DOCSLIB.ORG

Plate 1. the Colville River Drainage Basin, Which Is Approximately 100

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Plate 1. the Colville River Drainage Basin, Which Is Approximately 100 Plate 1. The Colville River drainage basin, which is approximat ely 100 tim es th e size of its delta, covers 29% of the North ern Slope of Alaska. Unlike the larger dr ainage basin s in th e Arctic, that of th e Colville is entire ly confined to th e zone of cont inuos permafrost . Du ring floodin g, th e sa line wate r th at has intruded into th e cha nnels is flushed out and a freshwater wedge is creat ed in the ocean in front of th e delta. Journal of Coastal Research 718-738 Royal Palm Beach, Florida Summer 1998 Arctic Deltas H. Jesse Walker Department of Geography Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA 70803, U.S.A. ABSTRACT_•••••••••••••••••••••••••••_ WALKER, H.J., 1998. Arctic Deltas. Journal of Coastal Research, 14(3),718-738. Royal Palm Beach (Florida), ISSN ,tllllllll:. 0749-0208. ~ ~. Arctic river deltas are among the most unique and fragile of deltas to be found on earth. Leading to this uniqueness ~ ~ and fragility are the interactions between geologic, oceanographic, climatologic, biologic, and cryospheric activities c+ &__7t' that occur in high latitudes. These interactions are analyzed at both regional and local levels with respect to their influence on delta formation. Specific morphological forms, such as ice-wedge polygons, and processes, such as ther­ moerosion, that are associated with permafrost are identified. Arctic deltas, including the Ob, Lena, Yenisey, Mac­ kenzie, Yukon and Colville, are discussed illustrating the diverse range of variables affecting deltaic processes. Vari­ ables considered include age, size, shape, discharge, sediment load and surface forms. Current anthropogenicimpacts on deltaic resources, such as construction associated with hydrocarbon production, are considered as is the potential for change that could result from a rising sea level. ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS: Arctic, Alaska, Canada , Russia, coastline, deltas, deltaic processes, permafrost. INTRODUCTION Eurasian Continents range in distance from the North Pole by 650 km in northern Greenland to about 2500 km in west­ Delt as are among th e most dyn amic and complex natural ern Canada and eastern Siberia. Across these continents flow phenomena on ea rth. Their dynamism stems from the fact a number of rivers (Figure 1, insert A), many of which have th at they are the result of interactions between various ele­ formed deltas where they empty into the Arctic Ocean or its ments of the hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, bio­ bordering seas. The general courses of these rivers is deter­ sphere and, in high latitudes, the cryosphere. In addition, mined by the structure of the cont inents (Figure 1, insert B). most present-day deltas have been impacted heavily by hu ­ mans and, in the process, many deltaic forms and processes The Land have been altered. Of the world's deltas least modified by humans, those in The structure of the Arctic has been described as being the Arctic stand out. However, even some of those deltas are nearly symmetrical about the Arctic Basin (OSTENSO, 1968; being affected today because of the exploitation of various SATER et al., 1971; STEARNS, 1965). It has often been said mineral resources, development of arctic navigation, im­ that the Arctic is "anchored" by three Precambrian shields, provements in technology, and a political climate that fosters one of each located in Canada-Greenland, Scandinavia and arctic activities. north-central Siberia (Figure 1, insert B). These sh ields are This ess ay, which is devoted to arctic deltas, first summa­ separate d by mountains, plateaus and plains of younger and rizes the various geologic, oceanographic, climatologic, biolog­ varied origin. All of these structural units influ en ce the ar­ ic and cryospheri c activities that establish the environmental rangement of the drainage basins that are prevalent in the setting for arctic deltas in gen eral. Thi s section is followed by Arcti c today. As GORDEEV, et aZ. (1996) note:".. the East­ a discussion of the various forms present and the various pro­ European and Siberian platform and the folded areas . .. are cesses operating in arctic deltas. A third part is a brief de­ composed of