Group A - Collaborative Climate Adaption Project

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• Group A - Concept Mapping of Seminar Topics

Place	Barrow
Country	Alaska
Topic	Effects of climate change and adaptation possibilities - case study from Barrow, Alaska
Author(s)	Palmowska Agnieszka, Shrestha Neha, Szilagyi-Nagy Anna
Source	http://www.alaskadispatch.com

Rationale: Why have you selected this case study area?

• We have selected the area of the city Barrow, which is located in the north of Alaska, because this area is a perfect example to show that climate change is really progressing and causes the changes in many main areas of life. Barrow is known as the "Ground Zero for Climate Change".
• To select this area also encouraged us Dr. Klaus Görgen who talked about problems in Barrow, Alaska, during the first online seminars.

Authors' perspectives

• We are a landscape architects so we are closely associated with the climate, and also we have to constantly adapt to climate change. Showing the problem from the perspective of a place so distant may be helpful in understanding the general problem of climate change and will expand our knowledge about this topic.

• It is important that everyone should be aware that climate change is a global problem and its consequences are visible even in the farthest regions of the world.

Landscape and/or urban context

Urban contex of city Barrow

State, Region, City

• The immediate Barrow situated in Alaska, in the largest and nordernmost state in U.S. (1,477,300 km2, it extends, to the Eastern Hemisphere so the westernmost and easternmost as well) which has more ocean coastline than all of the other U.S. states combined (6640 miles). http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS21729.pdf and a capital, Juneau, that is only accessible via ship or air.

• Barrow is situated in the region North Slope Borough. This region is the remote, less crowded part of the state, encompassing 380 native villages and small towns such as Nome, Bethel, Kotzebue, King Salmon, Dillingham, and includes Katmai National Park, Kodiak Island, and Unalaska-Dutch Harbor. It has 103 capes, 20 glaciers, 147 lakes, 2 beaches, both of them in Barrow, Avac Creek in Barrow is one of the 60 streams, 2 airports of the 41, both of the reservoirs (Isatkoak Reservoir, Nerravak Lagoon), the only one historical radio tower of the region (Loran Radio Tower) and the only one hospital of the area (Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital) can be find in Barrow. (http://alaska.hometownlocator.com/ak/north-slope/)Further information about the region can be find here: http://www.city-data.com/county/North_Slope_Borough-AK.html

• Barrow is the most famous city of the Northern Economic Region because it is northernmost town in the United States. With approximately 4,500 residents, the Barrow area has probably the harshest weather in Alaska. It is one of the world's largest Inupiat Eskimo settlement where traditional culture and modern life are blended. While many modern conveniences are available, the subsistence life style is still very much in evidence, and fishing, hunting, and whaling are a way of life. North Slope oil discovery has brought wealth to the area, including modern influences such as snowmobiles, but it has been continuously occupied for 5,000 years by people who have learned how to live in the harsh arctic climate. The sun shines and never sets for 82 days from early May to early August and it is dark for 51 - 67 days (the sun never rises) between November and January.

Settlement developement

The full history of Alaska can be found on the website http://www.akhistorycourse.org/timelines/pre1741.php .

• Barrow is among the oldest permanent settlements in the United States. Hundreds of years before the European Arctic explorers showed up, starving and freezing and succumbing to hardship, Barrow was more or less where it is now, a natural hunting place at the base of a peninsula that pokes out into the Beaufort Sea.

• Archaeological sites in the area indicate the Inupiat lived around Barrow as far back as AD 500.

• Some remains of 16 dwelling mounds from the Birnirk culture of about AD 800 are still in evidence today on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. Their position on a slight rise above the high water mark places them in danger of being lost to erosion within a short time.

• Later, the military came, setting up a radar station, and in 1947 a science center was founded at Barrow.

• The United States Army established a meteorological and magnetic research station at Barrow in 1881, and the Cape Smythe Whaling and Trading Station was established in 1893.

• In 1888 a Presbyterian church was built at Barrow, and in 1901 a United States Post Office was opened.

• In 1972, the North Slope Borough was established. The borough, with millions of dollars in new revenues, created sanitation, water and electrical utilities, roads, fire departments, and health and educational services in Barrow and the villages of the North Slope.

• In 1986, the North Slope Borough created the North Slope Higher Education Center, which later became Ilisagvik College, which is now an accredited two-year college dedicated to providing an education based on the Inupiat culture and the needs of the North Slope Borough.

• In 1988, Barrow became the center of a worldwide media attention when three California Gray Whales became trapped in the ice offshore.[26] After a two week rescue effort (Operation Breakthrough), two of the whales were ultimately freed by a Soviet icebreaker.

