasting seismic testing is strongly opposed along the eastern seaboard. Mar 05, 2015 today, 75 leading marine scientists sent a letter to president obama on the impacts of seismic airgun blasting in the atlantic ocean, stating that the magnitude of the proposed seismic activity is likely to have significant, longlasting, and widespread impacts on the reproduction and survival of fish and marine mammal populations in the region, including the critically endangered north. Disturbance of wildlife and alteration of wildlife behavior from dynamite blasting, machinery noise, human presence, smells and wastecamp management. Lets stand with inuit and stop seismic blasting in the canadian arctic. Marine scientists reiterate need to prevent atlantic. Leading scientists set the record straight on seismic airgun. The scientist noted, airgun surveys seismic blasting have an enormous environmental footprint. Earlier this month, mst spoke with oceana to learn more about their efforts to persuade the obama administration to use the best available science in the environmental. Noaas ocean noise strategy roadmap and seismic airgun.
The seismic companies have asked for a permit to initiate a fiveyear seismic blasting program in the arctic. Sep 04, 2015 seismic blasting is happening right now in the arctic, forcing marine wildlife to flee its natural habitat, all in the quest for more oil. Aug 23, 2016 professor chris williams and actress emma thompson discuss the threats of seismic testing and drilling for oil in the arctic from aboard a greenpeace ship off of clyde river, nunavut. As their homes become clouded with this acoustic smog, these animals may struggle to hear or make the noises they need to find mates, keep track of young, and find food. Dec 20, 2016 obama permanently protects huge portions of arctic, atlantic from offshore drilling this is one move that wont be easy to undo. But it says nothing about the seismic blasting that my community is presently fighting against, said jerry natanine. The method requires a controlled seismic source of energy, such as dynamite or tovex blast, a specialized air gun or a seismic vibrator, commonly known by the trademark name vibroseis.
Most widely held works about arctic land use research program canada mackenzie delta. An inuit communitys davidandgoliath battle with big oil. For information or interviews from the seismic blasting area, contact. Oct 14, 2016 this concern is of direct relevance to inuit who are fighting proposed seismic blasting in baffin bay. Reflection seismology, more commonly referred to as seismic reflection or abbreviated to seismic within the hydrocarbon industry, is used by petroleum geologists and geophysicists to map and interpret potential petroleum reservoirs. Opinion trump and arctic drilling the new york times. The ship docked along the cape fear river in downtown wilmington as part of the atlantic coast ship tour. Useful for seismic refraction surveys down to about 20 m below surface. Scientists fear highintensity sounds from seismic blasting in the arctic could adversely affect marine wildlife, exacerbating the foodinsecurity crisis. Now, however, the area and its indigenous inhabitants are facing the threat of seismic blasting to survey for oil and gas deposits. It could cause injury to 8,500 whales and dolphins and.
Interestingly, there is an article in the united nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples that requires consent of the people before any decisions concerning. Nov 15, 2016 the seismic companies have asked for a permit to initiate a fiveyear seismic blasting program in the arctic. Hibernating polar bear mothers and cubs risk being crushed to death by massive machinery as oil companies push forward with seismic testing in the arctic national wildlife refuge the threatened oil invasion of americas greatest wildlife refuge is a travesty. Blasts from 16 massive airguns are emitted every 10 seconds. Misharina 1967 as the first studies of the focal mechanism solutions in the arctic earthquakes. Over resident opposition, trump administration approves atlantic blasting seismic testing is strongly opposed along the eastern seaboard.
A four page media briefing summarizing the findings and recommendations in the report is available here. Arctic land use research program canada monitoring of the muskrat population of a lake typical of the eastcentral part of the mackenzie delta, northwest territories, to determine whether seismic drilling and blasting affected the animals. Blasting the arctic to find oil greenpeace awareness. Arctic community plugs in solar and star power in fight against climate change and seismic testing levon sevunts, radio canada international posted. Oceana also points to seismic testing conducted in 2001 off sakhalin island in russia that was associated with the departure of endangered gray whales from a primary feeding area. Extreme caution is warranted when conducting seismic surveys in narwhal habitat and direct effects studies are urgently needed. Marine scientists reiterate need to prevent atlantic seismic.
