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Old News
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Wednesday, 21 September 2011 11:26 |
The potential for renewable energy in the North is vast. The use of renewable energy has minimal environmental and human health impacts and can bring business, employment and training opportunities to communities. Many sustainable energy technologies available today are reliable and cost effective. Some of the technologies that are already being used in the North or could be used include wind power, solar heating, hydro power, biomass, and heat pumps. Energy efficiency practices also have great environmental and economic benefits and can be implemented anywhere (Pembina)
• Northwest Russia Renewable Energy Forum
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Old News
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Wednesday, 21 September 2011 09:44 |
 Reports have been coming in during the summer of 2011 that the summer melt-down has reached a new record low since the beginning of satellite data record ranging back to 1979 as well as other recorded data ranging back to the 50's.
The previous record low occurred in 2007. Sea ice coverage also remains below normal everywhere except the East Greenland Sea.
The Northern Sea route is vastly free of ice. Russians are taking advantage of that, sending numerous vessles through the route, amongst them will be the largest ever tanker to go through the route.
Average ice extent for July 2011 was 7.92 million square kilometers (3.06 million square miles). This is 210,000 square kilometers (81,000 square miles) below the previous record low for the month, set in July 2007, and 2.18 million square kilometers (842,000 square miles) below the average for 1979 to 2000.
On July 31, 2011 Arctic sea ice extent was 6.79 million square kilometers (2.62 million square miles). This was slightly higher than the previous record low for the same day of the year, set in 2007.
"Arctic Dipole anomaly “In a 2008 article titled, Recent radical shifts of atmospheric circulations and rapid changes in Arctic climate system Zhang et al. show that the extreme loss of Arctic sea ice since 2001 has been accompanied by a radical shift of the Arctic atmospheric circulation patterns, into a new mode they call the Arctic Rapid change Pattern. The new atmospheric circulation pattern has also been recognized by other researchers, who refer to it as the Arctic Dipole (Richter-Menge et al., 2009). “ Source: Dr Jeff Masters- Weather Underground
NASA has compiled a video showing the retreat of sea ice in the summertime 2011. From spring to autumn, this is how the sea ice retreated.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hv4S90UOBY] |
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Old News
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Wednesday, 21 September 2011 09:28 |
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 Archangelsk in Russia is the place to be this week. Hosting the Arctic Forum, the city also sports the biggest fair of the year this week, the famous Margaritinskaya fair.
The 2nd International Arctic Forum “The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue” will take place at the Northern Arctic Federal University. The Russian Geographical Society organized the event which sports people like Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Prince Albert II of Monaco and President of Iceland Dr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.
Up to 400 people are specially invited to the Forum, including noted scientists, representatives of NGOs, policy makers and businessmen.
Arctic Portal has a representative at the forum. Project manager Halldór Jóhannsson is in Archangelsk for this week.
The forum’s focus this year is on creating Arctic transportation infrastructure as a foundation for the development of the Arctic. This primarily involves the development of commercial and research navigation, transportation terminals (sea ports and airports) and corridors (the Northern Sea Route), polar aviation, cargo and passenger trans-polar and cross-polar transportation. Steady development of this infrastructure is vital for the very existence of the Arctic region.
Special attention will be devoted to the full spectrum of safety issue in this difficult-to-develop region. From a technological perspective, it is necessary to ensure the safety of sea and air traffic using satellite, radio-navigation and hydro-meteorological monitoring. In terms of international law, it is necessary to create multilateral mechanisms for emergency warning and response, including search and rescue missions.
The forum will also focus on cooperative efforts to protect the Arctic environment, environmental safety, the rational use of natural resources in the Arctic and improving the living standards of its indigenous people.
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Old News
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Tuesday, 20 September 2011 15:40 |
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Features
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Tuesday, 20 September 2011 15:40 |
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The 6th NRF Open Assembly in Hveragerði, Iceland, was a success. From all over the world scientists, policy-makers and others gathered to learn and share their ideas about Our Ice Dependant World.
Cela, Margrét - 
Sudakov, Ivan - 
and Culture Change in Northwest Alaska.
Dorough, Dr. Dalee Sambo - 
Auður, Ingólfsdóttir - 
Khomiakova, Tatiana - 
Johnson, Mona - 
