scholarly journals Legal Complexities of Hybrid Threats in the Arctic Region

Teisė ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 112 ◽  
pp. 107-123
Author(s):  
Alaa Al-Aridi
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Use Of Force ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Maritime Law ◽  
The Arctic Ocean ◽  
Hybrid Threats ◽  
The Arctic Region

This article will focus on the legal framework that applies to the Arctic ocean and highlight the legal grey areas that hybrid campaigns could invest in to violate international maritime law and law relating to the use of force.

scholarly journals Nitrate Consumers in Arctic Marine Eukaryotic Communities: Comparative Diversities of 18S rRNA, 18S rRNA Genes, and Nitrate Reductase Genes

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
André M. Comeau ◽  
Marcos G. Lagunas ◽  
Karen Scarcella ◽  
Diana E. Varela ◽  
Connie Lovejoy
Keyword(s):  
Nitrate Reductase ◽  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
18S Rrna ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Available Nitrogen ◽  
Clone Libraries ◽  
Microbial Eukaryotes ◽  
The Arctic Ocean ◽  
The Arctic Region

ABSTRACT For photosynthetic microbial eukaryotes, the rate-limiting step in NO3− assimilation is its reduction to nitrite (NO2−), which is catalyzed by assimilatory nitrate reductase (NR). Oceanic productivity is primarily limited by available nitrogen and, although nitrate is the most abundant form of available nitrogen in oceanic waters, little is known about the identity of microbial eukaryotes that take up nitrate. This lack of knowledge is especially severe for ice-covered seas that are being profoundly affected by climate change. To address this, we examined the distribution and diversity of NR genes in the Arctic region by way of clone libraries and data mining of available metagenomes (total of 4.24 billion reads). We directly compared NR clone phylogenies with the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene (DNA pool) and 18S rRNA (RNA pool) at two ice-influenced stations in the Canada Basin (Beaufort Sea). The communities from the two nucleic acid templates were similar at the level of major groups, and species identified by way of NR gene phylogeny and microscopy were a subset of the 18S results. Most NR genes from arctic clone libraries matched diatoms and chromist nanoflagellates, including novel clades, while the NR genes in arctic eukaryote metagenomes were dominated by chlorophyte NR, in keeping with the ubiquitous occurrence of Mamiellophyceae in the Arctic Ocean. Overall, these data suggest that a dynamic and mixed eukaryotic community utilizes nitrate across the Arctic region, and they show the potential utility of NR as a tool to identify ongoing changes in arctic photosynthetic communities. IMPORTANCE To better understand the diversity of primary producers in the Arctic Ocean, we targeted a nitrogen cycle gene, NR, which is required for phytoplankton to assimilate nitrate into organic forms of nitrogen macromolecules. We compared this to the more detailed taxonomy from ice-influenced stations using a general taxonomic gene (18S rRNA). NR genes were ubiquitous and could be classified as belonging to diatoms, dinoflagellates, other flagellates, chlorophytes, and unknown microbial eukaryotes, suggesting novel diversity of both species and metabolism in arctic phytoplankton.

scholarly journals Cost-Effective Technologies to Study the Arctic Ocean Environment †

Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 2257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviana Piermattei ◽  
Alice Madonia ◽  
Simone Bonamano ◽  
Riccardo Martellucci ◽  
Gabriele Bruzzone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Marine Ecosystem ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Extreme Environment ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Svalbard Archipelago ◽  
The Arctic Ocean ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Arctic Region

The Arctic region is known to be severely affected by climate change, with evident alterations in both physical and biological processes. Monitoring the Arctic Ocean ecosystem is key to understanding the impact of natural and human-induced change on the environment. Large data sets are required to monitor the Arctic marine ecosystem and validate high-resolution satellite observations (e.g., Sentinel), which are necessary to feed climatic and biogeochemical forecasting models. However, the Global Observing System needs to complete its geographic coverage, particularly for the harsh, extreme environment of the Arctic Region. In this scenario, autonomous systems are proving to be valuable tools for increasing the resolution of existing data. To this end, a low-cost, miniaturized and flexible probe, ArLoC (Arctic Low-Cost probe), was designed, built and installed on an innovative unmanned marine vehicle, the PROTEUS (Portable RObotic TEchnology for Unmanned Surveys), during a preliminary scientific campaign in the Svalbard Archipelago within the UVASS project. This study outlines the instrumentation used and its design features, its preliminary integration on PROTEUS and its test results.

