EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska, June 25 (Reuters) - The United States needs to "up its game" in the Arctic and deal with an increasingly important and developing part of the world, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Monday, as a warming Arctic opens up new sea lanes and oil and minerals reserves. "Certainly America’s got to up its game in the Arctic. There’s no doubt … [Read more...]
Study: Whales in Ice-Free Arctic Face Emerging Threat from Ships
As climate change brings a longer ice-free season and more commercial ships to the Arctic, a new study is recommending that precautionary measures be put in place to minimize the negative impacts of increased vessel traffic on marine mammals, namely from threats including noise and ship strikes. In the Arctic, mammals such as belugas and bowhead whales rely on a quiet … [Read more...]
Researchers Map Seven Years of Arctic Shipping
The Arctic's declining sea ice has meant more opportunities for the shipping industry to expand its use of the region that in decades past was unnavigable for the vast majority of the year. The Northwest Passage through Canada and the Northern Sea Route, or Northeast Passage, north of Russia and Siberia, are both valued because they could significantly shorten ship transit … [Read more...]
Arctic Ocean Ice Near Record Low for Winter, Boost for Shipping
By Alister Doyle and Timothy Gardner OSLO/WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) - Winter sea ice on the Arctic Ocean covered the second smallest area on record this year, part of a thaw that is opening the region to shipping and oil exploration and may be disrupting weather far to the south, scientists said on Friday. The extent of floating ice likely reached an annual maximum … [Read more...]
Is China’s Arctic Expansion a Reason to Worry?
By Adam Minter (Bloomberg View) -- Last week, China said it plans to build a "Polar Silk Road" that will open shipping lanes across the largely pristine region at the top of the world. It's an ambitious idea for a country that lacks an Arctic border, and it has raised concerns around the world about China's ultimate intentions and its capacity for environmental stewardship. … [Read more...]