Man and the Arctic Environment: Parameters of Reciprocal Influence

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 955
Author(s):  
Marina L. BELONOZHKO ◽  
Oleg M. BARBAKOV ◽  
Lyudmila K. GABISHEVA
Keyword(s):  
Legal Status ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Anthropogenic Effect ◽  
Arctic Environment ◽  
Reciprocal Influence ◽  
Environmental Development ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Arctic Region

The paper deals with the analysis of specific parameters of reciprocal influence between man and the Arctic environment, the formulation of the theoretic provisions, as well as the development of the scientific conclusions regarding the definition of the perspectives and peculiarities of the Arctic Region environmental development under conditions of globalization and the world environmental crisis. As the results of the conducted research, the authors revealed and generalized the scientific approaches towards the definition of the legal status of the Arctic; stated the legal contents and the meaning of the basic environmental standards and programs of the international legislation regarding the Arctic Region; considered the spheres of influence of the states on the Arctic territory and on the environmental situation of this region in general; characterized the environmental conditions for living of the Arctic population; and defined the nature of the adverse anthropogenic effect on the environment of the investigated region. The analysis of the literature helped to formulate the theoretical conclusions, to develop the practical recommendations and to forecast the long-run perspectives and peculiarities of the Arctic environmental development. It is substantiated that the reciprocal influence between man and the environment in the territory of the Arctic Region moves towards a qualitatively new stage, which forces the states to adopt the strategical decisions in the sphere of the reclamation of the Arctic Region only considering the preservation of the ecosystem, provision of the proper living quality of the Arctic population, as well as the environmentalization of all the kinds of economic activities in the region. The paper contains the scientific substantiation and proposes the development of the Concept of Sustainable Development and Preservation of the Ecosystem for the Arctic Region, which will also include the monitoring system for the condition of the Arctic.

scholarly journals Permafrost Hydrology Research Domain: Process-Based Adjustment

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikita Tananaev ◽  
Roman Teisserenc ◽  
Matvey Debolskiy
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Change ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Linguistic Relativity ◽  
Water Migration ◽  
Soil Matrix ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Research Domain ◽  
The Arctic Region

Permafrost hydrology is an emerging discipline, attracting increasing attention as the Arctic region is undergoing rapid change. However, the research domain of this discipline had never been explicitly formulated. Both 'permafrost' and 'hydrology' yield differing meanings across languages and scientific domains, hence 'permafrost hydrology' serves as an example of linguistic relativity. The differing views of permafrost as either an ecosystem class or a geographical region, and hydrology as a discipline concerned with either landscapes or generic water bodies, maintain a language-specific touch in the definition of permafrost hydrology. From this point of view, the English and Russian usage of this term is explained. A universal process-based definition is further proposed, developed on a specific process assemblage, including (i) water table dynamics caused by migration of an upper aquitard through freeze–thaw processes; (ii) water migration in soil matrix, driven by phase transitions in the active layer; (iii) transient water storage in solid state in the subsurface compartment. This definition is shown to fill the niche in existing vocabulary, and other definitions from northern hydrology field are revisited.

scholarly journals Caspian or Arctic region: that is the question…

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-437
Author(s):  
S. Y. Chernitsyna
Keyword(s):  
Legal Status ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Caspian Region ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
The Arctic Region

The article compares the problems of two strategically important regions for Russia — the Caspian region and the Arctic region. Despite the fact that there are some significant geographical and climate differences, the geopolitical situation in the regions is similar. There are almost identical risks in the development of these regions. Special attention is paid to the issue of ecology in the conditions of active oil and gas production. The question concerning the instruments of regulation of interstate relations is sharply raised. International cooperation is essential in addressing key issues in the regions, such as improving socio-economic conditions, energy distribution and border management. In particular, it is necessary to define a regulatory framework that would meet the new realities in the Arctic. As for the international legal status of the Caspian sea, it was settled by the adoption of the Convention following the summit in 2018. The main difference is that the Caspian region was exposed to the anthropogenic factor much earlier. The lessons learned from the work in the Caspian region can be used in the Arctic region, which can reduce some of the risks associated with the interaction of coastal countries.

