We depend on oil as a society and drilling for oil in the Arctic might be a viable solution for meeting our high demand. The dramatic effects of climate change in the Arctic region make drilling in this region feasible in the very near future. Already, numerous oil companies are conducting feasibility and exploration studies during the summer months. In this unit, read about and find resources explaining our country's current oil use, a brief history of oil extraction in the Arctic, and how the Arctic environment is changing.   

PHOTO CREDIT: NASA/Goddard Scientific Visualization Studio. Map of sea ice extent minimum recorded on September 16, 2012.