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The Arctic This Week September 21-27, 2015

By Doris Friedrich,Seth Myers and Ryan Uljua September 30, 2015

Photo: Flickr/blmiers2

Welcome and thanks for joining us this week! We hope that you find TATW interesting and entertaining to read. If you’re not a subscriber yet, you can sign up here. As always, all editorial choices, opinions and any mistakes are the authors’ own. Anything that we missed? Please feel free to share material with us if you think it deserves inclusion in TATW.

TAI’s RECENT ACTIVITIES

Last week, the book “International Arctic Petroleum Corporation: Barents Sea Scenarios” was presented at the University of Nordland in Norway. The book examines the international cooperation on the development of Arctic petroleum resources from a cross-disciplinary perspective, focusing on Norwegian–Russian cooperation in the Barents Sea towards 2025. The authors developed three future scenarios, exploring various levels of cooperation and development influenced by and resulting from potential political, commercial and environmental circumstances. You can watch the presentationhere (University of Nordland).

THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES

Economic costs of thawing permafrost estimated at $43 trillion

A new study calculated the global costs of the warming trend due to greenhouse gases released from thawing permafrost to be an estimated $43 trillion by the year 2200 (Nature Climate Change). The economic impact will have an effect on issues as diverse as loss of agricultural production to an increase in the cost of health care. However, the authors say the scenario is not necessarily inevitable and the study can serve as base for potential actions (AD).

Public consultations begin over major zinc and iron mine in northern Greenland

Public consultations have started over Australian company Ironbark’s licensing application for its proposed Citronen zinc and iron project in far northern Greenland (KNR, in Danish). The public consultations will take place in Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat, and Kangerlussuaq and are scheduled to continue through December 1st. Special public meetings will also be held in Qaanaaq and Tasiilaq in January 2016 (Arctic Business Network, in Danish). The large project is estimated to contain more than 13.1 billion pounds of zinc and lead.

High biological activity in Arctic waters during the polar night

Whereas it was assumed until now that there is little to no biological activity in Arctic waters during the polar night, it has recently been discovered that region’s seas are instead teeming with life during the long night. The new research was conducted in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard during three consecutive winters and was published in the journalCurrent Biologylast week (BBC). The scientists also found a high number of light-producing bioluminescent organisms (Market Business).

CHARS a cover for the oil and gas industry?

A prominent Canadian climate change expert is alleging that the under-construction Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut will function in practice as a research facility for the oil and gas industry in the Arctic (National Observer). The CHARS research station, which is slated to be operational by 2017, is expected to conduct multidisciplinary polar science research and will likely be the a cornerstone of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s legacy in the Arctic.

Komi governor accused of fraud, links to organized crime

The governor of Russia’s Komi Republic, Vyacheslav Gaizer, has been arrested on suspicion of massive fraud and links to organized crime dating as far back as 2006 (BO). Gaizer, who was arrested following “more than 80 house searches in Komi, St. Petersburg, and Moscow, during which discoveries were made of more than 60 kg of jewelleries, 150 valuable watches and financial documents…[proving a] massive whitewashing of stolen goods.” Gaizer is “one of the most popular regional leaders in Russia,” having won his last election with some 79% of the votes, and there is speculation the investigation is tied to competing oil interests in the region (BO). Komi’s political elite were further shaken when, in an allegedly unrelated incident, the mayor of Syktyvkar was arrested on separate charges just days after Gaizer’s arrest (BO).

THE POLITICAL SCENE

Russia

Russian Sanctions at Work (MarEx).

Russia brands Arctic indigenous organization as “foreign agent” (EOTA).

This little-known “no-visa zone” in the Arctic connects Europe to Russia (Quartz).

Russian border guards laugh as Syrian wobbles his bike to asylum (Reuters).

United States

Murkowski leads colleagues on whirlwind tour of Arctic nations (AD).

Senate Dems tell Obama to end Arctic drilling (The Hill).

Northwest Arctic Borough mayor drops re-election bid (AD).

Europe

An emerging Nordic voice in the UN climate negotiations (NRT).

Arctic ‘doomsday’ vault to open because of Syrian civil war (WP).

Questioning the Greenlandic Self-Government Act (NRT).

Northern Finland: - 850 asylum seekers have passed through (NRK, in Norwegian).

Hope that Parliament is responsive to the Constitution (NRK, in Norwegian).

Canada

Nunavut wants Arctic issues addressed on campaign trail (AD).

Candidates named for Yukon municipal elections (CBC).