Galois Involutions

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard M¨uhlherr ◽  
Holger P. Petersson ◽  
Richard M. Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Points ◽  
Polar Region ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Spherical Building ◽  
Linear Automorphism ◽  
Moufang Condition ◽  
Coxeter Diagram ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Arctic Region

This chapter focuses on the fixed points of a strictly semi-linear automorphism of order 2 of a spherical building which satisfies the conditions laid out in Hypothesis 30.1. It begins with the fhe definition of a spherical building satisfying the Moufang condition and a Galois involution of Δ‎, described as an automorphism of Δ‎ of order 2 that is strictly semi-linear. It can be recalled that Δ‎ can have a non-type-preserving semi-linear automorphism only if its Coxeter diagram is simply laced. The chapter assumes that the building Δ‎ being discussed is as in 30.1 and that τ‎ is a Galois involution of Δ‎. It also considers the notation stating that the polar region of a root α‎ of Δ‎ is the unique residue of Δ‎ containing the arctic region of α‎.

The Arctic has warmed four times faster than the globe since 1980

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mika Rantanen ◽  
Alexey Karpechko ◽  
Antti Lipponen ◽  
Kalle Nordling ◽  
Otto Hyvärinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Models ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Amplification ◽  
Ice Melt ◽  
Precise Quantification ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Simple Definition ◽  
The Arctic Region

Abstract In recent decades, the warming in the Arctic has been much faster than in the rest of the world, a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification (AA). Numerous studies report that Arctic is warming either twice, more than twice, or even three times as fast as the globe on average. However, the lack of consensus of AA definition precludes its precise quantification. Here we show, by using several observational datasets which cover the Arctic region and adopting a simple definition of AA, that during the last 40 years the Arctic has been warming almost four times faster than the globe as a whole, which is a higher ratio than generally reported in literature. Furthermore, we compared the observed AA ratio to the ratio simulated by state-of-the-art climate models, and show that the models largely underestimate the present AA, a finding that is not very sensitive to the exact definition of AA. The underestimation of AA by climate models most likely results from their inability to realistically simulate feedback mechanisms between sea ice melt and atmospheric temperatures. Our results imply that the underestimated AA leads to biased projections of climate change both in the Arctic and mid-latitudes.

Conservation of Arctic fauna and its habitats

Polar Record ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 17 (108) ◽  
pp. 237-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Curry-Lindahl
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Eastern Siberia ◽  
The Urals ◽  
Southern Limit ◽  
Mountain Chain ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Arctic Region ◽  
Arctic Fauna

In reviewing the conservation of Arctic fauna, it may be useful to describe what is meant, geographically and ecologically, by the word Arctic, as it is used here. Geographical boundaries are not often the same as ecological boundaries, and the Arctic Circle itself has no zoogeographical significance. Permanently ice-covered land and treeless lands with permanently frozen subsoil in the Northern Hemisphere would be included in any definition of the Arctic region, and in northern countries the timber line constitutes a satisfactory southern limit for the region in question. In mountains, it is altitude rather than latitude that gives an Arctic character to climate and landscape, as in the Urals, the mountain chain of Scandinavia (south to 59°N) and eastern Siberia, and the Rocky Mountains of North America.

scholarly journals Managing of the Arctic Development: Financial Support  of the Region and the Criteria Choice for Evaluating  the Effectiveness of Investment Projects

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-77
Author(s):  
V.  A. Tsvetkov ◽  
M.  N. Dudin ◽  
D. A. Еrmilina
Keyword(s):  
Financial Support ◽  
Optimal Allocation ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Executive Power ◽  
Investment Projects ◽  
Russian Economy ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Arctic Region

