Prudhoe Bay and the Alpine Oilfield in north east Alaska:

• Main Authors: Environmental Effects, Julia Dillenardt
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; bowhead whale; north slope; Prudhoe Bay; Tundra; Alaska
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.506.5956; http://www.geo.tu-freiberg.de/oberseminar/os06_07/dillenardt.pdf

Prudhoe Bay and Alpine have been the biggest and most yielding oilfields of the United States. Northern Alaska`s environment have already been significantly affected by oil infrastructure and activities since 1977, especially by oilspills onshore the North Slope, whilst exploration, drilling and transportation of crude oil, diesel, drilling fluids and waste. These substances can contaminate the sensitive nutrient-poor soils of the arctic tundra. Surface erosion, water flow and tundra vegetation have been altered by roads and extensive off-road travel. Industrial activities also cause significant effects on animal population, by toxication and displacement of for example Bowhead whale`s fall migration. 2 Julia Dillenardt Alaska, the northern state of the United States, is one of the last large places of pure arctic nature and wilderness. Since there explored