Flora and fauna, landscape types

• The landscape consists of polygonized tundra, vegetated drained lake basins, ponds and lakes.

• Vegetation types include aquatic, seasonally flooded, wet, moist, dry and occasionally bare ground. The Coastal Plain flora includes 124 vascular plant species, 177 mosses, and 49 hepatics (Brown 1980).

• Terrestrial fauna include 10 mammal species and 28 bird species.
• Birding in the Arctic: Barrow is one of the top 100 birding spots in America. Although the diversity of birds is somewhat small, the annual visitors are spectacular. All four species of Eider ducks migrate along the coast and nest in the tundra around Barrow. Numerous other ducks and waterfowl also nest in the millions of small puddles and lakes across the tundra. Barrow is also prime habitat for many shorebirds. Perhaps the most spectacular summer visitor and breeder is the snowy owl, from which comes the Inupiat name for Barrow, Ukpeagvik, which translates to "place to hunt snowy owls". Now, of course, the owls are observed and studied. Barrow is the only spot in America one can reliably expect to see the elusive Ross's gull, which shows up, sometimes in great numbers during the last week of September through the first couple of weeks of October.
• Polar Bears & Whales: According to the local tour operators, the very best time to see polar bears is after the fall whaling season. Although it is possible to see them at the Point anytime of the year, October and November allow for the most likely viewing opportunities. In late May and early October, the Eskimo natives go Bowhead whaling. During whaling season there is an opportunity to photograph a whale being brought in on the beach and butchered. Whaling season tends to encourage the polar bears to feast on the remains that are left at Point Barrow. The bears seldom ever make it into town so you would need a tour to see them. The King Eider Inn, in Barrow, has set up a page with a list of the tours available.

• The northeast corner of Alaska is covered by the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which covers 19,049,236 acres (7,708,952 ha).

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  Alaska National Parks

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  Rivers in Alaska

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  Lakes of Alaska

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  Tundra

Cultural/social/political context

Population

In Alaska there is a total underserved population of 370,088, representing 59% of the state’s residents. This reflects Alaska’s low population density and extreme rural nature. (acrh-ahec.uaa.alaska.edu) The lowest ratio of the total population live in this area (3.4%) (http://www.labor.state.ak.us/research/pop/present/jan272011.pdf page 2), but it means also the majority of Alaska's native populations (of which approximately 59.3 percent are Inupiat Eskimo.) (http://www.arcticscience.org/aboutBarrow.php), so this is largest Iñupiat town in Alaska (Barrow takes its modern name from Point Barrow, named in 1825 by Captain Beechey of the Royal Navy for Sir John Barrow of the British Admiralty. Beechey was plotting the Arctic coastline of North America at the time. http://www.arcticscience.org/aboutBarrow.php). They traditionally, call the community Ukpeagvik, "place where snowy owls are hunted" and make their living in similar fashion to their ancestors.

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  Alaska's population 1960 to 2009

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  Alaska's population 2009 to 2034

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  Natural increase 2000 to 2009

Culture and lifestyle

The first people to inhabit Alaska have a rich history of tradition and lifestyle that enabled them to survive the unique challenges of living in the northern latitude.

• Alaska's Native people are divided into eleven distinct cultures, speaking eleven different languages and twenty-two different dialects. Residents of the northern part of Alaska belong to two groups - The Inupiaq and the St. Lawrence Island Yupik People.

• The Inupiaq and the St. Lawrence Island Yupik People (or “Real People”) are still hunting and gathering societies. For them the extreme climate is not a barrier. They continue to subsist on the land and sea of north and northwest Alaska. Their lives continue to evolve around the whale, walrus, seal, polar bear, caribou and fish. For them family and bartering connections are respectful and meaningful. Division of labor is dependent on gender. Competitive games to examine the strength and durability of the participants, songs battles and other activities are still an important part of their culture.

• Inupiat were actively celebrated Christian and national holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter, and Independence Day. Also the important traditional ceremony still actively participated in through the 1960s (and continuing to the present) was the nalukatak, or spring whaling festival. Arrangements for this celebration, which took place at the end of the whaling season, were made by the successful umialiks (whaling captains) and their families. If no whales were caught, there was no ceremony.

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  Barrow community

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  Whaling

Infrastructure, quality of life

• The city itself is hardly accessable just with plane or ship. For researchers, local ground transportation can be provided on a reimburseable basis by BASC and include trucks, four wheelers, snow machines and small to relatively large boats. Local vehicle hire and taxi services are also available. Off road traffic is limited to the period of permanent seasonal snow cover (ca. October-May).

