Chukchi Sea
Geography
The Chukchi Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean. It is bounded on the west by the Long Strait, off Wrangel Island, and in the east by Point Barrow, Alaska, beyond which lies the Beaufort Sea. The Bering Strait forms its southernmost limit and connects it to the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The principal port on the Chukchi Sea is Uelen in Russia. The sea is named after the Chukchi people, who reside on its shores.
The sea has an approximate area of 595,000 km² (230,000 mi²) and is only navigable about four months of the year. The sea is relatively shallow, with depths varying between 50 and 100 m. The Chukchi Sea is covered with ice most of the year. The sea bottom is composed of silt and sand.
Climate
The climate of the Chukchi Sea region varies dramatically from year to year. The long-term average to late August is 0.3 m (1 ft) to 0.4 m (1.3 ft) of ice thickness in the western part of the Chukchi Sea. Thickness of the ice increases to the east. This is due to the prevailing winds from the east. Historically, ice concentrations in the Chukchi Sea increase during the winter and decrease during the summer.
Flora and Fauna
The Chukchi Sea is home to a wide variety of wildlife. The sea is rich in phytoplankton and zooplankton, which feed a variety of marine species. It is also home to large populations of seals, walrus, and whales. The Chukchi Sea is also a crucial breeding and feeding ground for many species of birds, including the threatened Spectacled Eider.
Human Activity
The Chukchi Sea provides a livelihood for the indigenous Chukchi people who live on its shores. They engage in fishing, hunting and gathering. The sea is also an important location for oil and gas exploration. In 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that there was a 50% chance that there are at least 30 billion barrels of oil in the Chukchi Sea, and a 1-in-5 chance of at least 44 billion barrels. In 2012, Shell Oil Company had planned to drill exploratory wells in the sea, but was thwarted by multiple equipment and safety issues.
Environmental Concerns
The Chukchi Sea is facing a number of environmental threats, primarily from climate change and oil exploration. The sea ice is melting at an unprecedented rate, which is threatening the survival of species such as the polar bear and the walrus. Oil exploration also poses a threat to the ecosystem of the Chukchi Sea. In the event of an oil spill, cleaning up the remote and icy waters of the Chukchi Sea would be a daunting task.