terrigenous, carbonate, chemogenic, and volcanic scription of several of the deltas found in the Arctic. It is sedimentary rocks from the Archean to the Quaternary age ." followed by a section about how humans are impacting arctic Added to this complex are various extensive evaporites that deltas, and finally there is a brief discussion about the future increase the diversity of materials transported to the deltas. of arctic deltas . In contrast, the Yukon and Mackenzie Rivers flow through highly erodible materials and, as a result, have suspended Regional Setting load s many times the amount of Siberian rivers. The Arctic Ocean, the sma llest of the world's oceans, with The Sea an area of about 14 X 106 km", is nearly landlocked. Although it surrounds the North Pole, th e bordering American and The Arctic Ocean, similar to the other oceans, has deep central portions bordered by continental shelves. However, in the case of the Arctic Ocean, the continental shelves, into 98138 received and accepted in revision 9 May 1998. which the rivers of the adjoining continents drain, equals 720 Walker THE ARCTIC A. DRAINAGE B. BASIC STR UCTURE C. SEA ICE D. PERMAFROST Figure 1. The Arctic. (A) Arctic Drainage. (B) Basic Structur e: 1. Sh ields, 2. Plains and Plat eau s, 3. Fold Mountains. After SATERet al. (1971). (C) Sea Ice: 1. Average minimum extent (summer), 2. Average maximum extent (winte r). After Sa ter et al. (1971). (0) Perm afrost: 1. Contine nta l Sh elf, 2. Conti nuous, 3. Discontinuous. After Pewe (1983). about one-third of the total ocean area. These shelves vary in water that flows through it from th e Atlantic Ocean is rel­ width from only a few lOs of km off Greenland and western atively warm and highly saline. As it moves into and Canada to more than 900 km in the Barents Sea. Because of through th e Arctic Ocean it affects sea-ice formation and these extensive shelves, th e volume of th e Arctic Ocean is less climatic conditions. The surface water in the Arctic Ocean in relation to its area than that of the other oceans. The shal­ is also modified by seasonal events such as the freshening low waters over these exte ns ive shelves are conveni ently di­ that occurs from sea-ice melting and the influx of large vol­ vided into six seas because of the positions of several of the umes of fresh water from the land, especially Siberia Arctic Ocean's islands and a few continental ind entations. (WALKE R, 1992 ). They include the Barents Sea, the Kara Sea into which flows At th e present time in geologic history, sea ice (Figure 1, the Yeni sey, th e Laptev Sea with the Lena, the Ea st Siberian insert C) dominates the Arctic Ocean. Its cover, which aver­ Sea with th e Kolyma, the Chuckchi Sea, and the Bering Sea ages 2 to 3 m thick, ranges from about 8 X 106 km 2 before with the Yukon River (Figure 2). The so-called Beaufort Sea , freeze-up (August) to 14 X 106 km 2 at its maximum extent into which the Mackenzie River flows, is unlike th e other seas (Februa ry and March). During its maximum extent, all arctic because it has a very narrow shelf and is essentially a part deltas are ice-bound, a condition th at usu ally lasts for seven of the Canada Basin. to nine months. It is a length of time th at is shorter than for Although the Arctic Ocean has a number of connections other coastal situations becau se of th e discharge of relatively to th e south, all but one- the Fram Strait-are sh allow . The warm water from inland th at speeds sea-ice melt. The sub- Jo urna l of Coast al Resear ch, Vol. 14, No.3, 1998 Arcti c Delt as 721 RIVERS SEAS 1. Olenek A Beaufort 2. Kolyma B Chukchi 3. Lena 4. Khatanga C Bering 5. Indigrika D East Siberian 6. Yana E Laptev 7. Dubawnt F Kara 8. Anadyr G Barents 9. Bock H Norwegian 10. Anabar I Greenland 11. Pyosino 12. Cappermine J Hudson Bay 13. Yenisei 14. Colville 15. Mackenz ie 16. Ob-irrysh 17. Churchill 18. Nelson 19. Severn 20. Yukon 21. Pechora 22 . Albany 23 . Dvina Figure 2. The Arctic Ocean and adjacent land areas with the distribu tion of rivers, seas, per mafrost, ocean currents and ti des . Compiled from num erous sources including NOAA (1981 ), Lewis (1982), Pewe (1983 ) and Walk er (1992). aqueous portions of deltas are likely to hav e bottom-fast ice that is sufficiently low to insure th at all surface water freezes and may support numerous pressure ridges. and remains frozen for up to nine months. In much of th e One of th e characteristics of sea ice in th e Arctic Ocean is Arcti c the depth of annua l freezing in lakes, rivers and th e th e ". .. almost constant drift and deformation"(HIBLER, sea reaches two or more meters. 