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3 Arctic Environmental Change and Potential Challenges
Pages 29-38

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From page 29...
... . The detection of biological changes in the Bering Strait re gion coincides with recent observations of larger-scale Arc 1Ice-albedo feedback is a positive feedback loop whereby melting sea tic environmental changes in water temperature, hydrograice exposes more seawater (of lower albedo, or less reflective)
From page 30...
... , specoastal seas, for example, in the Northern Sea Route and cifically allows coastal nations to adopt and enforce rules for Northwest Passage are likely. Commercial fishing and seal- vessels operating in ice-infested waters in their exclusive ing, hunting of marine wildlife by indigenous people, tour- economic zone (EEZ)
From page 31...
... The sea ice, while thinning concerns and political pressures have blocked development and decreasing in extent, is likely to become more mobile to date. Alaska's North Slope has large proven natural gas and dynamic in many coastal regions where fast ice and rela- reserves that have not been developed in commercial quantitively stable conditions previously existed.
From page 32...
... 32 POLAR ICEBREAKERS IN A CHANGING WORLD FIGURE 3.1 OCS leases in the Arctic. SOURCE: http://www.mms.gov/.
From page 33...
... icebreaker fleet tion of the increased demand for oil and potential economic in support of exploration or development activities, there and environmental changes, China has begun building stramay be increased need for shared information, ice surveil- tegic relationships to secure the sea lanes from the Middle lance, reconnaissance, and emergency response (Elmer East to the South China Sea to ensure unimpeded delivery of Danenberger, personal communication) as well as environ- oil (Ögütçü, 2003)
From page 34...
... The Recent research shows that some changes are already peak season now for exploring the Arctic Ocean runs from under way in the northern Bering Sea ecosystem (Grebmeier July to September, when the pack ice recedes, but this seaet al., 2006)
From page 35...
... . The distance from Murmansk to the ice extends southward through the Bering Strait and into the Bering Strait using the NSR is 3,454 nmi (voyage of oil northern Bering Sea, so that the entire Alaskan northern coast tanker UIKKU in 1997)
From page 36...
... It is also the Inuit in the Canadian Arctic, sea-ice retreat disrupts likely that resource exploration, recovery, and shipping acand significantly restricts their subsistence hunting and tivities will expand into previously inaccessible areas. Sevfood-sharing lifestyles as many key species become less eral companies have begun to develop the extensive oil and accessible due to northward migrations or, in the worst- gas fields near Sakhalin (Mikko Niini, personal communicacase scenario, become extinct (ACIA, 2005)
From page 37...
... 37 U.S. STRATEGIC INTERESTS AND MISSIONS IN THE POLAR REGIONS tion, many orders for double-acting tankers -- ships that can margin areas, which will increase the need for ice-capable both break ice and transport cargo -- have been placed and ships (ice-strengthened ships and icebreakers)


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