The Arctic sea ice cover is undergoing an unprecedented transformation – sea ice thinning, a reduction in extent, and a reduction in the area of multi-year ice in the central Arctic Ocean. These changes are documented in the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, which also provides sea ice projections for the 21st century. These simulations show increasing ice-free areas in the Arctic coastal seas and suggest plausible increases in marine access throughout the Arctic Ocean. |
New Reports |
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| Increased economic activity together with the current retreat of Arctic sea ice presents several plausible futures for the Arctic’s regional seas, the Northern Sea Route, the Northwest Passage, and the central Arctic Ocean. Continued sea ice reductions will likely lengthen the navigation season in all regions and increase marine access to the Arctic’s natural resources.’ These changes represent both a challenge and an opportunity for governments and local Arctic communities. Of key significance are the effects of expanded marine activities on the cultures and well-being of Arctic populations, especially indigenous residents whose traditional way of life has been partially protected in the past by the very nature of the remote and extreme Arctic environment in which they live. |