1989) caused by winds and ocean currents . Hibl er further Precipitation, which primarily occurs as snow over most of notes th at the". .. magnitude of this interaction is especially th e Arctic, tends to be minimal. However , becau se of th e long pronounced near th e coast . .."(1989). Thus, ocean curre nts, period oflow temp erature, it remains on the surface for man y often enha nced by wave action, move ice floes into shallow months.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Northern Sea Route Cargo Flows and Infrastructure- Present State And
    Northern Sea Route Cargo Flows and Infrastructure – Present State and Future Potential By Claes Lykke Ragner FNI Report 13/2000 FRIDTJOF NANSENS INSTITUTT THE FRIDTJOF NANSEN INSTITUTE Tittel/Title Sider/Pages Northern Sea Route Cargo Flows and Infrastructure – Present 124 State and Future Potential Publikasjonstype/Publication Type Nummer/Number FNI Report 13/2000 Forfatter(e)/Author(s) ISBN Claes Lykke Ragner 82-7613-400-9 Program/Programme ISSN 0801-2431 Prosjekt/Project Sammendrag/Abstract The report assesses the Northern Sea Route’s commercial potential and economic importance, both as a transit route between Europe and Asia, and as an export route for oil, gas and other natural resources in the Russian Arctic. First, it conducts a survey of past and present Northern Sea Route (NSR) cargo flows. Then follow discussions of the route’s commercial potential as a transit route, as well as of its economic importance and relevance for each of the Russian Arctic regions. These discussions are summarized by estimates of what types and volumes of NSR cargoes that can realistically be expected in the period 2000-2015. This is then followed by a survey of the status quo of the NSR infrastructure (above all the ice-breakers, ice-class cargo vessels and ports), with estimates of its future capacity. Based on the estimated future NSR cargo potential, future NSR infrastructure requirements are calculated and compared with the estimated capacity in order to identify the main, future infrastructure bottlenecks for NSR operations. The information presented in the report is mainly compiled from data and research results that were published through the International Northern Sea Route Programme (INSROP) 1993-99, but considerable updates have been made using recent information, statistics and analyses from various sources.
    [Show full text]
  • Regional Maps of Locations Mentioned in Global Review of The
    Regional Maps of Locations Mentioned in Global Review of the Conservation Status of Monodontid Stocks These maps provide the locations of the geographic features mentioned in the Global Review of the Conservation Status of Monodontid Stocks. Figure 1. Locations associated with beluga stocks of the Okhotsk Sea (beluga stocks 1-5). Numbered locations are: (1) Amur River, (2) Ul- bansky Bay, (3) Tugursky Bay, (4) Udskaya Bay, (5) Nikolaya Bay, (6) Ulban River, (7) Big Shantar Island, (8) Uda River, (9) Torom River. Figure 2. Locations associated with beluga stocks of the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska (beluga stocks 6-9). Numbered locations are: (1) Anadyr River Estuary, (2) Anadyr River, (3) Anadyr City, (4) Kresta Bay, (5) Cape Navarin, (6) Yakutat Bay, (7) Knik Arm, (8) Turnagain Arm, (9) Anchorage, (10) Nushagak Bay, (11) Kvichak Bay, (12) Yukon River, (13) Kuskokwim River, (14) Saint Matthew Island, (15) Round Island, (16) St. Lawrence Island. Figure 3. Locations associated with beluga stocks of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, Canadian Arctic and West Greenland (beluga stocks 10-12 and 19). Numbered locations are: (1) St. Lawrence Island, (2) Kotzebue Sound, (3) Kasegaluk Lagoon, (4) Point Lay, (5) Wain- wright, (6) Mackenzie River, (7) Somerset Island, (8) Radstock Bay, (9) Maxwell Bay, (10) Croker Bay, (11) Devon Island, (12) Cunning- ham Inlet, (13) Creswell Bay, (14) Mary River Mine, (15) Elwin Bay, (16) Coningham Bay, (17) Prince of Wales Island, (18) Qeqertarsuat- siaat, (19) Nuuk, (20) Maniitsoq, (21) Godthåb Fjord, (22) Uummannaq, (23) Upernavik. Figure 4. Locations associated with beluga stocks of subarctic eastern Canada, Hudson Bay, Ungava Bay, Cumberland Sound and St.