Nunavut's federal election candidates attend forum on economic development (CBC).

Canadian election campaign avoids Inuit (KNR, in Danish).

ENERGY

Canada

Whither diesel: What if the water never comes back? (NORJ).

Industry ministry extends consultation period on new fracking policy into next Assembly (NORJ).

CAPP to next federal government: Unless pipelines built, oil sector in jeopardy (PN).

Fuel spill posed no threat to Nunavik community: Hydro-Québec (NN).

Group heads to Clyde River to assess solar power potential (NN).

Russia

Total CEO: Russian Arctic Project Gets Chinese Funding Boost (WSJ).

Chinese investments shore up Russia’s Arctic LNG project – Total CEO (RT).

Russia's Deputy PM Says No Pressure for Exxon to Quit Sakhalin-1 Project (MT).

Russian Deputy PM Opposes Oil Tax Plan (MT).

Energy Sector Accounts for 98% of Russian Corporate Profits (MT).

United States

Walker calls special session, releases review critical of AK LNG process (AJOC).

Walker touts tax to push AK LNG, but producers pan concept (AJOC).

Producers agree to $16.5B for PILT, impact payments on AK LNG Project (AJOC).

Gov to call session for TransCanada buyout (AJOC).

Hawker: TransCanada decision needed soon (PN).

AKLNG to study 48-inch line (PN).

Feds deem Liberty application complete; in-depth review officially begins (PN).

Icewine well wins DNR approval (PN).

Companies argue for inlet credits (PN).

Great Bear planning more exploration (PN).

Weekly US rig count falls by 6 to 842 (PN).

Exxon Mobil official promotes Arctic exploration (FuelFix).

Miscellaneous

There is enough energy in the North - not considering oil and gas (UArctic).

Video: Countries claiming Arctic oil (CNBC).

Arctic energy: What can polar regions learn from each other? (RCI).

SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

New dinosaur species identified in Alaska’s North Slope

A new species of duck-billed dinosaur unique to Alaska has been discovered in Alaska’s North Slope. The species, previously thought to belong to a hadrosaur species found in southern Canada and the United States called “Edmontosaurus“, was named Ugrunaaluk kuukpikensis, which means "ancient grazer" in Inupiaq. The dinosaur’s great number of teeth made it easier for the animal to survive on a diet made up of the coarse vegetation in the forests that covered northern Alaska 70 million years ago (AS,NG,Guardian).

Earth sciences, climate and weather

Record snowfall hits Fairbanks (AD).

Snow sensors at Turnagain Pass will help predict avalanche conditions (AD).

Environment Canada predicts mild fall and winter in northwestern Canada (CBC).

Scientists probe effects of unusual warming pattern in fish-rich Bering Sea (AD).

Barrow weather station staff worry about becoming obsolete (AD).

Eye in the sky gives Arctic scientists new insight into ice loss (Phys.org).

Alaska scientist teaches Church about climate (EOTA).

Swedish airport gives travellers climate preview (EOTA).

Danger of methane explosions on Yamal Peninsula, scientists warn (ST).

Permafrost data available to all (BO).

Wildlife and ecology

Two pictures of starving polar bears have gone viral in the past few weeks. They were both taken in Svalbard. The condition of the bears appears to be linked to a decline in sea ice extent (EOTA).

Biologists wrestle with how much hunting Kenai brown bear population can support (AD).

Plucky Northern bird beats a tropical storm: 'It really is an amazing feat' (CBC).

Wounded rare leopard wins battle to return to the wild (ST).

More than 30 walruses found dead on Alaska's Arctic coast (AD).

Environmental management

Nunavut government wants to raise Southampton caribou quota to 1,600 (NN).

After feds back away, state commits to cleaning up toxic site in Wrangell (AD).

Russian military collect 3,600 tons of metal scrap during Arctic islands cleanup (TASS).

Decades-old federal effort to clear Alaska islands of invasive foxes closer to completion (Star Tribune).

That Arctic Seed Vault Isn’t Just There for a Doomsday (Wired).

Elk-hunting season begins – new data app tested (Yle).

Russia-Norway disagreements stop bay clean-up (EOTA).

Government, mining industry miles apart on proposed land protection plan (NORJ).

Expeditions & research blogs

Besides work (AWI – Polarstern Blog).

Research and university news

Scientists relying more on traditional Alaska Native knowledge (AD).

Gordon Haber's final days (AD).