• As the seat of the North Slope Borough, many regional health and social services are located in Barrow. Some of the public facilities include: senior citizen center, city teen center, women's shelter, and family services center. Health care, police station and fire stations. Many Barrow homes are heated by natural gas from nearby gas fields, and have modern water and sewer systems. Utilities are available through Barrow Utilities and Electric Cooperative, a local member-owned cooperative, which offers electric power, natural gas, and water and sewer services. The North Slope Borough provides trash and sewer pick-up free of charge. The community also contains four hotels, many restaurants, a dry cleaner and a bank. Barrow has a large grocery/merchandise store and several convenience stores. The City of Barrow regulates the import of alcoholic beverages, and sale is banned. Major repair services include marine engine, boat, auto and aircraft mechanics. Diesel, propane, marine gas, aviation fuel, unleaded, regular and supreme gas are available for purchase.

• Seven churches, an elementary, middle and high school and a post secondary education center, Ilisagvik College, serve the community. On evenings and weekends, the high school's swimming pool, weight room and gym are open to the public. Residents also use Barrow's recreation center, which boasts a gym, racquetball courts, weight room and sauna.

here diploms????

• Communications in Barrow include phone, mail, a public radio station and cable TV station.

Economy

Barrow is the economic, transportation and administrative center for the government of the 230,509 square kilometer North Slope Borough. The region is national leader in fisheries economics, oil and gas economics, transportation infrastructure, waterfront and harbor development planning and has played a pivotal role in the expansion of many port facilities.

Approximately one-third of the working population of 1,955 is employed by the private sector. Some work for oil companies at Prudhoe Bay. The borough employs 46.2 percent of the work force and the School District employs another 19.3 percent.

Although everyone thought the income should be among the lowest bertween the Uniated States, ALaska is on the first place with its $42,931 median housholds (Income, per household, separating higher half of household incomes and lower half of household incomes in a state) according to 2000 census fromn 1993.

They are working into the next sectors:

• Services like government services, public schools, public hospitals, military bases and also tourism
• Mining - Oil and gas exploration and development to the east, south and offshore from Barrow provide revenue to the local community. Oil provides about 95 percent of Alaska's mining income. Other mined products are gold, zinc, silver, coal, crushed stone, lead, molybdenum, and sand and gravel.
• Local subsistence from hunting, fishing and agriculture.

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  Economical sectors in Alaska

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  Economic Regions in Alaska

Political context

Instead of local divisions of government established as counties, Alaska is divided into a group of boroughs (16) and geographical census areas (11) and has 6 economic regions - Anchorage/Mat-Su Economic Region, Gulf Coast Economic Region, Interior Economic Region, Northern Economic Region, Southeast Economic Region, and Southwest Economic Region - that have their own role in the state and have their typical geographical and economic features.

In the statutes of Alaska, we can find all the information about the legal provisions, which are in force in Alaska. All statutes can be found on the website http://www.touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/statutes.htm . Among them we can find provisions regarding health, safety, and also information about the Alaska State Climate Center, which is responsible for providing information about the climate and temperatures occurring in Alaska. Direct link to the statutes about the establishment of Alaska Climate Center - http://www.touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title14/Chapter40/Section085.htm

Analysis of vulnerability

The Arctic climate is changing. Alaska has warmed at more than twice the rate of the rest of the United States’ average. Its annual average temperature has increased -16.0°C, while winters have warmed even more, by -14.3°C. As a result, climate change impacts are much more pronounced than in other regions of the United States. The higher temperatures are already contributing to earlier spring snowmelt, reduced sea ice, widespread glacier retreat, and permafrost warming.

Program “Discovery” has created a short documentary about climate change in Alaska. It is available on the website http://news.discovery.com/videos/earth-signs-of-climate-change-in-alaska.html .

Local Climate

Barrow's climate is cold and dry, and is classified as a polar climate. Winter weather can be extremely dangerous because of the combination of cold and wind, while summers are cool even at their warmest.

It is interesting that in Barrow the sun sets on November 18 or 19, and it remains below the horizon for about 65 days. This creates a polar night that lasts until the sun rises again around January 22 or January 23. During the first half of the polar night, there is a decreasing amount of twilight each day, and on the winter solstice (around December 21 or December 22), civil twilight in Barrow lasts for a mere 3 hours.

In addition to its low temperatures and polar night, Barrow is one of the cloudiest places on Earth. Owing to the prevailing easterly winds off the Arctic Ocean, Barrow is completely overcast slightly more than 50% of the year. It is at least 70% overcast 62% of the time.