Aug 18, 2016 scientists fear highintensity sounds from seismic blasting in the arctic could adversely affect marine wildlife, exacerbating the foodinsecurity crisis. Save polar bears from being crushed to death by massive. Over resident opposition, trump administration approves. Scientists alarmed by seismic blasting by oil industry in. Oct 11, 2012 oceana also points to seismic testing conducted in 2001 off sakhalin island in russia that was associated with the departure of endangered gray whales from a primary feeding area. A qualitatively new stage of seismic investigations of the arctic originated from the papers by a. Seismic sources can provide single pulses or continuous sweeps of energy, generating seismic waves, which travel through a medium such as. Cassady sharp, 8288173328, email protected notes for editors.
If the seismic companies start blasting in our waters, im worried it could decimate our way of life. The courageous inuit community of clyde river is standing up to protect their arctic home from devastating seismic blasting. Seismic exploration equipment in the arctic national wildlife refuge in the 1980s. The most basic seismic source is a sledge hammer, either striking the ground directly, or more commonly striking a metal plate on the ground, known as hammer and plate. A seismic source is a device that generates controlled seismic energy used to perform both reflection and refraction seismic surveys. Obama permanently protects huge portions of arctic, atlantic from offshore drilling this is one move that wont be easy to undo. Access to local, healthy food from hunting, fishing, and gathering is under threat in a community that already faces high rates of. During one of the last weekends of october my family and i headed out to downtown wilmington, nc to checkout the arctic sunrise.
David suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and cofounder of the david suzuki foundation. Obama permanently protects huge portions of arctic. Yesterday, february 27, the us government released a final proposal to allow the use of seismic airguns off the east coast. Scientists alarmed by seismic blasting by oil industry. Seismic surveys in 2008 and 2009 may have led to mass mortality of narwhals in ice entrapments in canada and greenland. Trudeau promises ban on oil drilling in the arctic, but what. Sailing to the arctic with the people who call it home. Line of sight effects such as alteration in predatorprey interactions and species variation.
Explosives most widely used as seismic sources are known as gelatin dynamites. Oct 19, 2016 seismic blasting wont just affect marine life and inuit, but the habits and modes of life of all creatures in contact with the sea. Effects of seismic activity on the behavior and activity of muskrats on the mackenzie delta. In both realms, the arctic, one of the regions least responsible for causing climate change, is bearing the most immediate brunt. Oct 11, 2016 in both realms, the arctic, one of the regions least responsible for causing climate change, is bearing the most immediate brunt. This report documents the results of a study undertaken to identify and describe the important areas for native land use in northern baffin island and the lancaster sound region, including the settlements of pond inlet, arctic bay, igloolik, hall beach, spence bay, resolute and grise fiord, and unpublished information from the inuit land use. Seismic airguns exploding in the ocean in search for oil. Today, 75 leading marine scientists sent a letter to president obama on the impacts of seismic airgun blasting in the atlantic ocean, stating that the magnitude of the proposed seismic activity is likely to have significant, longlasting, and widespread impacts on the reproduction and survival of fish and marine mammal populations in the region, including the critically endangered north.
Leading scientists set the record straight on seismic. Underwater seismic blasting puts arctic at risk ecowatch. Arctic home stop seismic blasting in clyde river arctic home. Aug 24, 2015 for information or interviews from the seismic blasting area, contact. Avetisov and the rf committee for geology and natural resources management, national research institute of geology and mineral resources of the world oceans. Watch this shocking footage from the greenpeace arctic.
Heres what oil drilling looks like in the arctic refuge. Scientists alarmed by seismic blasting for oil in the arctic ocean by ahnationtalk on august 28, 2015 769 views 24 august 2015 greenland sea the practice of firing seismic airguns to find new oil reserves beneath the arctic ocean is alarming and could seriously injure whales and other marine life, according to a. Later this month, the bureau of ocean energy management boem will make its recommendations on seismic airgun testing in the mid and south atlantic seismic airgun testing is a method of searching for offshore oil and gas that comes with potentially deadly consequences for marine life. Beach leaders urged to oppose offshore drilling beaches. The water currents are changing and the cities close to the sea surface will drown. Seismic blasts can kill fish eggs and larvae and scare fish away from important habitats. The circumpolar arctic is home to four million people representing a diversity of cultures. A seismic source can be simple, such as dynamite, or it can use more sophisticated technology, such as a specialized air gun.
