Summary
Environmental oil spill sensitivity atlas for the northern West Greenland (72º-75º N) coastal zone
This atlas is produced as a part of the preparations for exploratory drilling offshore Greenland. The objective is to produce a tool for oil spill responders by providing an overview of resources vulnerable to oil spills, for example biological resources (fish, birds etc.). The atlas covers the region between 72° N and 75° N in northern West Greenland including the offshore waters to the Canadian border.
The following elements are included in the project:
As the oil spill sensitive resources are very different in character (e.g. seabird breeding colonies, important fishing areas and archaeological sites), it has been common practice to calculate an index value of the sensitivity of a specific area, in order to compare areas with different characteristics. The index calculations are based on a Canadian system, which has been used in Lancaster Sound. An overview of the methods used in the atlas is given in Chapter 6.
The coastline is divided into segments (coastlines and groups of islands) approx. 50 km long. Each segment has been ranked in one of four degrees of sensitivity based on the index calculation that includes abundance and sensitivity of a number of environmental or community elements (e.g. different birds and marine mammals, hunting areas and archaeological sites).
Besides the general classification of coastal sensitivity, the maps of the atlas also show smaller selected areas. They have been selected as being of particular significance, particular vulnerable to oil spills and as being of a size where an effective oil spill response can be performed.
As a part of the project, classification of the coastline morphology has been conducted from satellite imagery and geological maps, e.g. the occurrence of rocky shores and beaches. An index value of the self-cleaning ability of the coast after an oil spill has been calculated, based on this classification in combination with shoreline exposure to waves and ice. For example, oil on a rocky coast exposed to wave action will be cleaned faster than oil on a beach in a protected lagoon.
Based on all the information, appropriate methods to respond to oil spills in the different areas have been assessed.
Chapter 8 in the atlas contains offshore and overview information, primarily in 1:3.5 million scale maps, and Chapter 9 contains detailed coastal information in 1:250,000 scale maps. Chapter 7 is a users guide common to Chapter 8 and 9.
Chapter 8 contains maps showing the sensitivity of the offshore areas and with each of the elements used in the classification (fishing areas, fish, birds and marine mammals). A number of maps provide an overview of the most economical important biological resource (Greenland halibut) and an overview of breeding colonies of 12 bird species.
Chapter 9 contains 13 maps in the scale 1:250,000 showing the coastal segments and their index values for coastal sensitivity and the symbols for the elements of the classification (hunting and fishing areas, fish, birds, marine mammals and archaeological sites). The maps also show the selected areas. Each map is accompanied by a description of biological resources and human use of each coastal segment.
Chapter 9 also contains 13 maps showing coast types, logistics and proposed methods to oil spill response in the covered area.
A community consultation phase was carried out during the project and the results are incorporated in the human use setting of each coastal segment, and presented in Appendix C.
The Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum (Greenland Government) financed the preparation of the atlas.
The project was carried out by the National Environmental Research Institute, the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, the Greenland National Museum and Archives and SL Ross Environmental Research Ltd.
