scholarly journals The Legal Status of Ice Shelves and Ice Islands in the Arctic

1969 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donat Pharand
Keyword(s):  
Legal Status ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Ice Shelves

scholarly journals A global high-resolution data set of ice sheet topography, cavity geometry and ocean bathymetry

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janin Schaffer ◽  
Ralph Timmermann ◽  
Jan Erik Arndt ◽  
Steen Savstrup Kristensen ◽  
Christoph Mayer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Antarctic Ice Sheet ◽  
Ice Shelves ◽  
Surface Topographies ◽  
The Antarctic

Abstract. The ocean plays an important role in modulating the mass balance of the polar ice sheets by interacting with the ice shelves in Antarctica and with the marine-terminating outlet glaciers in Greenland. Given that the flux of warm water onto the continental shelf and into the sub-ice cavities is steered by complex bathymetry, a detailed topography data set is an essential ingredient for models that address ice-ocean interaction. We followed the spirit of the global RTopo-1 data set and compiled consistent maps of global ocean bathymetry, upper and lower ice surface topographies and global surface height on a spherical grid with now 30-arc seconds resolution. We used the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO_2014) as the backbone and added the International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean version 3 (IBCAOv3) and the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO) version 1. While RTopo-1 primarily aimed at a good and consistent representation of the Antarctic ice sheet, ice shelves and sub-ice cavities, RTopo-2 now also contains ice topographies of the Greenland ice sheet and outlet glaciers. In particular, we aimed at a good representation of the fjord and shelf bathymetry surrounding the Greenland continent. We corrected data from earlier gridded products in the areas of Petermann Glacier, Hagen Bræ and Sermilik Fjord assuming that sub-ice and fjord bathymetries roughly follow plausible Last Glacial Maximum ice flow patterns. For the continental shelf off northeast Greenland and the floating ice tongue of Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden Glacier at about 79° N, we incorporated a high-resolution digital bathymetry model considering original multibeam survey data for the region. Radar data for surface topographies of the floating ice tongues of Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden Glacier and Zachariæ Isstrøm have been obtained from the data centers of Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Operation Icebridge (NASA/NSF) and Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI). For the Antarctic ice sheet/ice shelves, RTopo-2 largely relies on the Bedmap-2 product but applies corrections for the geometry of Getz, Abbot and Fimbul ice shelf cavities. The data set is available in full and in regional subsets in NetCDF format from the PANGAEA database at https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.856844.

scholarly journals Dynamic response of an Arctic epishelf lake to seasonal and long-term forcing: implications for ice shelf thickness

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew K. Hamilton ◽  
Bernard E. Laval ◽  
Derek R. Mueller ◽  
Warwick F. Vincent ◽  
Luke Copland
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Canadian Arctic ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Ice Shelf ◽  
Ice Shelves ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Long Term Changes ◽  
Episodic Mixing ◽  
Outflow Pathway

Abstract. Changes in the depth of the freshwater-seawater interface in epishelf lakes have been used to infer long-term changes in the thickness of ice shelves, however, little is known about the dynamics of epishelf lakes and what other factors may influence their depth. Continuous observations collected between 2011 and 2014 in the Milne Fiord epishelf lake, in the Canadian Arctic, showed that the depth of the halocline varied seasonally by up to 3.3 m, which was comparable to interannual variability. The seasonal depth variation was controlled by the magnitude of surface meltwater inflow and the hydraulics of the inferred outflow pathway, a narrow basal channel in the Milne Ice Shelf. When seasonal variation and an episodic mixing of the halocline were accounted for, long-term records of depth indicated there was no significant change in thickness of ice along the basal channel from 1983 to 2004, followed by a period of steady thinning at 0.50 m a-1 between 2004 and 2011. Rapid thinning at 1.15 m a-1 then occurred from 2011 to 2014, corresponded to a period of warming regional air temperatures. Continued warming is expected to lead to the breakup of the ice shelf and the imminent loss of the last known epishelf lake in the Arctic.

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.

scholarly journals Remote Sensing of Sea-Ice Growth and Melt-Pool Evolution, Milne Ice Shelf, Ellesmere Island, Canada

1987 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 145-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin O. Jeffries ◽  
William M. Sackinger ◽  
Harold V. Serson
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Drainage System ◽  
Outer Part ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Ice Shelf ◽  
Ice Shelves ◽  
Ice Growth ◽  
Radar Images ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Arctic Ice

Periodically since 1950, air photographs and SLAR images have been taken of the Arctic ice shelves. The study of air photographs and SLAR images of the outer part of Milne Ice Shelf had three aims: (1) to map losses and ice re-growth at the shelf front, (2) to map the evolution of melt pools on shelf ice and multi-year land-fast sea ice, and (3) to assess the usefulness of air photographs and SLAR for these purposes. For mapping of ice calvings and subsequent sea-ice growth, both air photographs and radar images have been used sucessfully. However, air photographs are better than radar for mapping ice-surface features. The ridge-and-trough systems that characterize the surface of the ice shelf and old sea ice are clearly visible on each type of imagery but, because of their larger scale, air photographs proved to be most useful for a study of melt-pool evolution. The orientation of the melt pools is parallel to the prevailing winds which drive water along the troughs. The drainage system evolves by a process of elongation and coalesence.

Russia and Competition for Remaking Sub-Polar Spaces

2011 ◽  
pp. 16-29
Author(s):  
A. Fenenko
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Management System ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Polar Spaces ◽  
The Arctic Ocean ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Antarctic

The article analyzes the problem of revising the interstate borders in the Arctic and the Antarctic legal status. These issues have repeatedly arisen in the international relations. However, the fight for control of circumpolar territories used to be episodic and conducted mainly by diplomatic means. Nowadays, the Arctic powers began to dispute the revision of the boundaries of the Arctic sectors and the distribution of the “oceanic co-management” system on the Arctic Ocean. The debates are conducted concerning the boundaries of the Southern Ocean’s sectors, on the status of the territories adjacent to the Antarctic and on a return to the drafts of sectoral division of Antarctic. These trends increase the risk of interstate confrontation in circumpolar areas. For Russia a possible redistribution of polar spaces does not mean anything positive.

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document