The norwegian company tgsnopec, which is currently using seismic blasting off the east coast of greenland to map potential oil reserves below the seafloor, is also part of the consortium planning to conduct tests in nunavut. Access to local, healthy food from hunting, fishing, and gathering is under threat in a community that already faces high rates of food insecurity. Seismic testing to begin in atlantic ocean in push. This summer, seismic blasting in arctic waters is being conducted on behalf of companies like shell, looking for oil beneath the seabed. Dec 15, 2017 the arctic refuge is a vast region of tundra. The noise from these blasts is so loud that it can be heard up to 2,500 miles from the source, which is approximately the distance from washington, dc to las vegas. Arctic whales, including narwhals and belugas, are potential victims of seismic blasting as are the inuit people who depend on this unique ecosystem for their traditional way of life. Aug 27, 2015 this summer, seismic blasting in arctic waters is being conducted on behalf of companies like shell, looking for oil beneath the seabed. Highlights seismic exploration introduces highenergy noise to the relatively pristine arctic underwater environment. The positioning of charges and their capacity and sequencing are covered in this book, and must be carefully modeled to minimize.
Reflection seismology or seismic reflection is a method of exploration geophysics that uses the principles of seismology to estimate the properties of the earths subsurface from reflected seismic waves. News canadian arctic to be free of seismic blasting this. Dec 21, 2016 but it says nothing about the seismic blasting that my community is presently fighting against, said jerry natanine. Seismic blasting will come to a halt in the canadian arctic this year, leaving the waters of baffin bay and davis strait free from the harmful impacts of offshore drilling. Professor chris williams and actress emma thompson discuss the threats of seismic testing and drilling for oil in the arctic from aboard a greenpeace ship off of clyde river, nunavut. In seismic blasting, ships use powerful air guns to examine the seabed, looking for areas that could contain petroleum deposits. The size and scale of seismic surveys has increased alongside the significant increases in computer power. Drilling to come february 27, 2014 michael jasny today the obama administration released its longawaited environmental impact statement on oil and. Were here for the science the funny side of science. Were dedicated to bringing the amazing world of science to you. Across the nation there are already 175 resolutions opposing seismic and offshore. Seismic airguns create one of the loudest manmade sounds in the ocean, firing intense blasts of compressed air every 10 seconds, 24 hours a day, for weeks to months on end. Whales, turtles, fish, and invertebrates including oysters and crabs, use sound to survive.
Arctic land use research program canada worldcat identities. Unfortunately, the canadian government accepted this proposal. It is a translation and update of a work previously published only in russian vniiokeanogeologia 1996. Canadian arctic to be free of seismic blasting this year. But scientists have long said those blasts can be harmful or deadly to marine animals like turtles, dolphins, and whales. Effects of seismic activity on the behavior and activity. Theory and applications provides the latest on stress waves, shock waves, and rock fracture, all necessary components that must be critically analyzed to maximize results in rock blasting.
This was a once in a lifetime experience that i got to share with my family and wanted to share more information about the ship and its cause with you. Aug 19, 2016 sailing to the arctic with the people who call it home blogpost by farrah khan 19 august, 2016 at 0. Stop seismic blasting as it produces such loud noise and animals underwater are mostly dependent on sound as their medium whether it be communicating. Oceana has been fighting to stop the use of seismic airguns for long time. Arctic is heated up twice as fast as any other place which has a huge impact on the wildlife and ultimately us. Until the last century, the only humans to regularly cross through the area were inuit communities, who have traversed and lived in the region for 4,000 years. Seismic blasting is happening right now in the arctic, forcing marine wildlife to flee its natural habitat, all in the quest for more oil. Selc spearheaded the fight to remove the drilling option from the atlantic, and continues to.
Final proposal will allow seismic blasting in the atlantic. In april 2016 the canadian supreme court, which hears only 5 percent of referred cases, agreed to judge an appeal brought by the inuit community of clyde river, nunavut, against a fiveyear plan to carry out seismic blasting in baffin bay. Miller said seismic blasting is an important issue because its dangerous to mammals and marine fisheries. This publication is offered by the world data center for marine geology and geophysics, boulder with the permission of the author, g.
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