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  Local climate in Barrow

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  Wind Speed

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  Daily Hours of Daylight and Twilight

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  Daily High and Low Temperature

Problems in Alaska affect Barrow

Most of the climate change occurring in northern Alaska also appears in Barrow. The coastal geography of this city makes it vulnerable to extreme weather events. This exposed location, combined with the increasing instability of the coastline due to thawing permafrost makes Barrow vulnerable to wind damage, erosion, and also flooding. In addition, the town has expanded and modernized substantially in recent decades, making potential costs due to damage from extreme events considerable. Reduced sea ice increases coastal erosion and flooding associated with coastal storms. Reduced sea ice also alters the timing and location of plankton blooms, which is expected to drive major shifts of marine species such as pollock and other commercial fish stocks.

The table shows the changes that have occurred in northern Alaska (included Barrow) in just last few years. As we can see, in northern Alaska in the past few years happened a lot of climate changes that affect both humans and the environment.

Unfortunately, these changes are still progressing and are seen every year more and more. In northern Alaska and therefore also in Barrow, these changes can be seen faster than in the rest of places in the world, which is why this area is known as "ground zero for climate change". This situation will become even worse if we don’t do anything to stop these changes in the future.

Climate change can be seen in Barrow even by their inhabitants. The table shows the opinions of several members of the Barrow community on changes that have occurred in their town, and changed their lives.

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  Evidence of climate change

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  What the inhabitants say

The main problems that occur in in Barrow

Carbon dioxide

According to NOAA report from May of 2012, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Barrow reached 400 parts per million (ppm) this spring, the first time a monthly average measurement for the greenhouse gas attained the 400 ppm mark in a remote location. Carbon dioxide (CO2), emitted by fossil fuel combustion and other human activities, is the most significant greenhouse gas contributing to climate change.

Melting sea ice

Sea ice forms along the coast in the winter, and generally melts of breaks away by mid July. Observations of sea ice position reveal considerable year-to-year variability. Changes in the timing of coastal sea ice breakup and in the location of offshore sea ice have significant local impacts: ecological, biological, and human. Satellite image of Barrow shows changes in the timing of coastal sea ice breakup, and gives information on smaller scale properties of ice.

Coastal erosion

Increased freshwater delivery to the Arctic Ocean from reductions in ice sheets and glaciers result in rising sea levels and increases in coastal erosion. And that coastal erosion is for the residents of Barrow the biggest problem. Because they have built houses right on the coast line, there is an increasing danger of losing homes which may be taken away by the sea during the storm. The city should probably be moved in the future to the inland to prevent that risk.

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  Melting sea ice

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  Carbon Dioxide

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  Coastal erosion

Activities in Alaska and researches in Barrow, responds to climate change

Coordination and theoretical background - the Climate change sub-cabinet in Alaska

(Final Report of the Alaska Climate Change Strategy’s Mitigation Advisory Group, Submitted to the Alaska Climate Change Sub-Cabinet August, 2009, EX-2)

Governor Sarah Palin established the Sub‐cabinet on Climate Change to prepare and implement the climate change strategy of Alaska (Administrative Order 238). The Sub‐cabinet established four advisory groups. The four groups included the:

• Immediate Action Working Group (IAWG) focusing on near term actions needed in Alaska;
• Adaptation Advisory Group (AAG) to identify and propose methods to adapt to the impacts of climate change on Alaska; and
• Mitigation Advisory Group (MAG) to identify and propose measures to mitigate Alaska’s greenhouse gas emissions;
• Research Needs Work Group (RNWG) to recommend research strategies for mitigating greenhouse gases and adapting to the impacts of climate chang identified by the Advisory Groups, and ultimately, the Sub‐cabinet. Research needs were broadly defined and included measures to implement or encourage:
  • data collection and management; monitoring; addressing workforce needs; scientific research; the development of engineering standards, practices and other support tools; infrastructure needs and improvements; technology development; the assembly of traditional knowledge; and, modeling.

Montiroing the GHG emission and carbon footprint of Barrow

There are existing researches undertaken at Barrow. The datas of the NOAA’s Barrow observatory - since 1973, but the program itself dates back to 1807 - shows that the yearly average of carbon dioxide and methane increased in the Arctic atmosphere so that the snow melts about nine days earlier in the year than it did in the 1970s. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Barrow-Alaska-Ground-Zero-for-Climate-Change.html

The changes in the emissions of the 6 most important GHGs between 1968 and 2012 in Barrow were monitored and illustrated in plenty of way(e.g. monthly or weekly emission of the GHGs see below, source http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/dv/iadv/index.php?code=brw). On the web page plenty of further information and illustration type is available, a good example of monitoring.

