This week, the United Nations’ Environment Programme released a new report warning that a rush for Arctic resources would threaten an already fragile ecosystem. As Arctic ice melts at a rate never seen before, many are concerned by the unfolding ecological catastrophe—but others are seeing dollar signs. Melting ice is making it easier for humans to extract minerals and fossil fuels from the Arctic—which, ironically, is the very activity that is causing the ice to melt. 

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Post tags: Achim Steiner, arctic ice, arctic sea ice, Climate Change, Denmark, fossil fuels, global warming, greenland, Iceland, melting ice, mining, north pole, russia, UN, United Nations, United Nations Environment Programme, united states

Back in August, the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)) reported that over 900 cubic kilometers of summer sea ice had disappeared from the Arctic ocean over the past year. At the time, that was a loss 50% greater than figures predicted by most polar scientists. However, now the NSIDC is reporting that the Arctic sea ice has reached its minimum extent for the year, equal to 1.32 million square miles. This is the lowest seasonal minimum extent noted in the satellite record since 1979.

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Post tags: arctic ice, arctic ocean, arctic sea ice, arctic summer sea ice, cryosat 2, esa, european space agency, summer ice, university college of london, us national snow and ice data center

After the Gulf of Mexico disaster revealed the perils of deep water drilling to the public, there was a lot of opposition to similar projects proposed in the Arctic. Now, after six years of campaigning, oil company Shell has begun its Arctic exploration campaign despite worldwide protests. However the oil company is facing problems with the $4.5 billion project; a 30 mile by 12 mile block of ice is heading its way.

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Post tags: arctic exploration campaign, arctic ice, arctic ocean, arctic sea ice, arctic summer sea ice, cryosat 2, esa, european space agency, gulf of mexico disaster, offshore drilling, rogue iceberg, Shell, shell oil exploration, summer ice, university college of london, us national snow and ice data center

Satellites recently showed that Arctic ice is melting 50% faster than expected, and that sea ice levels are set to hit a record low. Now ice scientist Professor Peter Wadhams has revealed to BBC Newsnight that if the planet was to lose the Arctic ice then the impact would “effectively doubl[e] mankind’s contribution to global warming”.

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Post tags: arctic ice, arctic melting rate, arctic ocean, arctic sea ice, arctic summer sea ice, CO2 emissions, cryosat 2, esa, european space agency, peter wadhams, summer ice, university college of london, us national snow and ice data center

Last week we reported that The European Space Agency’s CryoSat 2 probe had completed its 18-month-long mission and revealed that over 900 cubic kilometers of summer sea ice had disappeared from the Arctic ocean over the past year. That’s a loss 50% greater than figures predicted by most polar scientists. Now scientists at the US National Snow and Ice Data Center have stated that Arctic sea ice is set to hit a record low by the end of this month.

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Post tags: arctic ice, arctic ocean, arctic sea ice, arctic summer sea ice, cryosat 2, esa, european space agency, summer ice, university college of london, us national snow and ice data center

European researchers recently discovered a bulging mass of fresh water currently growing in the western Arctic Ocean that could wreak havoc on Europe’s climate if it enters the Atlantic Ocean. The bulge currently holds about 10% of the fresh water in the Arctic Ocean – it consists of water from the Eurasian rivers that feed the Arctic Ocean being concentrated and spun in a clockwise motion by the powerful Beaufort Gyre, causing the surface of the ocean to rise by 2 centimeters per year.

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Post tags: Arctic Circle, arctic gyre, arctic ice sheet, arctic ocean, arctic sea ice, arctic winds, beaufort gyre, center for polar observation and modelling, Climate Change, cpom, cryosat 2, global warming, gyre, ice caps melting, melting ice, sea ice dwindling, sea ice instabiligy, what is a gyre