The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of 6 February, 2023
Atmospheric Rivers Slow Sea Ice Recovery
As reported by CNN on February 6, a new study published in Nature Climate Change found that atmospheric rivers, long bands of high water vapor content that transport warm air and moisture, are slowing the seasonal recovery of Arctic sea ice. Using satellite images and climate models, the team of scientists determined that the atmospheric rivers are reaching the region more frequently in the winter, which is causing the sea ice to retreat despite below-freezing temperatures. They concluded that these atmospheric rivers can account for a third of wintertime sea ice loss, playing a larger role than previously understood. (CNN)
Take 1: Arctic sea ice is seasonal, forming in the winter when temperatures are colder and thawing in the summer. However, the study provides new evidence that atmospheric rivers are increasingly reaching the Arctic and disrupting this freeze-thaw cycle. When atmospheric rivers make landfall, they release water vapor in the form of rain or snow, preventing the recovery of Arctic sea ice that has already endured a severe decline during the summer. The continual loss of sea ice has devastating consequences, as it is vital for the survival of many species of Arctic wildlife. Animals like seals, walruses, and polar bears use ice for shelter, breeding, and food, while land species, such as Arctic foxes and caribou, depend on it for safety and migration. Moreover, for many Arctic communities, sea ice is also essential to their way of life, directly tied to identity, culture, and subsistence practices. Finally, sea ice is also vital for maintaining essential processes like regulating the global climate and ocean currents. With the Arctic warming four times faster than the rest of the world, atmospheric rivers should be included in climate models to better assess their impact on shrinking sea ice. (National Snow and Ice Data Center, NOAA, UC Davis)
US Polar Security Cutter: Delayed Again
As reported by High North News on February 9, officials from the US Coast Guard reported that its Polar Security Cutter will likely not enter into service before 2027. The new icebreaker was intended to be delivered in 2024, with construction starting in 2021. However, construction has yet to begin as the Coast Guard has not finalized the design elements of the vessel, citing the complexity of operations in the polar region. In the meantime, the Coast Guard plans to procure and modify a commercial icebreaker to use in the interim period. (High North News)
Take 2: While the widening gap between the number of Russian and US icebreakers is often cited as a serious concern, it is important to consider that Russia’s Arctic coastline is significantly larger than that of the US. Even more critical is the fact that the US’s two existing icebreakers are now nearing the end of their service life. The Polar Star, which is the Coast Guard’s only heavy polar icebreaker, is currently 46 years old and frequently requires maintenance. The USCGC Healy is more modern, but it is only a medium icebreaker and has also suffered from mechanical failures. Icebreakers are essential since the Arctic remains dangerous and inaccessible for much of the year, despite the growing navigability of its waters. The US Coast Guard serves a vital role in the Arctic by assisting with research, conducting search and rescue, maintaining US sovereignty, and responding to emergencies. For instance, polar cutters have enabled supply ships to deliver critical provisions in winter to remote Arctic communities. Thus, the US Coast Guard’s announcement is worrisome because, without sufficient icebreaking capabilities, the US’s ability to operate in the region and carry out these necessary functions is diminished. Although the purchase of a commercial icebreaker could alleviate pressure in the short-term, the government should continue to work to address the gap in capabilities until a fleet of polar security cutters is operational. (Forbes, RAND Corporation, The New York Times)
Northwest Territories Introduces New Northern Studies Course
As reported by CBC News on February 3, the Northwest Territories in Canada have started piloting an elective course for 12th-grade students focused on northern studies. The new course will cover topics such as customs, traditional knowledge, the history of colonization, and reconciliation. This is the first course in the Northwest Territories created under British Columbia’s curriculum framework, with the territory engaging with Indigenous governments, working groups, and educational institutions to design the course. The final version will be introduced to all schools in September, following feedback from the pilot program. (CBC News)
