The decision to delay seismic testing in the arctic national wildlife refuge in. Aug 19, 2016 the courageous inuit community of clyde river is standing up to protect their arctic home from devastating seismic blasting. Seismic blasting will come to a halt in the canadian arctic this year, leaving the waters of baffin bay and davis strait free from the harmful impacts of offshore drilling. Access to local, healthy food from hunting, fishing, and gathering is under threat in a community that already faces high rates of food insecurity.
Scientists alarmed by seismic blasting by oil industry. Although the area is crucial to inuit for hunting and other traditional activities, the federal government has approved underwater seismic blasting by a consortium of energy companies. All of them have been actively campaigning against the canadian governments approval of seismic blasting in baffin bay, where. Oil, gas permits for seismic testing in atlantic move. Oct 11, 2016 neocolonial policies directed against indigenous land sovereignty continue today, as shown by an inuit case being brought before the supreme court of canada on november 30 against seismic blasting in baffin bay in search of oil and gas deposits, legal support for which is being provided by greenpeace. They plan to fire underwater cannons from boats to map the ocean floor for oil and gas deposits, in preparation for offshore drilling. Latest politics culture magazine climate books photography. All of them have been actively campaigning against the canadian governments approval of seismic blasting in baffin bay. Online shopping for seismic design from a great selection at books store. Seismic testings deafening noise threatens marine mammals. Later this month, the bureau of ocean energy management boem will make its recommendations on seismic airgun testing in the mid and south atlantic. Avetisov and the rf committee for geology and natural resources. Before you finish reading this sentence, a single seismic air gun will blast. Maps, the marine arctic peace sanctuary, stops all seismic testing in the arctic ocean north of the arctic circle for good.
Sep 25, 2017 with the recent announcement that the interior department is trying to open the coastal plain of the arctic refuge to seismic exploration, i must share what i witnessed there. Blasting the arctic to find oil greenpeace awareness youtube. Watch this shocking footage from the greenpeace arctic. He is the author of the great quake, a book about the 1964. This publication is offered by the world data center for marine geology and geophysics, boulder with the permission of the author, g. The courageous inuit community of clyde river is standing up to protect their arctic home from devastating seismic blasting. Blasting the arctic to find oil greenpeace awareness. For information or interviews from the seismic blasting area, contact. Seismic blasting in icy waters is just one of the horrific practices the oil industry is doing in the arctic, firing airguns into this important and beautiful ocean. The conglomerate of seismic companies announced today they will not go ahead with their 2016 plans to blast the arctic seabed in search of oil and gas. Cassady sharp, 8288173328, email protected notes for editors. The arctics baffin bay and davis strait region is home to seals, bowhead whales, polar bears and up to 90 percent of the worlds narwhals.
If the seismic companies start blasting in our waters, im worried it could decimate our way of life. Five companies are currently applying for permits to use seismic air guns to. Seismic detection in the inland plateau of east antarctica. News canadian arctic to be free of seismic blasting this. In april 2018, the trump administration announced alaskas arctic national. Seismic testing approved in atlantic, as trump pursues. Seismic blasting is the method of choice for oil companies to look for oil and gas reserves buried deep in the ocean floor. Seismic exploration legacy in northern canada and alaska evidence of seismic exploration remains from the 960s. Sailing to the arctic with the people who call it home.
The federal government has approved underwater seismic blasting by a consortium of energy companies in preparation for offshore drilling. Scientists alarmed by seismic blasting by oil industry in. You may know how seismic blasting devastates whales and dolphins, but the lessshared impacts on sea turtles, scallops and even cod could impact both animal extinctions and what ends up on your. Dec 20, 2016 obama permanently protects huge portions of arctic, atlantic from offshore drilling. The following books cover important topics in reflection seismology. For whales and other marine animals, this is a violent and traumatic assault on their habitat. Greenpeace ship arctic sunrise in halifax after protest cbc. Arctic is heated up twice as fast as any other place which has a huge impact on the wildlife and ultimately us. In the summer of 2015, royal dutch shell started exploratory drilling and seismic testing in the arctics chukchi sea.
Aug 27, 2015 this summer, seismic blasting in arctic waters is being conducted on behalf of companies like shell, looking for oil beneath the seabed. Seismic blasting subjects them to these incredibly loud sounds, every ten seconds, 24 hours a day, for months on end. An inuit communitys davidandgoliath battle with big oil. How one inuit community won against big oil the new republic. The seismic companies have asked for a permit to initiate a fiveyear seismic blasting program in the arctic. Trump administration pushes forward on seismic mapping in atlantic despite legal challenges, the interior department is in the process of permitting companies to use. The trump administration approved seismic testing in the atlantic ocean on friday, in what would be the first step in expanding offshore oil and gas drilling to the east coast. Why seismic blasting in the arctic ocean is deadly parvati. Currently depending on polluting diesel generators for electricity, clyde river will soon become one of the northernmost solar installations in the world. This decision is consistent with the canadian governments fiveyear moratorium on oil and gas activity in the arctic ocean announced last december by prime minister trudeau. Opinion trump and arctic drilling the new york times.
