We’re witnessing unprecedented climate change and sometimes terrifying weather events that are directly associated with it: Hurricane Sandy, the recent Polar Vortex phenomenon, and rapidly melting ice and permafrost, to name just a few. While we know that the Arctic is of vital importance in keeping the planet’s weather patterns balanced, politicians, shipping magnates, petroleum producers, conservationists, and others are looking at other ways the Arctic could be of even greater importance in years to come.
Why So Much Interest?
There are many reasons for increased interest in what the Arctic has to offer. As ice melts and warmer temperatures prevail, shipping lanes will open up. During the summer months, there are already more ships using the Northern Sea route located along Russia’s coastline; new shipping routes to China from Europe are about 40 percent faster than those taken through the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Suez Canal.
Nations are staking claims on newly uncovered portions of the Arctic seabed, with Denmark planning to lay claim to the North Pole, Canada potentially contesting that claim, and Russia extending its territory to include a 1,200 mile-long undersea mountain range called the Lomonosov Ridge. These claims aren’t viewed as terribly problematic, as coastal nations already have the right to lay claim to continental shelves to a distance of 200 miles beyond their existing shorelines; America’s extended continental shelf claim could potentially extend to more than 600 miles north of the coast of Alaska if new treaties are accepted.
At the same time, melting ice and longer summers may have a devastating effect on marine animals that depend on ice pack for survival, and it may also have a potentially catastrophic effect on coastal communities. Scientists are concerned about increased pollution and the risk of spills, particularly as there is an ongoing push for increased oil and natural gas exploration in the region. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) says that the region contains as much as 30 percent of the planet’s undiscovered natural gas and up to fifteen percent of its untapped oil reserves.
How Fast is Change Occurring?
The Arctic isn’t melting away at a steady rate; some years are warmer than others. The end result is the same, though: global warming is dramatically altering the way the northernmost reaches of the planet look and it’s reducing reindeer populations, increasing fish numbers in some cases, and causing permafrost to recede while plants are thriving and the growing season is lengthening.
So far, we’re learning to cope with the changes that are happening throughout the Arctic and some good things seem to be happening, particularly for those of us who love adventure travel. More cruise ships are visiting the region, offering encounters with animals such as belugas, narwhals, and walruses, and the number of scientific expeditions to the Arctic has increased greatly. Humanity has learned lessons in the past and while there’s some worry about military takeovers, all Arctic nations including the US, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Denmark, Greenland, and Canada have expressed a desire to prevent conflict and keep the Arctic peaceful. Let’s hope for the best as we face life in a changing world.