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44th Annual International Arctic Workshop, March 14-16, 2014 (Boulder, CO). The Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research of the University of Colorado will host the workshop. This year's theme is "Arctic's New Normal." The workshop will consider shifting environmental baselines over decades to millennia and comparisons with the Antarctic. Previous workshops have included presentations on Arctic and Antarctic climate, atmospheric chemistry, environmental geochemistry, paleoenvironment, archeology, geomorphology, hydrology, glaciology, soils, ecology, oceanography, Quaternary history and more.
New Vision for Sea Shipping Between Europe-Asia-USA, March 12-14, 2014 (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka Region, Russia). The Tranzit-DV Group, with the participation of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East, is holding a conference in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The conference theme is the creation of a logistics complex - MILC (Multimodal Industrial-Logistics Complex) in the Asia-Pacific Region with developed infrastructure and traffic network. Topics include: Seaports in the Primorsky and Kamchatka regions: experience, opportunities, prospects and development of sea transport; use of the Northern Sea Route in the global transport services market; state programs for investment support and development of the Russian Far East; analysis of the situation on the Russian and global container transport and bunkering markets; prospects for port hub development and multimodal carriage; and, maritime insurance issues.
Today's Congressional Action:
The Senate will hold a pro forma session today. The Senate is expected to return to regular business on March 24. The House will consider non-Arctic legislation today.
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Feds Seeking Local Advice on Environmental Protocols. Members of the federal agency that oversees marine mammals held a teleconference in Nome on Wednesday to solicit region-specific advice on emergency response. It's part of a process to draft environmental protocols for the Arctic that incorporate local expertise. Alaska Public Radio
EU Pushes Arctic Sanctuary. The European Parliament has put itself at odds with the Arctic Council after the legislature passed a resolution on Wednesday containing a proposal to establish a North Pole sanctuary that would rule out development outside the regional states' off-shore territory. The move is in opposition to the positions of the members Arctic Council, a policy co-ordination group made up of states with Arctic territory. The group's permanent members, with the exception of Finland, have rejected such an idea. Arctic Journal
Protecting Threatened Ice Seals. In Alaska, there are 4 species of ice seals, of which bearded, ringed, and spotted seals are listed under the Endangered Species Act. In this video, see NOAA scientists studying them and how the information gathered contributes to their protection and recovery.
| Protecting Threatened Ice Seals |
Research Reveals Surprising Results About Kids' Capacity for Scientific Literacy. It turns out kids can understand complex scientific concepts--like natural selection--beyond what anyone would have expected. To demonstrate this, Boston University cognitive developmental psychologist Deborah Kelemen and her co-researchers created a 10-page picture storybook about pilosas, a group of fictional mammals with long trunks. National Science Foundation
Icelandic PM: Russia-Ukraine Stand-off Could Impact Arctic Council. Iceland Prime Minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson has said Russia's actions in Ukraine may lead to problems for the Arctic Council. Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson claimed Russia's hardline tactics could make it more difficult for the eight countries in the council to reach agreements during a period in which critical issues need to be resolved. He explained that the Ukraine crisis has a "ripple effect", despite the fact it is happening far away from the Arctic. He noted that nations involved in the Arctic are concerned about what is happening and how things will unwind in the future. IceNews
Russian Strategic Bombers Carry Out Patrol Over Arctic. Russia's four strategic bombers Tu-95MS have been carrying out their patrol mission over the Arctic Ocean since Thursday, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, Lieutenant General Viktor Bondarev told reporters on the sidelines of the exercise of the 98th Ivanovo Airborne Division on Friday. "Aside from airborne troops' drills we also organized a patrol mission over the Arctic Ocean by Russia's strategic bombers Tu-95MS. Four planes have been flying over the northern districts for 12 hours. After refueling in the air they will continue their patrol for another 12-14 hours," he said. Russia & India Report
Five Interesting Facts About Maritime Losses and Casualties in 2013. Global marine insurance provider Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty has released its second annual Safety and Shipping Review 2014, analyzing trends of reported shipping losses for vessels over 100 gross tons during 2013. In the Arctic, where more and more trading routes are quickly opening up, the average number of shipping casualties has increased to 45 per year between 2009 and 2013 from only seven during 2002-2007. In addition to the shipping loss information, the report also goes on to discuss piracy and emerging risks, such as vessel size, use of LNG as a marine fuel and Arctic trading. gCaptain
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Legislative Action
No Arctic legislation was formally considered yesterday.
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Future Events
Warming Arctic and Potential Shifts in Mid-Latitude Weather, March 18, 2014 (Webinar). An apparently increasing number of record-breaking meteorological events have occurred in mid-latitudes during the past decade as well as a large number of recent abrupt climate changes in the Arctic. Opinions differ on whether such recent extreme weather events were related to recent global or Arctic climate change, Pacific or tropical forcing, or simply chaotic random events. Record negative values of the early winter Arctic Oscillation atmospheric circulation index, high pressures over Greenland and warm temperatures (increased geopotential thickness west of Greenland) have been observed in four of the last five early winters, with cold air penetrating into the southeastern United States and a southern location of the jet stream across the Atlantic. So far we have a tantalizing array of possible drivers based on observed correlations, theoretical reasoning and limited model work. Given the recent run of Greenland high pressures and the potential for scientific breakthroughs for improved seasonal forecasting, one should not rule out a possible emergence of a combination of Arctic change, Pacific influences, and chaotic long-wave patterns impacting mid-latitude extreme weather as an important research challenge, but one that will be dominated by uncertainty for the foreseeable future. To access the webinar, please go here.
Meeting Number: 746443948
Meeting Passcode: PMELSeminar
Meeting Host: MS LAUREN KOELLERMEIER
Association of American Geographers Polar Geography Sessions, April 8-12, 2014 (Tampa, Florida). Polar Geography Sessions are being planned in areas such as Sustainable Development in the Arctic, Urbanization and Transportation in the Arctic, etc. Contact Scott Stephenson (stephenson@ucla.edu) for more information, and see attached flyer.
Arctic Science Summit Week April 5-8, 2014 and Arctic Observing Summit, April 9-11 (Helsinki, Finland). ASSW is a gathering for Arctic research organizations. Any organization engaged in supporting and facilitating arctic research is welcome to participate. The ASSW meeting in 2014 will be arranged during April 5-8 in Helsinki Kumpula Campus, in the facilities of FMI and Physics Department of the University of Helsinki. Second circular here.
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