The dangers of Arctic ice melt continue to make themselves known, with fresh concerns for the relationship between sea ice and inland permafrost troubling scientists studying the region. With larger proportions of first year ice, as opposed to the thicker, multi-year ice that typically builds in the area and is less prone to melting, the need to determine the exact cause-and-effect relationship between the sea ice and the permafrost is becoming urgent. The possibility that temperatures may rise by almost 10 degrees and as far as hundreds of miles inland is giving new cause for concern in the race against global warming. more »

The Greenland Ice Sheet is disappearing and scientists are working vigorously to determine the sheet’s melt rate. In an effort to calculate how fast the ice is melting and how it may affect global sea levels, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is conducting fly-bys along the ice sheet.
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UK explorer, environmentalist, and lawyer Lewis Pugh will be using his unique skill set and talents to accomplish something that hasn’t been done in recorder human history: he is going to Kayak across an ice free North Pole. With many scientists predicting an iceless Arctic Ocean this coming year, Pugh has decided to call attention to the fact by making his away across the now open waters traveling only by kayak, a feat he claims couldn’t have been accomplished even last year, thus affirming the urgency with which he feels we must approach the issue. more »

MOSCOW, July 14 (ArcticFocus) – The Russian Navy has resumed military operations of its Northern Fleet in Arctic areas, including off coasts the Spitsbergen Island, the navy’s spokesman Captain Igor Dygalo told Itar-Tass on Monday.

“At present, the anti-submarine ship Severomorsk has come to the area and is fulfilling tasks, and the missile carrying cruiser Marshal Ustinov will stay in the area from July 17,” he said.

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Oil giant BP announced Monday it will spend $1.5 billion on the development of the Liberty Oil Field off the coast of Alaska. According to BP officials, the development is a step forward in the company’s objective to tap into an estimated 100 million barrels of reserves in the filed.
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As the race to gain northern energy reserves picks up speed, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with top oil executives and ministers at the Severodvinsk shipyard Friday. During his visit, Putin also toured an Arctic oilrig the country intends to use in its efforts to develop Artic oil fields.
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That favorite symbol of the Arctic, the famed polar bear, is now officially listed as an endangered species courtesy of the USA’s Department of the Interior under the Endangered Species Act but the anticipated effects of this action are up in the air for the moment. The classification of one of the world’s favorite animals is not unusual in and of itself but the reasoning behind it is, leaving many to wonder how it will impact events beyond the North Pole. more »

“Hey, we want a piece of the action!” European Union, Norway want to get their hands on the Arctic oil and gas deposits in the Arctic Region

Recently, the European Union and Norway has mentioned that they want a piece of Arctic oil and gas deposits in the Arctic Region. For anyone who does not know what the European Union is the EUROPEAN UNION is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily inland. more »