    [Show full text]
  • Revisiting Trans-Arctic Maritime Navigability in 2011–2016 from the Perspective of Sea Ice Thickness
    remote sensing Article Revisiting Trans-Arctic Maritime Navigability in 2011–2016 from the Perspective of Sea Ice Thickness Xiangying Zhou 1,2, Chao Min 1,2 , Yijun Yang 1,2, Jack C. Landy 3,4, Longjiang Mu 5 and Qinghua Yang 1,2,* 1 Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China; [email protected] (X.Z.); [email protected] (C.M.); [email protected] (Y.Y.) 2 Key Laboratory of Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean System, Ministry of Education, Zhuhai 519082, China 3 Department of Physics and Technology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway; [email protected] 4 Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1 HB, UK 5 Qingdao Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Arctic navigation has become operational in recent decades with the decline in summer sea ice. To assess the navigability of trans-Arctic passages, combined model and satellite sea ice thickness (CMST) data covering both freezing seasons and melting seasons are integrated with the Arctic Transportation Accessibility Model (ATAM). The trans-Arctic navigation window and transit time are thereby obtained daily from modeled sea ice fields constrained by satellite observations. Our results indicate that the poorest navigability conditions for the maritime Arctic occurred in 2013 and 2014, particularly in the Northwest Passage (NWP) with sea ice blockage. The NWP has generally Citation: Zhou, X.; Min, C.; Yang, Y.; exhibited less favorable navigation conditions and shorter navigable windows than the Northern Landy, J.C.; Mu, L.; Yang, Q.
    [Show full text]
  • Permafrost Organic Carbon Mobilization from the Watershed to the Colville River Delta
    PUBLICATIONS Geophysical Research Letters RESEARCH LETTER Permafrost Organic Carbon Mobilization From the Watershed 10.1002/2017GL075543 to the Colville River Delta: Evidence From 14C Ramped Key Points: Pyrolysis and Lignin Biomarkers • Deposition of soil material in the river channel appeared to be more derived Xiaowen Zhang1,2 , Thomas S. Bianchi1 , Xingqian Cui1,2 , Brad E. Rosenheim3 , from deep old permafrost than 4 5 6 7 surface soils Chien-Lu Ping , Andrea J. M. Hanna , Mikhail Kanevskiy , Kathryn M. Schreiner , 8 • Deposition of permafrost soils at the and Mead A. Allison coast was affected by hydrodynamic sorting, coastal currents, and 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA, 2Department of Earth, Atmospheric and drifting ice Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA, 3College of Marine Science, University of • Degradation and organo-mineral South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA, 4School of Natural Resources and Extension, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, interactions likely played important 5 6 roles in the depth-dependent thermal AK, USA, Institute of Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA, Institute of 7 stability of Arctic soils Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA, Large Lakes Observatory, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Duluth, MN, USA, 8The Water Institute of the Gulf, Baton Rouge, LA, USA Supporting Information: • Supporting Information S1 Abstract The deposition of terrestrial-derived permafrost particulate organic carbon (POC) has been Correspondence to: recorded in major Arctic river deltas. However, associated transport pathways of permafrost POC from X. Zhang, the watershed to the coast have not been well constrained.