Proposals for Climate Change Adaption, the AAG TWG

How could Barrow become more resilient to climate change

We can become more resilient to climate change by taking an account in following vulnerable key impact terms which can be said as the basic needs of the people such as:

Public Infrastructure

• It is concerned to protect public infrastructure against the natural disasters, which are at immediate risk (coasts) and are hardly movable and not so flexible to change (buildings, roads).
• we need to give emphasis to new construction, emergency management, retrofits, planning and zoning, embankments for protection of the infrastructure.

Natural System

• It address the impacts on marine ecosystem, the communities, industries(marine based fisheries) as well as terrestrial ecosystem and freshwater ecosystem.
• For its protection we need to give emphasis to several methods like surveillance method, infiltration and prevention.

Health and Culture

• It is concerned to protect and improve the health of humans, domesticated animals and wildlife by surveillance method as well to prevent the destruction of grave sites, archaeological sites, and historic sites by archaeological investigation, improving adaptive design capacity.

Economic activities

• It is related to broad issues relevant to economic activities such as tourism and shipping and mining and oil and gas exploration. we can give emphasis to surveillance method.
• we need to improve and protect the existing infrastructure and promote its sustainability and reduce operating costs.
• we need to site, plan, design and built a upgraded new infrastructure with systematic feedback of infrastructure funding, development, construction and operations.

Measures to adapt to the new situation

AAG has recommended a system approach to reduce impacts or adapt to the new situation by accomplishing actions under certain policies/programs.

Public Infrastructure

Create a coordinated and Accessible Statewide System for Key Data Collection, Analysis, and Monitoring

• we need to create a coordinated and accessible statewide system to observe, collect, catalog and data on existing public infrastructure and environmental condition and share the information to facilitate and coordinate the project planning and development so we need to change the planning method and think sustainable.

Promote Improvements that Use the Current Best Practice

• we can improve and protect the existing infrastructure and promote its sustainability and reduce operating costs.

Build to Last; Build Resiliency into Alaska’s Public Infrastructure

• we need to site, plan, design and built a upgraded new infrastructure with systematic feedback of infrastructure funding, development, construction and operations.

Natural Systems

Fisheries Management

• we need to do comprehensive assessment of existing habitat, species and stock monitoring programs of fish and develop a long term strategy to work with fishing-reliant communities and business.

Wildland Fire

• we need to review and modify Alaska’s wild land fire policy and programs to address potential climate-induced increases in wild land fire frequency, size, and geographic location.

Freshwater Management

• we can be able to address the effects on freshwater through adaptive management with the help of data collection (hydro-logic data), coordination and to do review and adjustments necessary for water management laws, policies and practices.

Fish and Wildlife

• we need to monitor and develop a coordinating framework on existing fish and wildlife to improve adaptability of fish and wildlife species to assure sustainable management.

Sustainable Agriculture

• It is possible to support and expand sustainable community-based agriculture production and marketing by researching the sources of food supply and the risk with imported food.

Health and Culture

Augment Surveillance and Control Programs for Vector-, Water-, and Food-borne Diseases

• we need to to develop an educational programs for the public, health care providers, environmental staff, and others to reduce emerging disease (water, food borne) threats.

Community Health Impact Evaluations

• we can evaluate the recommended adaptation and mitigation options by determining the adverse effect health impacts to reduce the risks.

Assess Sanitation and Infrastructure Risks from Climate Change

• we need to modify, rebuild, or relocate sanitation infrastructure from flooding, thawing permafrost and other risks.

Assess, Protect, and Develop Plans for Archaeological Sites and Grave-sites

• It is possible to access, protect and develop new plans for Archaeological and grave-sites which are at risk of coastal and river erosion in cooperation with appropriate local, regional, and statewide entities.

Economic activities

Evaluate Capability Needs for Potential Expansion of Arctic Economic Activities

• we need to recognize the needs of potential for increased Arctic economic activities for infrastructures to protect environmental resources, human health and safety.

Develop and Evaluate Scenarios for the Alaskan Economy

• It is possible to understand the economic strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of current and potential future by agencies and other stakeholders and acting on optimum adaptive strategies and policies.

Improve Availability of Mapping, Surveying, Charting and Imagery Data

• we can better the economic challenges and opportunities by accurate, timely information to improve the availability of data, specifically real-time mapping, digital elevation model, and imagery, to better track and understand the impacts of climate change.

Assure sustainability of measures

we can assure the sustainability of the measures by improving the needs to access data, for community assistance, for coordination and for education.

