"Reset" - Russian submarines outfitted to break thick Arctic ice.

"Reset" - Russian submarines outfitted to break thick Arctic ice.(RBTH).

By 2016, Russian submarines will have the ability to cut through thick, Arctic ice without damaging the ship’s housing during rapid surfacing, thanks to a new design that puts advanced technology on the boats.

The new technology for the submarines will allow subs to quickly surface for Arctic missions or to rescue the crew in case of an accident, according to the Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering in charge of the new submarine design.

Current submarine design does not allow the ship to break the ice to emerge quickly without damage to the housing. Igor Kurdin, the former commander of the nuclear submarine Yekaterinburg and the chairman of the St. Petersburg Submariners' Club, said that to exit the boat on a surface covered by ice, there are two ways: surfacing without at a very slow speed or, as an extreme case, on-the-go breaking the ice with the ship’s housing.

"Surfacing on-the-go is fraught with injuries to the housing, sliding devices, sonar system and torpedo tubes. Today cases of ice breaking on-the-go are unknown, but surfacing without speed is a regular maneuver often used,” Kurdin said.

Before surfacing in normal mode, the boat "hangs" in the water, and then begins to rise very slowly - the rate of several centimeters per minute, he said. To ensure a safe ascent while moving, the wheelhouse and the bow of the boat have to be strengthened, since these parts take the blow.

 The new additions will have management software that searched for the thinnest area of ice, as well as an apparatus that works to clear the housing of ice fractures from the deck as the ship rises. Kurdin said that missile silos, the most important strategic parts of the submarine, are often enclosed by ice while surfacing, so the new design should solve this problem.

"Surfacing from the ice is done for only one purpose - for the application of nuclear missile attack from a surface position. This is done only in the Arctic regions. After surfacing when people come on deck, the whole deck is in huge blocks of ice," Kudrin said.

Russian military returns to the Arctic.

Russian military returns to the Arctic.(RBTH).

Russia will send a military force to be set up in the Artic next year in order to actively explore the promising region and use all possible channels to protect its security and national interests, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with senior military commanders on Dec. 10.

This year Russia began restoring seven airfields in the Arctic, which had been left abandoned after the break-up of the Soviet Union. By the end of the year it will put contracts in place to refurbish two more airfields, the president said.

Putin thanked all those who had taken part in restoring the Russian military base on the New Siberian Islands between the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea. That archipelago, according to him, is "crucial for monitoring the situation throughout the Arctic."

Putin's statement came a week after the prime minister of Canada ruled to include the North Pole into Ottawa's seabed claim to be filed with the UN Commission on the Law of the Sea.

In addition, according to the Canadian media, Ottawa intends to hold large-scale research of the Arctic Ocean seabed near the Lomonosov Ridge, an underwater ridge of continental crust running from Canada and Greenland via the North Pole towards the New Siberian Islands.

The territorial dispute around the Lomonosov Ridge, which involves Russia, Canada and Denmark, is of key importance when it comes to the possible extension of the exclusive economic zone of each of these countries.

Under the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, the size of a country's exclusive economic zone (200 nautical miles from the coast) can be extended to 350 miles if the country in question provides sufficient evidence that the seabed beyond the 200-mile zone is a natural extension of its continental shelf.
The dispute is not so much for land itself, as for the oil and gas fields that may be found in the Arctic, although the economics of developing these fields in the adverse weather conditions of the polar region pose many questions.

Still, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, territories beyond the North Pole may contain up to 30 percent of the world's gas and 13 percent of the world's oil reserves. These reserves are essential for Russia to continue its long-term economic development.

In the estimates of the country's Ministry of Natural Resources, as of early 2012, Russia had enough oil and gas potential to meet its economic requirements just for the next 30 years.

Experts believe that it is the need to defend its economic interests in the Arctic and to ensure security for companies planning to work in the Arctic Ocean behind the Russian authorities' ambition to increase the country's military presence in the region.
According to military observer Dmitri Litovkin, there are no actual military threats for Russia in the Arctic, so the decision to deploy a military contingent there is aimed at removing future threats related to territorial disputes.
"The state is establishing a platform on which companies could develop mineral resources,” Litovkin said. “Only the state can guarantee, say, to Gazprom that it will be able to produce oil and gas on that territory undisturbed.