    [Show full text]
  • Alaskan Arctic Pipeline Workshop
    ALASKAN ARCTIC PIPELINE WORKSHOP Captain Cook Hotel -- Anchorage, Alaska November 8-9, 1999 Arctic Alaskan Pipeline Workshop Summary November 8-9, 1999 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 2 Introduction 7 Attachment A - Final Announcement of Alaskan Arctic Pipeline Workshop Attachment B - Alaskan Arctic Pipeline Workshop Participants Attachment C - Abstracts of Presentations at Alaskan Arctic Pipeline Workshop Attachment D - Summary of Discussion Sessions and Closing Remarks Attachment E - Presentation and Information Files 1 Arctic Alaskan Pipeline Workshop Summary November 8-9, 1999 Executive Summary On November 8 & 9, 1999, a workshop on Alaska Arctic Pipelines was held at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, Alaska. The workshop was initiated and sponsored by the Minerals Management Services (MMS) through the Technology Assessment and Research (TAR) program. C-CORE of St. John’s, Newfoundland in collaboration with AGRA Earth & Environmental, Colt Engineering and Tri Ocean of Calgary, Alberta led the workshop on behalf of MMS. The objective of the workshop was to bring together members of the public and a group of experts with skills related to offshore pipeline design, operation maintenance and inspection to examine the current state of practice for pipeline alternatives under consideration for Alaska offshore oil & gas reserves. A key aspect of the workshop was that it was open to the public and the speakers were urged to make their presentations in a format that would avoid highly technical discussions, formal lectures and commercial overtones. Rather, speakers were urged to provide a candid presentation that would focus on their particular area of expertise in such a way that it could be seen how Arctic pipeline development is undertaken to address the concerns and interest of the public sector, the regulators, the designers and the operators.
    [Show full text]
  • Arctic Marine Transport Workshop 28-30 September 2004
    Arctic Marine Transport Workshop 28-30 September 2004 Institute of the North • U.S. Arctic Research Commission • International Arctic Science Committee Arctic Ocean Marine Routes This map is a general portrayal of the major Arctic marine routes shown from the perspective of Bering Strait looking northward. The official Northern Sea Route encompasses all routes across the Russian Arctic coastal seas from Kara Gate (at the southern tip of Novaya Zemlya) to Bering Strait. The Northwest Passage is the name given to the marine routes between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans along the northern coast of North America that span the straits and sounds of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Three historic polar voyages in the Central Arctic Ocean are indicated: the first surface shop voyage to the North Pole by the Soviet nuclear icebreaker Arktika in August 1977; the tourist voyage of the Soviet nuclear icebreaker Sovetsky Soyuz across the Arctic Ocean in August 1991; and, the historic scientific (Arctic) transect by the polar icebreakers Polar Sea (U.S.) and Louis S. St-Laurent (Canada) during July and August 1994. Shown is the ice edge for 16 September 2004 (near the minimum extent of Arctic sea ice for 2004) as determined by satellite passive microwave sensors. Noted are ice-free coastal seas along the entire Russian Arctic and a large, ice-free area that extends 300 nautical miles north of the Alaskan coast. The ice edge is also shown to have retreated to a position north of Svalbard. The front cover shows the summer minimum extent of Arctic sea ice on 16 September 2002.
    [Show full text]
  • A Summary of Water Quality Analyses from the Colville River and Other High Latitude Alaskan and Canadian Rivers
    A SUMMARY OF WATER QUALITY ANALYSES FROM THE COLVILLE RIVER AND OTHER HIGH LATITUDE ALASKAN AND CANADIAN RIVERS Prepared for North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management P.O. Box 69 Barrow, AK 99523 by ABR, Inc.—Environmental Research & Services P.O. Box 240268 Anchorage, AK 99524 December 2015 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................1 METHODS ......................................................................................................................................2 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ......................................................................................................2 LITERATURE CITED ....................................................................................................................6 TABLES Table 1. ABR sampled water chemistry results at 4 stations located on the Nigliq Channel of the Colville River, Alaska, 2009–2014. ................................................ 10 FIGURES Figure 1. The location of water chemistry sample collections in the Colville River by ABR, USGS, and NCAR along with important Arctic Cisco fishing locations and Saprolegnia outbreaks, 2009–2015. ..................................................................... 13 Figure 2. The location of water chemistry sample collections in large rivers of Alaska and Canada, 1953–2014..................................................................................................... 14 APPENDICES Appendix A.