Airline Navigation in Polar Areas

1958 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 356-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Commercial Aircraft ◽  
The Arctic Ocean ◽  
The Arctic Region

In 1952 the first transpolar flight by a commercial aircraft was carried out. During the six years that have since passed, S.A.S. aircraft have made 1635 flights across the arctic region representing approximately 26,000 flying hours. Our experience in polar navigation has been built up first on a large number of charter flights, then on regular flights on the sub-polar route to Los Angeles, and finally on regular flights across the Arctic Ocean to Japan.

scholarly journals Pan-Arctic aerosol number size distributions: seasonality and transport patterns

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (13) ◽  
pp. 8101-8128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eyal Freud ◽  
Radovan Krejci ◽  
Peter Tunved ◽  
Richard Leaitch ◽  
Quynh T. Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
Accumulation Mode ◽  
Source Regions ◽  
The Arctic Ocean

Abstract. The Arctic environment has an amplified response to global climatic change. It is sensitive to human activities that mostly take place elsewhere. For this study, a multi-year set of observed aerosol number size distributions in the diameter range of 10 to 500 nm from five sites around the Arctic Ocean (Alert, Villum Research Station – Station Nord, Zeppelin, Tiksi and Barrow) was assembled and analysed.A cluster analysis of the aerosol number size distributions revealed four distinct distributions. Together with Lagrangian air parcel back-trajectories, they were used to link the observed aerosol number size distributions with a variety of transport regimes. This analysis yields insight into aerosol dynamics, transport and removal processes, on both an intra- and an inter-monthly scale. For instance, the relative occurrence of aerosol number size distributions that indicate new particle formation (NPF) event is near zero during the dark months, increases gradually to  ∼ 40 % from spring to summer, and then collapses in autumn. Also, the likelihood of Arctic haze aerosols is minimal in summer and peaks in April at all sites.The residence time of accumulation-mode particles in the Arctic troposphere is typically long enough to allow tracking them back to their source regions. Air flow that passes at low altitude over central Siberia and western Russia is associated with relatively high concentrations of accumulation-mode particles (Nacc) at all five sites – often above 150 cm−3. There are also indications of air descending into the Arctic boundary layer after transport from lower latitudes.The analysis of the back-trajectories together with the meteorological fields along them indicates that the main driver of the Arctic annual cycle of Nacc, on the larger scale, is when atmospheric transport covers the source regions for these particles in the 10-day period preceding the observations in the Arctic. The scavenging of these particles by precipitation is shown to be important on a regional scale and it is most active in summer. Cloud processing is an additional factor that enhances the Nacc annual cycle.There are some consistent differences between the sites that are beyond the year-to-year variability. They are the result of differences in the proximity to the aerosol source regions and to the Arctic Ocean sea-ice edge, as well as in the exposure to free-tropospheric air and in precipitation patterns – to mention a few. Hence, for most purposes, aerosol observations from a single Arctic site cannot represent the entire Arctic region. Therefore, the results presented here are a powerful observational benchmark for evaluation of detailed climate and air chemistry modelling studies of aerosols throughout the vast Arctic region.

scholarly journals Mapping of the maritime jurisdiction for Arctic Navigation

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Haiyan Liu ◽  
Xiaoping Pang
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Route Planning ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Law Of The Sea ◽  
The Arctic Ocean ◽  
United Nations Convention ◽  
Arctic Navigation ◽  
Navigation Planning ◽  
International Conventions

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> In recent years, Arctic glaciers have gradually melted due to the global warming, which makes the exploitation of Arctic and its seabed resources possible. Though numerous disagreements and potentials over Arctic maritime jurisdiction still exist, the surround-Arctic nations have agreed the United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea to divide the Arctic Ocean into zones that can be regulated and exploited. The IBRU of Durham University has mapped the known claims, agreed boundaries and potential claims of the surround-Arctic nations in the Arctic to clear the maritime jurisdiction in the region. However, different countries may have different requirements within their jurisdictional areas. Clarifying these requirements is essential for Arctic Navigation of investigation ships and merchant ships for their route planning.</p><p>In this paper, based on the map of maritime jurisdiction and boundaries in Arctic region (IBRU), we analysed the international conventions and relevant laws of the surround-Arctic nations to find out the rights and obligations of ships in different zones. The limitations on activities and recommendations on navigation planning are marked for different zones according to different purposes, i.e. science or commerce. The map could not only provide navigational guidance for the activities in the Arctic Ocean, but offer references for the countries not surrounding the Arctic in the formulation of the Arctic strategies.</p>

scholarly journals Pan-Arctic Aerosol Number Size Distributions: Seasonality and Transport Patterns

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eyal Freud ◽  
Radovan Krejci ◽  
Peter Tunved ◽  
Richard Leaitch ◽  
Quynh T. Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
Accumulation Mode ◽  
Source Regions ◽  
The Arctic Ocean