Establish an Alaska Climate Change Knowledge Network

• we can establish an Alaska Climate Change Knowledge Network (ACCKN) and numerous activities, agencies, organizations, federal efforts in Alaska (NOAA for Regional Climate Service partnership and USGS for Wildlife Climate Science Center) and offices to collect, interpret datas from communities and citizens and from researches about successful climate adaptation efforts, information on themes and geographies.

Coordinate Implementation of Alaska’s Efforts to Address Climate Change

• we can establish an Alaska Climate Change Coordinating Committee under the Sub-cabinet or a designated person or office to promote efficiencies and effectiveness to address and supports both mitigation and adaptation efforts such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reporting program and associated inventories, information and education to citizens and businesses on climate change efforts at the state level.

Community Climate Impact Assistance

• we can establish an array of state, federal, regional entities and inter-agency coordination among multiple state and federal agencies, local governments, NGOs and others supporting vulnerable communities faced with the complex issues related to climate change to develop a mandate, clarifying responsibilities, identifying and establishing funding, establishing a relocation strategy, addressing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) concerns, etc to help communities adapt to flooding and erosion either by relocation or in-place protection.

Promote Climate Change Science through K-12 Education

• we can provide curriculum, and training for delivery of climate-change science content in grades K-12 to enable them to make wise choices about how to minimize the costs and maximize the opportunities that may result from climate change.

http://www.climatechange.alaska.gov/aag/aag.htm

http://seagrant.uaf.edu/map/climate/docs/adaptation-planning-tool.pdf

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  Barrow Arctic Research center

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  Alaska houses on stilts

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  Coastline protection

Proposals for Climate Change Mitigation in Barrow, the MAG TWG

Structure and suggestions of the MAG TWG in Alaska

Below you can see the buildup of the MAG TWG and the outcome of the detailed analysis (both of them is own illustration). In the image gallery the 5 suggestion areas of the MAG TWG with their detailed programs for the whole state of Alaska can be seen. All these illustrations are based on or are from the document of the Research Needs Work Group: Alaska Climate Change Strategy’s; Mitigation Advisory Group Final Report Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Forecast and Policy Recommendations Addressing Greenhouse Gas Reduction in Alaska; Submitted to the Alaska Climate Change Sub-Cabinet; August, 2009; (http://www.climatechange.alaska.gov/mit/O97F21995.pdf).

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  Buildup of the MAG, Page 13

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  Analysis of mitigation in Barrow

Suggested measurments and steps for mitigation in Barrow

The following suggestions are strucured so that they fit in with the structural buildup of the MAG.

CC – Cross cutting sections

It contains all the coordination and planning processes that are important to finalize a mitigation strategy with suggested actions and describing goals in emission reduction.

ESD – Energy Supply and Demand

North Slope Borough is home to the Prudhoe Bay and other oil fields, and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Thus in Barrow mostly natural gas is used to heat homes and generate electricity. (http://www.alaska.com/barrow/) Heating is an important question since in Barrow the yearly average temperature is -12,4 Celsius degree. Although Alaska’s renewable energy sources also include geothermal plant (Chena Hot Springs) and two small wind farms (rural areas of Healy and Kotzebue, the wind energy foundation and de-icing is always a problem, not efficient) and more than 50 hydroelectric power plants (three of them is among the ten largest generators in the State) (http://www.eoearth.org/article/Energy_profile_of_Alaska,_United_States) in the city just 1% of the inhabitants use other types of heating energy then electricity, fuel or gas (see picture below). And according to the dates of U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 American Community Survey in this one percent no wood, no coal and no solar energy is used. Alaska’s electricity infrastructure differs from the lower 48 States in that most consumers are not linked to large interconnected grids through transmission and distribution lines. Rural communities rely primarily on diesel electric generators for power, 16% of Barrow inhabitants live in rural areas (calculated from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census), so they may use this energy resource.

To do in Barrow

• To have a completely detailed view the overall energy use is in Barrow, more data needs.
• Modernizing heating technologies and populate the power efficiency program in individual houses through programs like this one http://www.akenergyefficiency.org/northslope can helps to decrease GHG emission of the city.
• Research needs on using renewable energy sources in the city and since Barrow has a coastal situation using the waves of the sea a hydrokinetic power station system (an example for existing technology http://subseaworldnews.com/2012/10/03/hydrokinetic-energy-technologies-move-to-commercial-development-usa/) can be built in the future (question: consequences on fish population?). Site specific information is needed about possibilities of geothermic resources (heat and power).