    [Show full text]
  • South Fox Meadow Drainage Improvement Project
    VILLAGE OF SCARSDALE WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK COMPREHENSIVE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT SOUTH FOX MEADOW STORMWATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT In association with WESTCHESTER COUNTY FLOOD MITIGATION PROGRAM Rob DeGiorgio, P.E., CPESC, CPSWQ The Bronx River Watershed Fox Meadow Brook Bronx River Watershed Area in Westchester 48.3 square miles (30,932 acres) 15 Sub-watersheds Percent of undeveloped land in the Watershed 3.3% (0.8 acres in Fox Meadow Brook (FMB) FMB watershed) 928 acres (5.7% of watershed) Bronx River Watershed Fox Meadow Brook George Field Park High School Duck Pond Project Philosophy and Goals •Provide flood mitigation within the Fox Meadow Brook Drainage Basin. •Reduce peak run off rates in the Bronx River Watershed through dry detention storage. •Rehabilitate and preserve natural landscapes and wetlands through invasive species management and re- construction. •Improve water quality. • Petition for and obtain County grant funding to subsidize the project. Village of Scarsdale Fox Meadow Brook Watershed SR-2 BR-4 SR-3 BR-7 BR-8 SR-5 Village of Scarsdale History •In 2009 the Village completed a Comprehensive Storm Water Management Plan. •Critical Bronx River sub drainage basin areas identified inclusive of Fox Meadow Brook (BR-4, BR-7, BR-8). •26 Capital Improvement Projects were identified, several of which comprise the Fox Meadow Detention Improvement Project. •Project included in Village’s Capital Budget. •Project has been reviewed by the NYS DEC. •NYS EFC has approved financing for the project granting Scarsdale a 50% subsidy for their local share of the costs. Village of Scarsdale Site Locations – 7 Segments 7 Project Segments 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Radioactivity in the Arctic Seas
    IAEA-TECDOC-1075 XA9949696 Radioactivity in the Arctic Seas Report for the International Arctic Seas Assessment Project (IASAP) ffl INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCA / Y / 1JrrziZr^AA 30-16 The originating Section of this publication in the IAEA was: Radiometrics Section International Atomic Energy Agency Marine Environment Laboratory B.P. 800 MC 98012 Monaco Cedex RADIOACTIVITY IN THE ARCTIC SEAS IAEA, VIENNA, 1999 IAEA-TECDOC-1075 ISSN 1011-4289 ©IAEA, 1999 Printe IAEe th AustriAn y i d b a April 1999 FOREWORD From 199 o 1993t e Internationa6th l Atomic Energy Agency's Marine Environment Laboratory (IAEA-MEL s engage IAEA'e wa ) th n di s International Arctic Seas Assessment Project (IASAP whicn i ) h emphasi bees ha sn place criticaa n do l revie f environmentawo l conditions in the Arctic Seas. IAEA-MEe Th L programme, organize framewore th n dIASAi e th f ko P included: (i) an oceanographic and an ecological description of the Arctic Seas; provisioe th (ii )centra a f no l database facilitIASAe th r yfo P programm collectione th r efo , synthesi interpretatiod san datf nmarino n ao e radioactivit Arctie th n yi c Seas; (iii) participation in official expeditions to the Kara Sea organized by the joint Russian- Norwegian Experts Group (1992, 1993 and 1994), the Russian Academy of Sciences (1994), and the Naval Research Laboratory and Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (1995); (iv) assistance wit d n laboratorsiti han u y based radiometric measurement f curreno s t radionuclide concentrations in the Kara Sea; (v) organization of analytical quality assurance intercalibration exercises among the participating laboratories; (vi) computer modellin e potentiath f o g l dispersa f radionuclideo l s released froe mth dumped f assessmeno wast d associatee ean th f o t d radiological consequencee th f o s disposals on local, regional and global scales; (vii) in situ and laboratory based assessment of distribution coefficients (Kd) and concentration factor sArctie (CFth r c)fo environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Classifying Rivers - Three Stages of River Development
    Classifying Rivers - Three Stages of River Development River Characteristics - Sediment Transport - River Velocity - Terminology The illustrations below represent the 3 general classifications into which rivers are placed according to specific characteristics. These categories are: Youthful, Mature and Old Age. A Rejuvenated River, one with a gradient that is raised by the earth's movement, can be an old age river that returns to a Youthful State, and which repeats the cycle of stages once again. A brief overview of each stage of river development begins after the images. A list of pertinent vocabulary appears at the bottom of this document. You may wish to consult it so that you will be aware of terminology used in the descriptive text that follows. Characteristics found in the 3 Stages of River Development: L. Immoor 2006 Geoteach.com 1 Youthful River: Perhaps the most dynamic of all rivers is a Youthful River. Rafters seeking an exciting ride will surely gravitate towards a young river for their recreational thrills. Characteristically youthful rivers are found at higher elevations, in mountainous areas, where the slope of the land is steeper. Water that flows over such a landscape will flow very fast. Youthful rivers can be a tributary of a larger and older river, hundreds of miles away and, in fact, they may be close to the headwaters (the beginning) of that larger river. Upon observation of a Youthful River, here is what one might see: 1. The river flowing down a steep gradient (slope). 2. The channel is deeper than it is wide and V-shaped due to downcutting rather than lateral (side-to-side) erosion.