Take 3: The residential school system, which aimed to assimilate Indigenous children, is a painful part of Canada’s history that has contributed to the erosion of Indigenous culture and language. Although the Canadian government has condemned the residential schools and apologized for the atrocities committed during that period, the legacy of the aggressive assimilation policies continues to impact Indigenous education today. Many schools in Inuit communities lack courses that focus on Indigenous history, culture, language, and reconciliation. Some also overlook or even actively dismiss Indigenous values and practices. This lack of representation in the curriculum can limit access to traditional learning and values, hindering the connections of the younger generation to their identities. In turn, this can have severe impacts on mental health and can widen the gap between elders and Inuit youth. The introduction of the new northern studies course could help bridge this generational gap by exposing students to Indigenous heritage, facilitating engagement with the past, and fostering a greater sense of self. Like the Northwest Territories, schools across the Canadian Arctic should implement similar courses to ensure that Indigenous knowledge and culture are represented in education. (Eye on the Arctic, Nunatsiaq News, University of Washington)
Russia’s Gazprom Neft Authorized to Create Private Military Company
As reported by The Barents Observer on February 8, the Russian government has authorized the majority state-owned company Gazprom Neft to establish a private military force. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed the order granting the company the right to establish the security organization on February 4, referring to the law on the safety of fuel and energy complex facilities. Gazprom Neft is a subsidiary of Gazprom that focuses on oil production, which holds licenses for many oil fields and operates several sites in the region. (The Barents Observer)
Take 4: The Russian government’s recent decision to authorize Gazprom Neft to create a private security organization is concerning, especially as it appears to follow the model of the infamous Wagner Group. Like this new private military force, the Wagner Group was also created through the law on the safety of energy facilities. The group, which has been labeled as a transnational criminal organization and a mercenary group, has participated in the war in Ukraine with tens of thousands of fighters, and has also been accused of atrocities in the Middle East and Africa. Although the role of Gazprom Neft’s security organization is still unclear, if they are deployed to Gazprom Neft’s sites in the Arctic, the company would be the first in the region to be allowed to operate its own private military force. The move highlights the continued securitization of the region and follows other measures to secure Russia’s interests in the Arctic, including modernizing Arctic bases, conducting exercises along the Northern Sea Route, and limiting the freedom of navigation in the passage. These actions undermine the Arctic as a zone of peace and escalate tensions. Rather than pursuing puzzling actions that hinder cooperation, like authorizing the private military company, Russia should concentrate on conducting scientific research, promoting Indigenous welfare, and addressing the critical environmental situation in the Arctic. (BBC, Business Insider, Wilson Center)
The Arctic: The Next Big Garbage Patch?
As reported by High North News on February 8, scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute found that plastic pollution in the Arctic originates from more than 25 countries, including local countries and remote sources as far as the southern hemisphere. The study, which was published in Frontiers in Marine Science, analyzed marine debris on beaches in Svalbard that were collected by ‘citizen scientists’ between 2016 and 2021. The scientists concluded that most floating debris in the region eventually collects on Arctic beaches, making it the final stop for these plastics. (High North News)
Take 5: Plastic pollution is a pressing issue in the Arctic, highlighted by the fact that the Arctic Contaminants Action Program, a working group of the Arctic Council, expanded its mandate to include plastics and microplastics in 2018. Although plastic pollution is a growing problem globally, the Arctic has recorded some of the highest concentrations of microplastics and plastic debris in the world. Plastic waste is not only generated locally by sources like ships and Arctic communities, but is also carried towards the region by numerous ocean currents. As these plastics accumulate on beaches, the ocean floor, surface waters, and sea ice, they can cause severe effects for the Arctic ecosystem. Marine wildlife like seabirds often mistake plastic for food, which can lead to internal damage or death. Plastics on beaches can also harm wildlife on land by entangling them in debris or through ingestion. Indigenous communities have reported plastics in the stomachs of many species, raising concerns about threats to the food security of these coastal communities. The new study confirms that the Arctic serves as a collection point for an immense amount of plastic waste, but it also emphasizes that plastic waste in the region stems from countries around the world. It is clear that tackling plastic pollution in the Arctic cannot be done in isolation, but must be addressed on a global scale. (Arctic Council, CBC News, National Geographic, Norwegian Polar Institute)