Coast Guard Academy professor uses 3-D printer on board Arctic icebreaker (The Day).

NOAA seeks feedback on plan to create more Arctic navigational charts (AD).

NASA is Testing an Underwater Rover in the Arctic (Gizmodo).

Danish high school will strengthen young Greenlanders (KNR, in Danish).

Historical

Arrowheads lost -- and found -- in time (AD).

Earliest known evidence of North American salmon fishing found in Alaska (AD).

Old Finnmark house fills black hole in history (NRK, in Norwegian).

Franklin expedition: New photos of HMS Erebus artifacts, but still no sign of HMS Terror (CBC).

MILITARY / SEARCH & RESCUE

Europe

On agenda, defence alliance between Finland and Sweden (BO).

Lockheed Martin unveils Norway’s first F-35 (BO).

Norwegian militarization in the High North (NRT).

70 years since last Soviet troops left Norway (BO).

Russia

Government rejects bill to introduce private military contractors in Russia – report (RT).

MINING

North American Tungsten’s Cantung mine in Yukon closed, up for sale

North American Tungsten will temporarily shut down its Cantung mine near the Yukon-NWT by the end of October and the site will be placed under maintenance by the end of November (YN). In June, North American Tungsten went under creditor protection as it owed nearly $80 million to over 200 separate companies. North American Tungsten is currently in the process of trying to sell the site.

United States

Uptick in acquisitions brightens gloomy reality of Alaska minerals sector (PN).

BC, Alaska to draft MOU for mine processes (AJOC).

Canada

Prairie Creek M&I resources get 32% upgrade (PN).

Hyland drilling confirms Banyan hypothesis (PN).

Alexco cuts bonanza silver at Bermingham (Yukon) (PN).

Drilling results in robust Coffee resource (PN).

URANIUM: Cigar Lake start-up celebrated (CMJ).

Norway

Sydvaranger on the brink of bankruptcy (BO).

FISHERIES, SHIPPING AND OTHER BUSINESS NEWS

Fisheries

Nunavut Tunngavik: Feds need to back off Inuit fisheries (CBC).

FISH FACTOR: Crab takes a dip; marine debris Christmas ornaments (AJOC).

A quarter of this year's salmon quota fished (KNR, in Danish).

Biologists recommend 90,000 tons of shrimp in 2016 (KNR, in Danish).

Create development and added value to fisheries (KNR, in Danish).

Tourists will not catch pilot whale (KNR, in Danish).

GE (Greenland Business): Follow the current management plan for shrimp (KNR, in Danish).

Ban could be imposed on catching Lake Baikal's most famous fish – omul (ST).

Three years of salmon negotiations nearing their end (NRK, in Norwegian).

FISH FACTOR: Crab takes a dip; marine debris Christmas ornaments (AJOC).

Snow crab model raises questions over quota (AJOC).

Shipping

A record number of Arctic-going vessels have permits to travel the ice-free route north of Russia (Quartz).

Arctic Shipping and Safety – Legal Challenges and Opportunities (Hellenic Shipping News).

The coolest boat in the world: New 328ft superyacht can break through polar ice and visit the globe's most remote destinations (DailyMail).

Deltamarin and Aker Arctic develop Arctic Aframax design (MarineLog).

China Shipping Firms, Dynagas In Talks To Build $1.6 Bln Arctic LNG Vessels (marine insight).

Russia to get new atomic super icebreaker (RBTH).

Aviation

Air Iceland lands at Kangerlussuaq (KNR, in Danish).

Tourism

Polar Tour Operators held the first conference on polar guiding from September 27 to 29. Its central mission is to develop safe and environmentally responsible travel in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Topics such as education, operational procedures, safety and risk management, conservation, heritage, communications and science support were discussed (MercoPress).

Keeping it authentic (AJ).

From Alaska to Iceland, Breaking Barriers to Arctic Travel (NYT).

Ellinor pleased that Sami Parliament will develop Sami tourism (NRK, in Norwegian).

A port will boost tourism in Kangerlussuaq (KNR, in Danish).

Many more tourists this year (KNR, in Danish).

Other business and economic news

Arctic College Nursing student attends first Arctic Academy in South Korea (Arctic College).

North2north mobility report on the visit to Aarhus University, Denmark (UArctic).

U.S. & Canada

Planet Labs wants to bring its satellite station to Inuvik, N.W.T. (CBC).

Whitehorse hotel grows veggies in parking lot (CBC).

Workers' Compensation Board to pay surplus to Yukon employers (CBC).