The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of February 11, 2019

A United States House Bill Seeks to Ban Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

This week in the United States House of Representatives a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill that would block oil and gas drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The bill seeks to repeal a provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that opened access for drilling to occur in ANWR. The area is estimated to have a vast amount of oil reserves, and as a result has been a hotly debated topic for years. The Sierra Club has come out in support of the bill, noting that major financial institutions are rejecting financing for drilling operations in ANWR (EcoWatch, The House of Representatives).

Take 1: There has been discussion for many months that the new Congress would attempt to pass a bill that essentially would strike the drilling provision from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Now that Democrats hold the House of Representatives it comes as no surprise that this bill is finally making its way to the House floor for a vote. Yet, even if it does pass in the House there is only a slim chance that it will get the necessary votes to pass the Senate, or that the President will sign it. President Trump has continually talked about American oil and gas independence. It would seem contradictory for him to sign a bill that would strike a provision that he was in favor of.

Black Carbon Emissions in the Arctic Show Seasonal Fluctuations

On February 13, a new Arctic study was published in the ScienceAdvances journal. From 2011-2015, a team of researchers led by the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam gathered data from five remote locations across the Arctic region with the goal to determine black carbon levels in the atmosphere through the seasons and the pollution’s origins. The results showed seasonal fluctuations. During summer months (June-August) emissions from wildfires and agricultural burning made up the majority of black carbon accumulations (up to 68%) found in the Arctic. During the winter months (December-February), emissions from fossil fuels were the biggest contributors of black carbon (up to 90%). The scientists determined that about 90% of the anthropogenic black carbon found in the Arctic came from countries north of 42° latitude. This includes Arctic countries, parts of Europe and northern China (Inside climate news, ScienceAdvances).

Take 2: Having as much knowledge about black carbon as possible is important because black carbon has a huge effect on the Arctic and the rest of the world. All together black carbon is responsible for as much as a quarter of Arctic warming, resulting in ice melt on the surface. Ice melt can lead to habitat loss, increased sea level rise, and potential displacement of indigenous communities. It becomes clear that we need to stop black carbon whether it’s from fossil fuels or wildfire, winter or summer. Our new findings definitely can help us develop a mitigation strategy in the future.

Polar Bears Invade Russian Town

This week Russian authorities in the remote Arctic region of Novaya Zemlya declared a state of emergency after 52 polar bears were spotted in Belushya Guba, the archipelago’s main population center. Local authorities have stated that six to ten bears are constantly in town and have grown aggressive towards people. The bears have become accustomed to the usual methods of scaring them away, leading authorities to step-up local bear patrols, create barriers, and to provide special transportation for kids and workers. A team of specialists will be flown in to remove the bears. They hope not to have to resort to using weapons, but all options remain on the table (ABC News, The Hill).

Take 3: In Russia polar bears are designated as an endangered species and shooting them is illegal. Yet, experts have warned that polar bear incursions into populated areas will only continue to grow as sea-ice continues to shrink. The reduction of ice reduces the bears’ normal hunting grounds, and increasing temperatures have disrupted the bears’ natural patterns. These changes will result in more bear and human encounters, unfortunately increasing the risk of violence. In this case, the experts being flown in will be able to find a solution that avoids using guns to move the bears.

Arctic Ice Core Study Reveals Importance of Sea Ice

On February 11, a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that reductions in sea ice, approximately 100,000 years ago, led to major climate events. Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), University of Cambridge, and University of Birmingham examined ice cores from Greenland. The cores showed that changes in the sea ice contributed to some to the largest abrupt climate change ever recorded. These periods are referred to as Dansgaard-Oeschger events and have seen temperatures rise in Greenland by 16 degrees Celsius in less than a decade (PNAS, ScienceDaily).

Take 4: The study shows the critical role that sea ice plays in sudden warming events. The losses of sea ice is imprinted on the ice cores, and through the use of modeling the scientists were able to tie ice core data to climate events. This has helped the researches in determining that fast changes to ice levels don’t just have local effects but can affect the global climate system and ecosystems. The data from the ice cores help to create models that are better at understanding how the earth will respond to future changes in Arctic ice levels and temperatures.

The Arctic Institute Makes It on The TTCSP Global Go To Think Tank Index Annual Report

This week the University of Pennsylvania Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) released their annual think tank index report. The report, which was first launched in 2006, ranks the world’s leading think tanks in a variety of categories. TTCSP determines the rankings with the help of a panel of over 1,000 peer institutions, experts from various sectors, and governments around the world. The Arctic Institute placed 73 out of 97 Think Tanks ranked in the U.S. category (University of Pennsylvania).

Take 5: Being recognized by TTCSP helps to validate the work and the impact that the Arctic Institute has in the United States and around the world. The TTCSP by being published not only helps to raise public awareness but also seeks to improve the performances of Think Tanks themselves. Thus, while making the list is an achievement, it should also help to motivate an organisation to reflect upon its last year and to develop ways to learn and improve for the future.