Cumulative Effects of Arctic Oil Development - planning and designing for sustainability

This project devises a sustainable approach to assessing the cumulative effects of oil exploration though combining detailed ground studies, local community input, industry involvement, and an international perspective. A three-pronged initiative is proposed: 1) A case study of the cumulative effects of industrial infrastructure at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska will focus on infrastructure-related effects associated with gravel mines, roads and other areas of gravel placement. The study will include ground-based studies, an examination of infrastructure and landscape change at multiple scales, and a human dimension component that includes evaluation of adaptive management planning for infrastructure in northern Alaska and CE studies associated with the Iñupiat village of Nuiqsut. The study will develop a process-based understanding of infrastructure-related permafrost/ landform/ vegetation succession in terrain undergoing thermokarst formation (the development of highly eroded landforms the result from the thawing of ice-rich permafrost). The study will help to answer the questions ?What will these areas look like in 50 -100 years?? and ? Can adaptive management methods address the complex issues related to placement, usage and decommissioning of infrastructure in Northern Alaska?? 2) An Arctic Infrastructure Action Group (AI-AG) will bring the CE issues to greater prominence in the international Arctic research community. The AI-AG will consist of local people who interact with development infrastructure, permafrost scientists, ecologists, hydrologists, engineers, social scientists and educators seeking to develop adaptive management strategies that address the unique issues related to networks of infrastructure in arctic permafrost environments. Three workshops will bring panarctic participants together, first in a scoping workshop and then to focus specifically on the two most rapidly expanding areas of Arctic infrastructure, the North Slope of Alaska and the Yamal Peninsula, Russia. 3) An education/outreach component will train students in arctic systems and introduce them to the issues of industrial development and adaptive management approaches during an expedition along the Elliott and Dalton highways in Alaska. The course will include a section at Prudhoe Bay to learn firsthand about the issues with oilfield infrastructure, its impacts and vegetation rehabilitation practices. Students will also visit the village of Nuiqsut to experience village life and discuss CE issues with the local residents.

本项目提出了一种可持续的石油勘探累积影响评估方法，通过结合精细化地面调研、本地社区意见、行业参与及国际视角。本项目提出三项核心举措：1) 将以阿拉斯加普拉德霍湾（Prudhoe Bay）的工业基础设施累积影响为案例研究，聚焦砾石矿、道路及其他砾石铺设区域相关的基础设施影响。本研究将开展地面实地调研、多尺度基础设施与景观变化分析，同时纳入人文维度研究：包括评估北阿拉斯加地区基础设施的适应性管理规划，以及与因皮阿特（Iñupiat）族群努伊克苏特村（Nuiqsut）相关的累积影响（Cumulative Effects，CE）研究。本研究将构建基于过程的认知，深入理解热喀斯特（thermokarst）发育区域（即由富冰多年冻土（permafrost）消融形成的高度侵蚀地貌）内与基础设施相关的多年冻土/地貌/植被演替过程。本研究将助力解答两大核心问题："这些区域在50至100年后将呈现何种面貌？"以及"适应性管理方法能否解决北阿拉斯加地区基础设施铺设、使用与退役相关的复杂问题？"2) 北极基础设施行动小组（Arctic Infrastructure Action Group, AI-AG）将推动累积影响（CE）议题在国际北极研究共同体中获得更多关注。该小组由与开发基础设施打交道的本地居民、多年冻土科学家、生态学家、水文学家、工程师、社会科学家及教育工作者组成，旨在制定适应性管理策略，以应对北极多年冻土环境中基础设施网络面临的独特挑战。小组将举办三场泛北极参与者齐聚的研讨会：首场为范围界定研讨会，后续两场将分别聚焦北极地区基础设施扩张最快的两大区域——阿拉斯加北坡与俄罗斯亚马尔半岛（Yamal Peninsula）。3) 教育与推广模块将通过沿阿拉斯加埃利奥特公路（Elliott Highway）与道尔顿公路（Dalton Highway）开展的科考之旅，培训学生掌握北极系统相关知识，并使其了解工业开发与适应性管理方法相关议题。课程将设置普拉德霍湾实地环节，让学生第一手了解油田基础设施相关问题、其影响及植被恢复实践。学生还将前往努伊克苏特村，体验当地村落生活并与本地居民讨论累积影响相关议题。