Abstract. The Arctic environment has an amplified response to global climatic change. It is sensitive to human activities that mostly take place elsewhere. For this study, a multi-year set of observed aerosol number size distributions in the diameter range of 10 to 500 nm from five sites around the Arctic Ocean (Alert, Villum Research Station – Station Nord, Zeppelin, Tiksi and Barrow) was assembled and analysed. A cluster analysis of the aerosol number size distributions, revealed four distinct distributions. Together with Lagrangian air parcel back-trajectories, they were used to link the observed aerosol number size distributions with a variety of transport regimes. This analysis yields insight into aerosol dynamics, transport and removal processes, on both an intra- and inter-monthly scales. For instance, the relative occurrence of aerosol number size distributions that indicate new particle formation (NPF) event is near zero during the dark months, and increases gradually to ~ 40 % from spring to summer, and then collapses in autumn. Also, the likelihood of Arctic Haze aerosols is minimal in summer and peaks in April at all sites. The residence time of accumulation-mode particles in the Arctic troposphere is typically long enough to allow tracking them back to their source regions. Air flow that passes at low altitude over central Siberia and Western Russia is associated with relatively high concentrations of accumulation-mode particles (Nacc) at all five sites – often above 150 cm−3. There are also indications of air descending into the Arctic boundary layer after transport from lower latitudes. The analysis of the back-trajectories together with the meteorological fields along them indicates that the main driver of the Arctic annual cycle of Nacc, on the larger scale, is when atmospheric transport covers the source regions for these particles in the 10-day period preceding the observations in the Arctic. The scavenging of these particles by precipitation is shown to be important on a regional scale and it is most active in summer. Cloud processing is an additional factor that enhances the Nacc annual cycle. There are some consistent differences between the sites that are beyond the year-to-year variability. They are the result of differences in the proximity to the aerosol source regions and to the Arctic Ocean sea-ice edge, as well as in the exposure to free tropospheric air and in precipitation patterns – to mention a few. Hence, for most purposes, aerosol observations from a single Arctic site cannot represent the entire Arctic region. Therefore, the results presented here are a powerful observational benchmark for evaluation of detailed climate and air chemistry modelling studies of aerosols throughout the vast Arctic region.

scholarly journals The Role of the Arctic Economic Council in the International Legal Framework of the Arctic Ocean Environmental Governing

2020 ◽  
pp. 6-26
Author(s):  
A. N. Vylegzhanin ◽  
N. V. Korchunov ◽  
A. R. Tevatrosyan
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
International Forum ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The Arctic Ocean ◽  
Economic Council

INTRODUCTION. The article covers the legal aspects of the establishment of a new international forum – the Arctic Economic Council – and its role in the existing international legal framework for governing the Arctic Ocean, including the Arctic seas. The status and the functioning of the said international forum, particularly with regard to the activities within its Working Groups, have been examined based on the analysis of the documents adopted by the forum since its establishment. Special attention has been paid to the legal analysis of the coordination of the newly established forum with the Arctic Council and the prospects of such institutional cooperation.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The research done by the authors on the relevant documents released by the Artic Council, in the context of legal and scientific sources on the topic of the Arctic Ocean and its seas, as well as on the Reports of the Arctic Economic Council submitted to the Senior Officials of the Arctic Council, underlies this article. The article also takes into consideration political and legal research of the Arctic Council’s work, aimed at the sustainable development of the economic activities in the region, as well as respective archive documents from the electronic database of the Arctic Council, including relevant press releases.RESEARCH RESULTS. The Arctic Economic Council (AEC), established upon the initiative of the Arctic Council in 2014, is a new circumpolar business-forum, which aims at fostering the sustainable development of the Arctic region by substantive cooperation with the entrepreneurs, carrying out economic activities in the region or planning to do so. The new international organization has the potential to become an effective international legal mechanism to promote greener economies in the Arctic; meanwhile, the organization is yet to become a constructive platform for dialogue on fostering the economic activities in the region.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The AEC foundational documents determine the structure and the course of action of the organization. The article, nevertheless, suggests that the executives and the Secretary of this newly established international forum ensure that the business representatives, committed to conduct activities in the Arctic, seek to comply with the international environmental standards, applicable to the Arctic; particularly that, subject to the unique vulnerability of the Arctic environment, an exchange of best practices takes place. Moreover, in view of the increased shipping and growth of other marine activities in the region, the Arctic business standards not only need to be more environmentally oriented, but also take into account the possibility of diversifying the Arctic economy. The AEC could focus its efforts on enhancing the quality of the regional regulation of the economic activities in the Arctic, paying particular attention to the coordinated self-regulative measures of the legal entities in different countries. In this case, its activities may prove to be more relevant and effective.

Fractal Economy of Arctic

2013 ◽  
pp. 41-47
Author(s):  
M. Slipenchuk
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
International Cooperation ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Environmental Safety ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
International Agreement ◽  
Northwest Passage ◽  
Northern Sea Route ◽  
The Arctic Ocean ◽  
The Status

In recent decades Arctic attracts the attention of a growing number of states. For effective international cooperation it is necessary to undertake several important steps, including legal work and adoption of documents regulating the statuses and activities of state in Arctic region. It is also needed to undertake a delimitation of sea spaces in the Arctic Ocean, to determine the measures for providing environmental safety in the regions, to reach international agreement on the status of the Northern Sea Route and Northwest Passage, to establish an innovation hub clusters and several others.

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