    [Show full text]
  • Conocophillips Alaska Pipeline Safety Brochure
    SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY NORTH SLOPE TRANSPORTATION PIPELINES Additionally, to ensure pipeline integrity, we implement a Pipelines remain the safest and most reliable method of variety of programs, procedures, and systems, including: transporting energy products from the production • Ensuring pipeline design, construction, operation and location to market and the consumer. maintenance adhere to federal, state and local codes, Important Information We operate, along with our partners, more than 165 regulations and statutes. miles of transportation pipelines on the North Slope. The • Enforcing aggressive and proactive maintenance about U.S. Department of Transportation, Oce of Pipeline programs, such as pipe inspection programs that Safety, regulates approximately 130 miles of these utilize state-of-the-art tools. Pipeline pipelines. They extend from the Alpine Facilities to the • Using automated, computer-based, around-the-clock Trans Alaska Pipeline System (see Figure 1). pipeline monitoring. Safety The Alpine Oil Pipeline transports sales-quality crude oil • Conducting routine air and/or ground surveillance. from the Colville River Unit to the Kuparuk Pipeline at • Setting up checkpoints along the pipeline route to CPF2. The Kuparuk Pipeline transports Colville River Unit, enhance security when required. Kuparuk River Unit, Milne Point Unit and ENI sales quality crude to the Trans Alaska Pipeline System, connecting at Pump Station 1. A breakout tank is located at CPF2 to PIPELINE SIGNAGE provide relief or storage during periods of pipeline upset, We've attached signage to the North Slope transmission proration or maintenance. The Alpine Arctic Heating Fuel pipelines to enhance identication of the transportation Pipeline transports rened petroleum products and the pipelines and to provide emergency contact information Alpine Utility Pipeline transports treated seawater from (see Figure 2).
    [Show full text]
  • Topic: Drainage Basins As Open Systems 3.1.1.2 Runoff, Hydrographs & Changes in the Water Cycle Over Time
    Topic: Drainage basins as open systems 3.1.1.2 Runoff, hydrographs & changes in the water cycle over time What you need to know How runoff varies within the water cycle. How to analyse a flood hydrograph How the water cycle changes over time Introduction: Runoff (the flow of water over the Earth’s surface) can vary depending upon a range of physical and human factors. These include: • Time of year. • Storm conditions. • Vegetation cover. • Soil saturation levels. • Topography & relief. • Agricultural land use. • Urban land use. Physical factors affecting runoff: Time of year In temperate climates, where seasonal change is evident, runoff levels can vary greatly throughout the year. In summer, runoff levels can be low due to a reduction in rainfall. Soil saturation levels will be low and therefore any rainfall at this point can easily infiltrate into the ground. However, intense baking of the soil by the sun can lead to the soil becoming effectively impermeable and summer storms can lead to high levels of runoff as the rain is unable to soak in. This can lead to flash flooSAMPLEds. In winter, precipitation may be in the form of snow and the water may be stored on the ground due to low temperatures. Warmer temperatures in spring may lead to snowmelt and this can lead to the soil reaching field capacity quickly. Further meltwater will therefore run over the surface. © Tutor2u Limited 2016 www.tutor2u.net Topic: Drainage basins as open systems 3.1.1.2 Runoff, hydrographs & changes in the water cycle over time Storm conditions Intense storms with heavy rainfall can lead to soils quickly becoming saturated.
    [Show full text]