There are oilfields in the Arctic, like the Shtokman field that Russia and Norway have claims to; the strategically important Northern Sea Route from Europe to Asia, which needs to be controlled, passes through the Arctic; nickel supplies run through there too."

He went on to recall that last year the Russian government organized a series of expeditions to collect geological data to prove that the Russian continental shelf is an extension of the Lomonosov Ridge. 

"Those expeditions have proven that the Lomonosov Ridge is an extension of the Russian continental shelf, therefore the Russian border goes much farther into the ocean than originally thought. The United States, Canada and Greenland did not accept those findings because that seabed is rich in mineral resources that could be mined in future," Litovkin continued.
Overall, experts do not expect territorial disputes to grow into armed confrontation. "I don't think that things will go as far as military action, but the Russian leadership's thinking is the stronger Russia's military potential in the Arctic is, the fewer causes there are for a military conflict," said Aleksandr Khramchikhin, the deputy head of the Institute of Political and Military Analysis, as quoted by the Gazeta.ru news website.

Related

Russia won't give away North Pole - official

Putin orders Defense Ministry to focus on units' deployment in Arctic

Canada's prime minister Harper wants Canada to claim North Pole.

Canada's prime minister Harper wants Canada to claim North Pole.

Ottawa: Canada's prime minister has ordered the inclusion of the North Pole in the country's Arctic claim after it was excluded from a proposed UN submission, a newspaper reported.

Canada will still meet a December 6 deadline for filing an application to the United Nations to extend its northern sea boundary, according to the daily Globe and Mail. But it now also plans to follow up with a broader claim that includes the geographic North Pole once additional surveying, analysis and paperwork is completed, it said. The newspaper cited senior government officials as saying Prime Minister Stephen Harper gave the order to bureaucrats after seeing a draft of the UN submission.

Harper's office declined to comment on the report, telling AFP only that "Canada is in the process of securing its sovereignty over the north." Canadian sovereignty over the far north has been a key plank of Harper's Tories since his government was first elected in 2006. Every summer in recent years, Harper has travelled to the region to observe Canadian military exercises the harsh environment.

Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and the United States claim overlapping parts of the region believed to be rich in hydrocarbons, and have been rushing to gather evidence in support of their respective claims. Rising temperatures have boosted interest in the polar region, as melting ice opens up shipping routes and makes hitherto inaccessible mineral resources easier to exploit. According to the US Geological Survey, the Arctic seabed is thought to hold about 90 billion barrels of oil and 30 percent of the world's undiscovered gas resources.

The North Pole seabed itself is not believed to hold large reserves but has symbolic value for the countries in the region. Nations bordering the Arctic currently are entitled to a 200 nautical mile economic zone from their coastlines, but claims for extending their territories will be decided under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Most modern and powerful ship in the Russian navy the Admiral Nakhimov to join the Pjotr Veliky in the Arctic.

Admiral Nakhimov 

Most modern and powerful ship in the Russian navy the Admiral Nakhimov to join the Pjotr Veliky in the Arctic.(RBTH).

The Petr Veliky heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser recently crossed the Northern Sea Route for the first time in the history of the Russian navy. Although the event was virtually unnoticed amid the escalating military conflict in Syria, experts say its implications are as important for international security as a peaceful solution to the Middle East conflict would be.

The unit of Northern Fleet warships led by the Petr Veliky heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser followed a route through Kara Strait and Vilkitsky Strait into the Laptev Sea. There, the ships fired artillery and anti-aircraft weapons and then headed to Severomorsk—the main base of the Northern Fleet.

It is interesting to note that this is the first time that any military ship has reached these locations. The last time a large ship independently operated near these waters was in August 1942, when the German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer sank the Soviet icebreaker Alexander Sibiryakov in an unequal battle.

The general staff decided to create Arctic motorized infantry brigades; a unit of air defense forces and MiG-31 high-altitude interceptors were deployed to Novaya Zemlya archipelago. In addition, strategic bomber airbases in the Arctic region have been modernized.

"The most remarkable thing about this is the fact that Moscow has been acting unilaterally," says Vadim Kozyulin, a professor of the Academy of Military Sciences. "The Northern Sea Route runs entirely within its current territorial waters. And the ice is melting near Russia's coast, which makes it impossible for other would-be contenders for a share of the Arctic shelf to actively operate in the region."

