Although three‐dimensional (3D) seismic surveys have improved the success rate of exploratory drilling for oil and gas, the impacts have received little scientific scrutiny, despite affecting more area than any other oil and gas activity. To aid policy‐makers and scientists, we reviewed studies of the landscape impacts of 3D‐seismic surveys in the Arctic. We analyzed a proposed 3D‐seismic program in northeast Alaska, in the northern Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which includes a grid 63,000 km of seismic trails and additional camp‐move trails. Current regulations are not adequate to eliminate impacts from these activities. We address issues related to the high‐density of 3D trails compared to 2D methods, with larger crews, more camps, and more vehicles. We focus on consequences to the hilly landscapes, including microtopography, snow, vegetation, hydrology, active layers, and permafrost. Based on studies of 2D‐seismic trails created in 1984–1985 in the same area by similar types of vehicles, under similar regulations, approximately 122 km² would likely sustain direct medium‐ to high‐level disturbance from the proposed exploration, with possibly expanded impacts through permafrost degradation and hydrological connectivity. Strong winds are common, and snow cover necessary to minimize impacts from vehicles is windblown and inadequate to protect much of the area. Studies of 2D‐seismic impacts have shown that moist vegetation types, which dominate the area, sustain longer‐lasting damage than wet or dry types, and that the heavy vehicles used for mobile camps caused the most damage. The permafrost is ice rich, which combined with the hilly topography, makes it especially susceptible to thermokarst and erosion triggered by winter vehicle traffic. The effects of climate warming will exacerbate the impacts of winter travel due to warmer permafrost and a shift of precipitation from snow to rain. The cumulative impacts of 3D‐seismic traffic in tundra areas need to be better assessed, together with the effects of climate change and the industrial development that would likely follow. Current data needs include studies of the impacts of 3D‐seismic exploration, better climate records for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, especially for wind and snow; and high‐resolution maps of topography, ground ice, hydrology, and vegetation.

中文翻译：

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阿拉斯加北极国家野生动物保护区 3D 地震勘测对景观的影响。

尽管三维 (3D) 地震调查提高了石油和天然气勘探钻探的成功率，但其影响几乎没有受到科学审查，尽管其影响的区域比任何其他石油和天然气活动都多。为了帮助决策者和科学家，我们回顾了北极 3D 地震勘测对景观影响的研究。我们分析了阿拉斯加东北部北极国家野生动物保护区北部拟议的 3D 地震计划，其中包括 63,000 公里的地震轨迹和额外的营地移动轨迹。目前的法规不足以消除这些活动的影响。与 2D 方法相比，我们解决了与 3D 路径的高密度相关的问题，包括更多的工作人员、更多的营地和更多的车辆。我们专注于对丘陵景观的影响，包括微地形、雪、植被、水文、活动层和永久冻土。基于对 1984 年至 1985 年由相似类型车辆在相同区域创建的二维地震轨迹的研究，在相似规则下，大约 122 公里²可能会维持拟议勘探的直接中到高水平干扰，并可能通过永久冻土退化和水文连通性扩大影响。强风很常见，为了最大限度地减少车辆影响所必需的积雪被风吹走，不足以保护该地区的大部分地区。对二维地震影响的研究表明，在该地区占主导地位的潮湿植被类型比潮湿或干燥类型遭受的破坏更持久，而用于移动营地的重型车辆造成的破坏最大。多年冻土富含冰，加上丘陵地形，使其特别容易受到冬季车辆交通引发的热岩溶和侵蚀。由于永久冻土变暖和降水从雪转雨，气候变暖的影响将加剧冬季旅行的影响。需要更好地评估苔原地区 3D 地震交通的累积影响，以及气候变化和可能随之而来的工业发展的影响。当前的数据需求包括研究 3D 地震勘探的影响，为北极国家野生动物保护区提供更好的气候记录，尤其是风雪天气；以及地形、地冰、水文和植被的高分辨率地图。北极国家野生动物保护区的气候记录更好，尤其是风雪天气；以及地形、地冰、水文和植被的高分辨率地图。北极国家野生动物保护区的气候记录更好，尤其是风雪天气；以及地形、地冰、水文和植被的高分辨率地图。