The article highlights the current problems of financial support for investment projects for the development of the Arctic. There is one of the most important factors in the implementation of such projects significant for the national economy should be a focus on the systematic development of the Arctic territories and the optimal development of its scientific and industrial potential. The full-scale implementation of such projects will provide a cargo flow increase across the Northern Sea route, that will affect positively on strategic positions of the russian economy, have being possessed one more perspective transit transport corridor. A research purpose is comprehensive study of the existing and perspective investment projects of the Arctic region development, to working-out on recommendations about the priority projects selection and assessment of their efficiency. The analysis of various federal programs and initiatives of the executive power of the Arctic shows the efficiency evaluation of investment projects of the region development and their selection should be based on indicators as commercial and budgetary, as well as the socio-economic efficiency of each project. Evaluation of each type of efficiency involves the use of a number of indicators from which the authors single out the most significant. Besides, the selection of the development investment projects of the Arctic region should consider the following criteria: coordination of project parameters, their consistency with the priorities of the Arctic state policy; specification of deadlines, amounts of funding, resources support and the presence of targeting in each project; definition of the target results of the project providing for the special (basic) zones formation in the Arctic development. Such approach provides a comprehensive assessment of each project from the point of feasibility view of implementing and obtaining the required results, which is going to be expressed in the sustainable scientific, industrial, economic and technological development of the russian Arctic. It is revealed that the assessment of the effectiveness of projects for the development of the Arctic region should be based on a set of indicators of commercial, socio-economic and budgetary efficiency. regulatory base assessment: methodological documents approved by the federal executive authorities, taking into account the peculiarities of the implementation of infrastructure projects based on various forms of public-private partnership. The stated above application assessment criteria for each individual Arctic project will allow optimal allocation of budget funding in the context of a shortage of public finances.

scholarly journals Geopolitical Risks of Hydrocarbon Development in the Russian Arctic

2021 ◽  
pp. 109-127
Author(s):  
Olga P. TRUBITSINA ◽  
◽  
Vladimir N. BASHKIN ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Legal Status ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Geopolitical Risks ◽  
The Arctic Region ◽  
Hydrocarbon Development

The article is devoted to the issues of geopolitical risks (GPR) in the hydrocarbon development of the Russian Arctic. The authors pay special attention to the analysis of modern geopolitical and geostrategic challenges of the Arctic region development. The article identifies the key geopolitical factors that affect the sustainable development of the Arctic and analyzes the similarities and differences in the geostrategic positions of the Arctic Five. One of the most important factors of the XXI century that determines the alignment and interaction of various geopolitical forces is the struggle for resources. In this regard, an increase in GPR in the Arctic, related to its resource potential, is inevitable. For oil and gas industry facilities, GPR can be transformed into opposite environmental factors in the form of additional opportunities or threats, which the authors identify in detail for each type of risk. The authors focus on such positions of the GPR, which are related to ensuring access and obtaining control rights over the Arctic's hydrocarbon resources from different countries, the uncertainty of the legal status of the Arctic region, and the use of geoecological risks (GER) as manipulative priorities of attention to Russia's actions in the Arctic.

Soviet terms for the north of the USSR

Polar Record ◽  
1961 ◽  
Vol 10 (69) ◽  
pp. 609-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. E. Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Tree Line ◽  
Precise Meaning ◽  
The North ◽  
Soviet Literature ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Extreme North ◽  
The Arctic Region

There has for long been discussion among Soviet geographers on the definition of various terms in Soviet usage to indicate the northern part of the USSR. Some of these terms—“the Arctic” [Arktika], “the Arctic region” [arkticheskaya oblast'], “the sub-Arctic” [subarktika], “the polar regions” [Zapolyar'ye]—are normally used to denote areas defined according to physical criteria. Such criteria are similar to those usually applied outside the USSR, such as the “10° C. July isotherm”, the “tree line”, or the “limit of continuous permafrost”, and, again as in the non-Soviet world, the terms have no generally accepted precise meaning and must be defined by each user. But in addition to these terms for natural regions, there are certain terms in predominantly economic and administrative usage: “the north” [sever], “the far north” [dal'niy sever], “the extreme north” [krayniy sever], “the northern marches” [severnyye okrainy], and “the Soviet north” [sovetskiy sever]. Some explanation of their current connotations may be helpful to those studying Soviet literature.