Supreme court of canada quashes seismic testing in canada. The circumpolar arctic is home to four million people representing a diversity of cultures. Seismic blasting in icy waters is just one of the horrific practices the oil industry is doing in the arctic, firing. The tiny inuit hamlet of clyde river in the canadian arctic is turning to star and solar power to highlight. Seismic surveys involve powerful airguns blasting the seas at 10second intervals and measuring the echoes off the sea floor to help map offshore oil and natural gas fields in the process disturbing. Canadian notforprofit celebrates the supreme court of canadas recent decision to quash the 2014 permits issued by the national energy board for seismic blasting in ecologicallysensitive. Trump administration proposes seismic surveys for atlantic oil and gas drilling the air guns are so loud they can disturb, injure or even kill whales, sea turtles and other marine life. Interpretation of threedimensional seismic data sixth ed. Neocolonial policies directed against indigenous land sovereignty continue today, as shown by an inuit case being brought before the supreme court of canada on november 30 against.
Heres what oil drilling looks like in the arctic refuge, 30. The circumpolar arctic is home to four million people representing a. Earthjustice is challenging the administrations actions in court, and on feb. Supreme court of canada quashes seismic testing in canadas. Although some studies have been carried out on the regeneration of these lines, the reason. Later this month, the bureau of ocean energy management boem will make its recommendations on seismic airgun testing in the mid and south atlantic seismic airgun testing is a method of searching for offshore oil and gas that comes with potentially deadly consequences for marine life. Underwater seismic blasting puts arctic at risk ecowatch. Scientists fear highintensity sounds from seismic blasting in the arctic could adversely affect marine wildlife, exacerbating the foodinsecurity crisis. Inuit fight to protect territory from oil industrys.
In 20 the arctic sunrise was illegally seized and the 30 people aboard arrested for trying to stop arctic drilling. Sep 04, 2015 seismic blasting is happening right now in the arctic, forcing marine wildlife to flee its natural habitat, all in the quest for more oil. The areas marine waters also provide habitat for 116 species of fish, such as arctic char, an important dietary staple for nunavuts inuit communities. Heres what oil drilling looks like in the arctic refuge. Over resident opposition, trump administration approves atlantic blasting. This summer, seismic blasting in arctic waters is being conducted on behalf of companies like shell, looking for oil beneath the seabed. Seismic blastsloud sonic explosions fired through the oceanmap. For whales and other marine animals, this is a violent and traumatic assault on their.
The blasting could also affect migration patterns for seals, whales, fish and waterfowl. The permafrost soils that characterize the arctic and subarctic tundra cover roughly 8 percent of the global land surface but hold half of earths underground organic carbon and twice as much carbon as is currently in the atmosphere. Narwhals, sharks, and various other animals make up a great percentage of the inuit diet, and with seismic blasting murdering these animals, it seems as though it will be erasing humans as well. Tests for oil in arctic refuge wont happen this winter, officials say. Aug 24, 2015 for information or interviews from the seismic blasting area, contact. Based on a fairly large amount of seismological information, the author gave a detailed description of the conduct of the major arctic seismic belt, while the discovery by that time of the world rifting system, particularly the mid arctic gakkel ridge enabled him confidently to correlate the higher seismicity with the oceanic rifting processes. Trump administration proposes seismic surveys for atlantic. With the help of greenpeace and a renewable energy coop, the inuit people are proving to the world that clean. The applications seek permission for five companies to use air guns in waters of the midatlantic, from delaware to central.
Scientists alarmed about seismic blasting in the arctic ocean. Reflection seismology or seismic reflection is a method of exploration geophysics that uses the principles of seismology to estimate the properties of the earths subsurface from reflected seismic. Canadian arctic to be free of seismic blasting this year. But it says nothing about the seismic blasting that my community is presently. Stop seismic blasting as it produces such loud noise and animals underwater are mostly dependent on sound as their medium whether it be communicating.
The permit would allow exploration along the entire coast of nunavuts baffin island. Obama designates atlantic, arctic areas offlimits to offshore drilling. Trudeau promises ban on oil drilling in the arctic, but what about. Aug 17, 2016 an inuit communitys davidandgoliath battle with big oil.