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  Emission by sectors in Alaska

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  Energy types to generate electricity in Alaska

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  Energy types to heat homes Barrow

FAW – Forestry, agriculture and waste management

Scopes and scales of agriculture is small in Alaska and thus the impact from CO2 mitigation was low (1.3% of the state’s gross emissions). In Barrow, forestry plays no role so the only direction of reducing GHG emission from this sector is the development of waste management. Emission sources are landfills (CH4), wastewater treatment (CH4 and N2O) and waste combustion (Solid Waste Management Plan for Barrow, Alaska; Authors: Larry A. Esvelt, Kenneth E. Hartz; Publisher: Coffman Engineers, Incorporated, 1983).

To do in Barrow

• Improve waste management technology in Barrow.
• Maybe the biomass technology also can be used by burning byproducts of sewage, municipal solid waste and the industrial residues to create electricity avoiding further pollution of the atmosphere and the town could be cleaner.

OG TWG- Oil and Gas

This working group aims to do research on long-term renewable energies, small advances in technology and develop the baseline physical mapping, understand the value of natural gas, evaluate feasibility of various entrained and exhaust CO2 capture technologies.

Oil is a very important question in Alaska. The state it ranks second in the U.S. in oil production and nearly all of Alaska’s oil production takes place on the North Slope producing approximately 400,000 barrels per day (http://www.eoearth.org/article/Energy_profile_of_Alaska,_United_States). And since Barrow tax the equipment and facilities of oil companies including the Trans-Alaska Pipeline of Prudhoe Bay, the largest oil field in North America; and they sell in Barrow federal and state oil and gas leases (see pictures), oil is a very important question in the city.

Interesting that the people of Barrow have opposed already further offshore activities near the city because such drilling might disrupt the migration of whales (Shell planned two main sites: Burger in the Chukchi Sea west of Barrow and Hammerhead in the Beaufort Sea to the east of Barrow) and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was also established, where oil production is already forbidden. (source: Seattle Times http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19941023&slug=1937412). So it seems that at least the leadership of the state and the scientists know the predictable consequences of this industrial sector.

On the other side scientists predict there will be less ice by mid-century, and melting ice in the Arctic Circle will make conditions friendlier to floating drilling rigs. Some predictions say year-round shipping will be common in the region by 2050 (source: interview by CNN, 17 July 2012: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/17/us/alaska-offshore-drilling/index.html). That could be a new source of income for the Inupiat Eskimos if they want to maintain the better level of gained through the oil production.

To do in Barrow

• The oil question cannot be solved without sustainable thinking and without the understanding of people nothing can be modified. This should be developed by education. A good examples of this kind are the different programs of NOAA. See pages: http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gsd/outreach/education/samii/SAMII_Activity6.html and http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/briefings/2012/08/nssl-scientist-teaches-students-about-weather-in-barrow-alaska/.

• Concerning mitigation the GHG emission can be reduced through better technology (leaking brings Methane), electrification, renewable energy usage during the Oil and Gas operation, and carbon capture from exhaust gas at Prudhoe Bay.

• 

  Alaska's oil fields

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  Oil exploration on the Arctic

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  Oil on North Slope Borough

TLU TWG - Transportation and Land Use

In Barrow there is no public transportation, the most of the people (38%) has 2 vehicles, or 3 (28%), but it also can happen that somebody has no vehicle at all. The mean travel time to work is 5,6 minutes. 30% of the population drove alone, 30% carpooled and 25% walk to work. 15% use other means to go to work or work at home (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 American Community Survey). 99% work in the same county and from the travelling time and because there is no highway to other city, we can conclude that they are working inside of Barrow (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007-2011 American Community Survey).

To do in Barrow

• A public transport system during the time of commuting between place of working or education and home can be worked out. An organized car sharing system in the city could be also a good solution.
• Through pilot study focusing on aviation reduction of GHG gases can be gained on the Wiley Post–Will Rogers Memorial Airport.
• The better coordination of transportation work (7% of the population work in this field) and commercial fishery (4,1% of the population work in agriculture, forestry and fishery)can be a solution (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007-2011 American Community Survey).

• 

  Transportation

• 

  Distances Within Alaska

Our scenario

In our forecast Barrow is a city that- after calculating with the possible future versions the scientist show them - realized in time the necessity of action against climate change.

They try to mitigate the GHG emission in the area with proper answers to the different specifications and suggestions of the MAG TWG. They ringed the changes on transportation and traffic system (fishery, aircraft, public transport, car sharing stations etc), reorganized their waste management and people use and invest into renewable energy and developed technology. May they have already started to trade with the overflow of renewable energy supply; may they have found the way to connect tourism and transportation?

To adapt the environmental changes they restructured the city life, prepared flood plan, emergency plan. The city has expanded into the direction of the land, but they try to use the old building and fill them with people instead of building new ones. They supported the coastal line with embankment to stop soil erosion and there the old emergency tower is now a look-out tower for tourists and inhabitants allowing beautiful view on the city and the sea body. They don’t need it anymore.