scholarly journals Legal issues and prospects for delimitation of continental shelf in the Arctic

2021 ◽  
pp. 37-48
Author(s):  
Elena Nikolaevna Moroz
Keyword(s):  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
National Interests ◽  
Gakkel Ridge ◽  
Bilateral Agreements ◽  
The Subject ◽  
United Nations Convention ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Arctic Region

This article is dedicated to the relevant problem of delimitation of the Arctic territories. There are currently several different approaches towards this question, but the effective one is the mechanism proposed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The absence of consensus on delimitation of continental shelf is substantiated by the intersection of interests of the countries in the Arctic region and strategically crucial consequences of dividing the Arctic: this is the matter of national security, geopolitical supremacy, increase of economic potential, energy and environmental security. The goal of this research consists in the analysis of recent achievements and prospects for delimitation of continental shelf. The subject of this article is the problems of delimitation of the jurisdiction of countries in the Arctic region. Methodological framework is comprised of the chronological method and method of analysis. The conclusion is made that the definition of state boundaries in the Arctic is a long process; since the decisions of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf is of advisory nature, it may lead to the disputes between the countries over the rendered decisions. It should be noted that international law has the essential mechanisms and means for the peaceful delimitation of maritime boundaries in Arctic waters. The author believes that the final definition of boundaries in the Arctic would be achieved through the compromise between the polar countries, and thus signing bilateral agreements without relying on recommendations of the Commission. It is underlined that the conventional principle of delimitation of boundaries in the Arctic Ocean does not meet the national interests of the Arctic Five, and requires a different approach due to the peculiarities of the ocean. The scientific novelty lies in the analysis of existing principles, instruments and problems of delimitation of boundaries in the Arctic, as well as in conclusions formulated by the author. The solution to the outlined problems can become the preservation of the international seabed within the framework of the concept common heritage of mankind in the area of the Gakkel Ridge, and in the area of Lomonosov Ridge delineation by the sectoral principle.

scholarly journals Aerosol optical depth retrieval in the Arctic region using MODIS based on prior knowledge

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 7597-7622
Author(s):  
L. Mei ◽  
Y. Xue ◽  
G. de Leeuw ◽  
T. Hou ◽  
J. Guang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Absolute Error ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Environment ◽  
Considerable Uncertainty ◽  
Atmospheric Remote Sensing ◽  
Arctic Aerosol ◽  
Variable Surface ◽  
The Arctic Region

Abstract. The Arctic is especially vulnerable to the long-term transport of aerosols and other pollutants because aerosols can affect the albedo of the surface by deposition on snow and ice. However, aerosol observations for this area are sparse and hence there is considerable uncertainty in the knowledge on the properties of the Arctic aerosol. Arctic aerosol observations are needed to fill this gap because these are among the basic and most important parameters for researching the Arctic environment. Atmospheric remote sensing using satellites offers us an opportunity to describe the aerosol distribution in terms of both local, regional and global coverage. However, AOD retrieval over a bright surface remains a difficult task because it is hard to separate and explicitly describe the contribution of the observed signal reflected by the variable surface and back scattering by the semi-transparent aerosols, especially with a large solar or sensor zenith angle. In this paper, an approach using a synergetic approach with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data based on prior knowledge is presented. The detailed analysis of the model demonstrates that it is suitable for Arctic region AOD retrieval. Six AERONET stations at high latitude (Andenes, Barrow, Ittoqqortoormiit, OPAL, Thule, and Tiksi) were used for validation, and the correlation coefficient between retrieved AODs and AERONET AODs was 0.75 and the retrieval absolute error is approximately 0.1, while the relative error is 20% (at some stations with clear skies as low as 10% was found). Furthermore, the Russian wildfires that occurred in late July of 2010 and their effect on the Arctic environment is presented; Satellite retrieved AODs in the Arctic increased to 1.0 during 1 August and 15 August 2010, even 2.0, during the burning phase, and subsequently returned to normal values (lower than 0.1), which was fully in line with the AERONET observations. This indicates that the fire plumes were transported to the Arctic region.

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