Society of exploration geophysicists and american association of petroleum geologists. President donald trump signed an executive order in april aimed at expanding drilling in the arctic and atlantic oceans, part of his. Greenpeace ship arctic sunrise in halifax after protest. Trump administration pushes forward on seismic mapping in atlantic despite legal challenges, the interior department is in the process of permitting companies to use sonic blasts. Obama permanently protects huge portions of arctic. Arctic whales, including narwhals and belugas, are potential victims of seismic blasting as are the inuit people who depend on this unique ecosystem for their traditional way of life. Over resident opposition, trump administration approves. Arctic campaigner sune scheller onboard greenpeace ship arctic sunrise said. The norwegian company tgsnopec, which is currently using seismic blasting off the east coast of. A hunters komatik on the sea ice near the community of clyde river, nunavut. Canadas supreme court quashes seismic testing project in arctic. Eilis quinn eye on the arctic canadas supreme court has quashed a major energy exploration project in canada.
This book covers the recent developments in seismology in polar regions. Seismic blasting and its effects on the inuit people her. Seismic blasting also threatens the way of life for arctic coastal communities who directly depend on the sea. Seismic blasting is happening right now in the arctic, forcing marine wildlife to flee its natural habitat, all in the quest for more oil. In 2014, canadas national energy board approved a fiveyear oil exploration project in arctic waters. Arctic home stop seismic blasting in clyde river arctic home. Why seismic blasting in the arctic ocean is deadly. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Obama permanently protects huge portions of arctic, atlantic.
Obama permanently protects huge portions of arctic, atlantic from offshore drilling. A four page media briefing summarizing the findings and recommendations in the report is available here. Inuit hunters have observed altered migration patterns of some species and reported horrific damage to the internal organs of seals and other animals exposed to underwater seismic blasts. Jun 05, 2017 over resident opposition, trump administration approves atlantic blasting. Aug 25, 2015 arctic campaigner sune scheller onboard greenpeace ship arctic sunrise said. Blasts from 16 massive airguns are emitted every 10 seconds.
Greenpeaces arctic sunrise vessel is in halifax after protesting seismic blasting with inuit activists in the canadian arctic the ship will be tied up along the halifax waterfront next to. Jun 05, 2017 trump administration proposes seismic surveys for atlantic drilling. More broadly, earthjustice works to protect our oceans by fighting to uphold the endangered species act, one of our nations strongest and most effective laws for protecting wildlife by land and by sea. Why seismic blasting in the arctic ocean is deadly parvati magazine. Scientists alarmed about seismic blasting in the arctic. The permafrost soils that characterize the arctic and subarctic tundra cover roughly 8 percent of the global land surface but hold half of earths underground organic carbon and twice as much carbon as. Canadas supreme court quashes seismic testing project in. This was the right decision for the supreme court of canada to make, says founder parvati. Bombing the home of our benefactors is a deadly mistake.
Later this month, the bureau of ocean energy management boem will make its recommendations on seismic airgun testing in the mid and south atlantic seismic airgun testing is a method of searching. Surveyors will be blasting several times a minute, for months at a time. Trump administration proposes seismic surveys for atlantic drilling. These satellite images of a small part of the arctic national wildlife refuge show the site of what, so far, is the only oil well ever drilled in the refuge, an exploratory well known as kic1. Scientists alarmed by seismic blasting for oil in the arctic ocean by ahnationtalk on august 24, 2015 686 views 24 august 2015 greenland sea the practice of firing. Um experts weigh in on the effects of air gun blasting during oil and gas. Dec 15, 2017 these satellite images of a small part of the arctic national wildlife refuge show the site of what, so far, is the only oil well ever drilled in the refuge, an exploratory well known as kic1. Apr 05, 2016 the conglomerate of seismic companies announced today they will not go ahead with their 2016 plans to blast the arctic seabed in search of oil and gas. Oil, gas permits for seismic testing in atlantic move ahead. Aug 18, 2016 scientists fear highintensity sounds from seismic blasting in the arctic could adversely affect marine wildlife, exacerbating the foodinsecurity crisis. Trump admin proposes seismic surveys for atlantic drilling. By september, it pulled out after one exploratory well proved dry. May 16, 2019 despite a recent announcement that plans to permit seismic testing off the east coast were indefinitely postponed, the feds are still processing nine permits to test for offshore oil and gas.
Most require some knowledge of mathematics, geology, andor physics at the university level or above. Neocolonial policies directed against indigenous land sovereignty continue today, as shown by an inuit case being brought before the supreme court of canada on november 30 against seismic blasting in baffin bay in search of oil and gas deposits, legal support for which is being provided by greenpeace. Arctic tundra stores carbon during the summer and releases some of it during the winter. As northerners, they share many connections, but in this year of record breaking high temperatures, one stan. Seismic surveys involve powerful airguns blasting the seas at 10second intervals and measuring the echoes off the sea floor to help map offshore oil and natural gas fields in the process disturbing, injuring and killing marine mammals and other wildlife.