• 

  Scenario of Barrow

What can be generalized from this case study?

How could have Barrow reached those changes?

Through paying attention to the environment, listening to the scientist and researcher and finally, through understanding of people.

They started with education, forming the mind of inhabitants, the future leaders of Barrow. They collected the existing datas of different sources and their own monitoring systems. After processing all those information a coordination group suggests to do steps, prepare legislation and environmental policy so that they support sustainable thinking.

It is important to notice that these processes are controlled by strong economical principles and it is always hard to decide among the short-term and long term goals (see oil question). The thinking way of people cannot be changed by day to another. Only the society, who rules, can change them in a slow, but axiomatic way.

In Barrow they are approaching into the good direction. The mass of enlightened people is going to strength the public awareness and find the resolutions. And as landscape architects we can also participate in and evoke these changes of a society, e.g. in our case study, the peoples of Barrow.

Presentation Slides

• 

  Slide One

• 

  Slide Two

• 

  Slide Three

Image Gallery - the exact steps suggested by MAG TWG

• 

  Cross Cutting, Page 28

• 

  Energy Supply and Demand, Page 29

• 

  Forestry, Agriculture and Waste Management, Page 31

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  Oil and Gas, Page 33

• 

  Transportation and Land Use, Page 35

References

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Alaska 2. http://fairbanks-alaska.com/barrow.htm 3. http://www.eu-interact.org/field-sites/barrow/ 4. http://www.arcticscience.org/aboutBarrow.php 5. Wohlforth, Charles P. (2007). Frommer's Alaska 2008. Frommer's. p. 434. ISBN 0-470-15288-5, ISBN 978-0-470-15288-1 6. http://fairbanks-alaska.com/barrow.htm 7. http://www.google.pl/intl/pl/earth/index.html 8. http://www.akhistorycourse.org/articles/article.php?artID=156 9. http://www.akhistorycourse.org/articles/article.php?artID=151 9. http://www.labor.state.ak.us/research/pop/present/jan272011.pdf 10. http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS21729.pdf 11. http://www.northerneconomics.com 12. http://www.arcticscience.org/aboutBarrow.php 13. http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/phc-t2.html (July 10, 2001) 14. Carpenter, Alan, and Carl Provorse. The World Almanac of the U.S.A.. Mahwah: World Almanac Books, 1996. Print. 15. http://www.netstate.com/economy/ak_economy.htm 16. http://www.arcticscience.org/aboutBarrow.php 17. http://www.netstate.com/economy/ak_economy.htm 18. http://www.netstate.com/states/government/ak_government.htm 19. http://globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts/full-report/regional-climate-change-impacts/alaska 20. Larry D. Hinzman, Evidence and implications of recent climate change in northern Alaska and other arctic regions, climatic change (2005) 72: 251–298, springer 2005.) 21. Elizabeth N. Cassano, Classification of synoptic patterns in the western Arctic associated with extreme events at Barrow, Alaska, Submitted to Climate Research, September 21, 2005 Revised, December 2, 2005 22. http://education.arm.gov/outreach/kiosks-barrow 23. http://researchmatters.noaa.gov/news/Pages/arcticCO2.aspx 24. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NOAA-barrow-ice.jpg

Source of jpg: 1. http://www.alaskadispatch.com 1. http://www.akhistorycourse.org/images/akheritage/large/unit2chart5.jpg 3. http://www.akhistorycourse.org/images/geography/large/l5.jpg 4. http://www.akhistorycourse.org/images/geography/large/l6.jpg 5. http://www.mapsofworld.com/usa/national-parks/maps/alaska-national-parks.jpg 6. http://www.worldlakes.org/uploads/ALASKA2.jpg 7. http://www.hookandbullet.com/c/fishing-barrow-ak/#ixzz2FJNKJTZs 8. http://geology.com/state-map/maps/alaska-rivers-map.gif 9. http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2008/03/GOA_AkMapLG.gif 10. http://www.fs.fed.us/land/ecosysmgmt/colorimagemap/ecoreg1_akprovinces.gif 11. http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/images/thumb/9/98/Tundra_map.gif/300px-Tundra_map.gif 12. http://labor.alaska.gov/research/census/econregions.pdf 13. http://economicinfo.org/ 14. http://weatherspark.com/averages/32906/Barrow-Alaska-United-States 15. http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/obop/brw/ 16. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NOAA-barrow-ice.jpg 17. http://alaskaphotographics.photoshelter.com/image/I0000NwUk3F74YL4

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