Vehicle Travel on the North Slope Tundra

Vehicle Travel on the North Slope Tundra PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Tundra ecology
Languages : en
Pages :

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Vehicle Travel on the North Slope Tundra

Vehicle Travel on the North Slope Tundra PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Tundra ecology
Languages : en
Pages :

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Travel on Thawed Tundra

Travel on Thawed Tundra PDF Author: Glenn R. Burt
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : All terrain vehicles
Languages : en
Pages : 23

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Book Description
Four low ground pressure vehicles were tested on the Alaskan North Slope to observe their effects on thawed tundra. Disturbance created was generally minimal.

Alaska North Slope Tundra Travel Model and Validation Study

Alaska North Slope Tundra Travel Model and Validation Study PDF Author: Harry R. Bader
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Mining, Land, and Water manages cross-country travel, typically associated with hydrocarbon exploration and development, on Alaska's arctic North Slope. This project is intended to provide natural resource managers with objective, quantitative data to assist decision making regarding opening of the tundra to cross-country travel. DNR designed standardized, controlled field trials, with baseline data, to investigate the relationships present between winter exploration vehicle treatments and the independent variables of ground hardness, snow depth, and snow slab thickness, as they relate to the dependent variables of active layer depth, soil moisture, and photosynthetically active radiation (a proxy for plant disturbance). Changes in the dependent variables were used as indicators of tundra disturbance. Two main tundra community types were studied: Coastal Plain (wet graminoid/moist sedge shrub) and Foothills (tussock). DNR constructed four models to address physical soil properties: two models for each main community type, one predicting change in depth of active layer and a second predicting change in soil moisture. DNR also investigated the limited potential management utility in using soil temperature, the amount of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) absorbed by plants, and changes in microphotography as tools for the identification of disturbance in the field. DNR operated under the assumption that changes in the abiotic factors of active layer depth and soil moisture drive alteration in tundra vegetation structure and composition. Statistically significant differences in depth of active layer, soil moisture at a 15 cm depth, soil temperature at a 15 cm depth, and the absorption of photosynthetically active radiation were found among treatment cells and among treatment types. The models were unable to thoroughly investigate the interacting role between snow depth and disturbance due to a lack of variability in snow depth cover throughout the period of field experimentation. The amount of change in disturbance indicators was greater in the tundra communities of the Foothills than in those of the Coastal Plain. However the overall level of change in both community types was less than expected. In Coastal Plain communities, ground hardness and snow slab thickness were found to play an important role in change in active layer depth and soil moisture as a result of treatment. In the Foothills communities, snow cover had the most influence on active layer depth and soil moisture as a result of treatment. Once certain minimum thresholds for ground hardness, snow slab thickness, and snow depth were attained, it appeared that little or no additive effect was realized regarding increased resistance to disturbance in the tundra communities studied. DNR used the results of this modeling project to set a standard for maximum permissible disturbance of cross-country tundra travel, with the threshold set below the widely accepted standard of Low Disturbance levels (as determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). DNR followed the modeling project with a validation study, which seemed to support the field trial conclusions and indicated that the standard set for maximum permissible disturbance exhibits a conservative bias in favor of environmental protection. Finally DNR established a quick and efficient tool for visual estimations of disturbance to determine when investment in field measurements is warranted. This Visual Assessment System (VAS) seemed to support the plot disturbance measurements taking during the modeling and validation phases of this project.

Alaskan North Slope Summer Tundra Stability Tests Using Low Ground Pressure Tracked Vehicles

Alaskan North Slope Summer Tundra Stability Tests Using Low Ground Pressure Tracked Vehicles PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Tundra ecology
Languages : en
Pages : 36

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Summer Travel on the Tundra with Low Ground Pressure Vehicles

Summer Travel on the Tundra with Low Ground Pressure Vehicles PDF Author: Glenn R. Burt
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Tundra vehicles
Languages : en
Pages : 9

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Book Description
Results of tests performed on four low ground pressure vehicles moving over thawed tundra, in the summer of 1970.

Northwest National Petroleum Reserve -- Alaska

Northwest National Petroleum Reserve -- Alaska PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 636

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Northeast National Petroleum Reserve Amended Integrated Activity Plan

Northeast National Petroleum Reserve Amended Integrated Activity Plan PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 620

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Cumulative Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Alaska's North Slope

Cumulative Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Alaska's North Slope PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309168368
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 305

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Book Description
This book identifies accumulated environmental, social and economic effects of oil and gas leasing, exploration, and production on Alaska's North Slope. Economic benefits to the region have been accompanied by effects of the roads, infrastructure and activies of oil and gas production on the terrain, plants, animals and peoples of the North Slope. While attempts by the oil industry and regulatory agencies have reduced many of the environmental effects, they have not been eliminated. The book makes recommendations for further environmental research related to environmental effects.

Effects of All-terrain Vehicle Traffic on Tundra Terrain Near Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska

Effects of All-terrain Vehicle Traffic on Tundra Terrain Near Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska PDF Author: Charles H. Racine
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : All terrain vehicles
Languages : en
Pages : 12

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Book Description
Six-and eight-wheel, light-weight all terrain vehicles (ATVs) (mainly the Argo with low-pressure, low-ribbed tires) are currently used in the Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, area for summer subsistence travel from the village into several Brooks Range valleys. The environmental effects of summer ATV use are poorly understood. During the summers of 1985 and 1986, terrain disturbance at 31 sites representing trails over dry, moist and wet tundra was evaluated by rating the levels of soil exposure, Vegetation destruction and microtopographic depression(ruts). Surface and frozen layer profiles across selected trail sites were also obtained, and trail visibility from the air and ground was rated. The levels of trail disturbance vary between valleys and generally decrease with distance from the village of Anaktuvuk Pass. Trails over dry tundra showed low to moderate terrain disturbance. Terrain disturbance on trails over moist tundra varied from low to high. (FR).

Alaska's Tundra and Wildlife

Alaska's Tundra and Wildlife PDF Author: Robin Dublin
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781890692100
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book Description
Covers elements of alpine and lowland ecosystems, the role of wind, cold, snow and permafrost, animal and plant survival techniques, tundra food chains and food webs, the fragility and resistance of plants, animals and the land, and conservation issue investigations.