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As Polar Ice Turns to Water, Dreams of Treasure Abound
The Arctic is undergoing nothing less than a great rush for virgin territory and natural resources worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Even before the polar ice began shrinking more each summer, countries were pushing into the frigid Barents Sea, lured by undersea oil and gas fields and emboldened by advances in technology. But now, as thinning ice stands to simplify construction of drilling rigs, exploration is likely to move even farther north. Last year [2004], scientists found tantalizing hints of oil in seabed samples just 200 miles from the North Pole. All told, one quarter of the world's undiscovered oil and gas resources lies in the Arctic, according to the United States Geological Survey. The polar thaw is also starting to unlock other treasures: lucrative shipping routes, perhaps even the storied Northwest Passage; new cruise ship destinations; and important commercial fisheries. This article is part of a series which will describe the effects of warming on the environment and on the four million people within the Arctic Circle, and scientists' assessments of the inevitability of Arctic melting.
George Divoky's Planet
In the last two decades, scores of researchers have come to the nearby town of Barrow, hoping to learn why the Arctic is warming so significantly and how the changing polar climate may affect the planet as a whole--if the Arctic sea ice were to one day disappear, it would cause drastic changes in the climate of the Northern Hemisphere. This article discusses a scientist's study of the Arctic ice and explains the importance of the ice to the Earth's climate.
Thinking About the Arctic's Future: Scenarios for 2040
This article gives various scenarios on the future of the
I think it kinda good that global warming is happening that way we can get those oils and gases, but on the other hand its not good for the amimals and peolpe that live in the arctic circle.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't think it is good at all. Only because we have other means of energy that we can use, but as it stands we are still very dependant on oil, so we do still need it.
ReplyDeleteThat it true. I feel that even with all those other means of energy we will still always need some oil. I think its going to be a long time before we're able to survive without oil.
ReplyDeleteWell I think our goal is to limit the amount of oil we use instead of eliminate oil usage. Also the main goal we have with the melting ice caps is to save the wildlife that exists in the climate.
ReplyDeleteYeah i understand. i don't really think we can save the animals from the melting ice caps unless we put every animal in artificial habitat. Which i highly doubt that will happen.
ReplyDeleteWell the idea of making artificial habitats is not the solution. Due to recent studies by very reputable scientists, global warming is not happening as fast as we thought. I think the actual head line was " Global Warming isn't as serious as once thought!" Which stated that the melting ice caps will naturally extingish certain populations.
ReplyDeletei think its a horrible thing, even contemplating stripping the Artic of its majestic beauty. The only thing that will come from getting resources from there is the commercializing of one of nature's last remaining untouched regions. The wildlife and everyone will suffer from it. Also the tensions caused by a race for resources could lead to more conflicts with foreign nations.
ReplyDeleteVery True, and Countries are already staking claims. Last year Russia planted a flag on the seabed, underneath the North Pole, highlighting its claim to a huge chunk of the Arctic. With this ability to claim new land with possibly create something like when America was founded.
ReplyDeleteExcellent comments gentlemen...I am going to piggyback on one of James' comments about this issue. Is global warming really all its cracked up to be or has the media blown it out of proportion? Historical data shows that global warming is cyclic and extinction of species is a natural process. Change is inevitable and species of animals must adapt pr die...it sounds harsh but it is a fact of life. I would like to hear your comments on this side of the global warming issue...I would also like to see a link or two to an article(s) that support this flip side.
ReplyDeleteI believe the only result of Russia claiming land already is major competition and conflict between all nations, which could lead to war, embargoes and many other unnecessary things. The environment is also already suffering from the effects of oil, with the spill that is leaking roughly 5,000 barrels a day. We don't need anymore catastrophes such as this or the spill from the Exxon Valdez.... and if not from the oil itself the pollution from exhaust or byproducts of whatever the oil maybe being used for. Drilling for oil in the Artic is such a horrible idea in my opinion. I see only detrimental things to come if we try and derive the oil from the Artic.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion i think that global warming is happening but its nothing that hasn't happenend before. I believe the media is blowing it out of porportion. I was lucky enough to go on the feild trip to UB last year for Science Day, and one of the professors had a course on the whole cyclic system of global warming. I found it interesting, according to his research and knowledge on the field the earth has seen many ice ages in about a 2 million year period. He also made a point that it is natural there is nothing we can do to stop it, but we are able to learn about this natural cycle and the impact it could have on everyone. here is the e-mail to the professor that taught the course during the 2009 Science Exploration Day.
ReplyDeletephymram@buffalo.edu