However, it cannot be said that they have full control of the territory without the constant presence of naval ships. Kasatonov analyzes the route of the nuclear-powered cruiser from this point of view.
According to him, the navy was conducting reconnaissance on the ground: This was the reason that almost the entire Northern Fleet command, as well as a delegation of senior officers from naval headquarters, were on board. The result of their work will be a plan for Russian ships to continuously patrol the region.

According to the admiral, Petr Veliky demonstrated to everyone Russia's ability to defend its interests in the Arctic region. Moreover, in the near future, this missile cruiser will be joined by another ship of the same class—the Admiral Nakhimov heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser.

The vessel is now being completed in Severodvinsk shipyards. Once it is completed, it will be the most modern and powerful ship in the Russian navy, which will allow Moscow to continuously monitor and protect its Arctic territories.

The North West Passage seems to be reversing its recent warming trend and is threatening to end the dreams of dozens of adventurous sailors.

The North West Passage seems to be reversing its recent warming trend and is threatening to end the dreams of dozens of adventurous sailors.HT: SunshineHours.

“The North West Passage seems to be reversing its recent warming trend and is threatening to end the dreams of dozens of adventurous sailors.
A scattering of yachts trying to transit the legendary Passage are caught by the ice, which has become blocked at both ends and the season may be ended early. Douglas Pohl tells the story:
The passage has become blocked with 5/10 concentrated drifting sea ice at both the eastern and at the western ends of Canada’s Arctic Archipelago.

At least 22 yachts and other vessels are in the Arctic at the moment. Some who were less advanced have retreated and others have abandoned their vessels along the way. Still others are caught in the ice in an unfolding, unresolved drama.”

The real question is if and when the Canadian Coast Guard decides to take early action to help the above yachts exit the Arctic before freeze-up or will they wait until it becomes an emergency rescue operation?
Here is the detailed position, as far as it can be established:
Prince Regent Inlet in position 73.7880535N, -89.2529297W became blocked on 27th August with 5/10 ice concentration with 7/10 ice pushing.

This effectively closes the 2013 Northwest Passage without Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker escorts for transit.”

http://www.sail-world.com/Canada/North-West-Passage-blocked-with-ice—yachts-caught/113788

Western Arctic Sea Ice Coverage Third Highest On Record - No NW Passage this season.

Western Arctic Sea Ice Coverage Third Highest On Record - No NW Passage this season
HT: IceAgeNow.

 “I wonder why no one bothered to tell the rowers about this before they left Vancouver?” asks Steven Goddard website.

Our original intention was to row around the clock, seven days a week, to keep the boat constantly moving. Our team of four would row in pairs, 12 hours each per day. I did this when I rowed across the Atlantic a few years ago with Tori Holmes and it worked well.

However on this trip, the weather has interfered. Our boat, The Arctic Joule, weighs about 2,300lb fully loaded, so it is virtually impossible to make progress into any sort of stiff wind or swell.

We had three objectives for this expedition: to make it to Pond Inlet and complete the voyage as intended; to draw attention to the topic of climate change and to carry out scientific data collection for the Canadian Department of Ocean and Fisheries; and to document this trip and share the experience with those who are interested.

Through this and other recent articles in The Irish Times, I hope we are doing a good job of the last part. Our film documentary, when complete, will give viewers a deeper insight.

However, we will not make it to Pond Inlet. Though the reasons are beyond our control, it still hurts.

As I write, we are 550km from Cambridge Bay, which is only our halfway mark, and it could be the end of August before we get there. If so, this is where our expedition will finish.We are still giving this everything we have but it has been a difficult week.

http://www.tooluka.nl/index.php?taal=UK
http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/long-haul/northwest-passage-diary-we-needed-mother-nature-to-help-she-hasn-t-1.1501355Thanks to Robert van deLeur  for these links
To draw attention to “just how rapidly global warming is changing the Arctic,” Kevin Vallely and his 3-man crew are attempting “the first human-powered traverse of the Northwest Passage in a single season,” says this article on Outside.
Launching on July 5, “the four men will spend the next 70-80 days rowing a 25-foot fiberglass boat, the Arctic Joule, 1,800 miles east from Inuvik to Pond Inlet.”

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/exploration/Crossing-the-Northwest-Passage.html

Video - NASA satellite witnesses Arctic ice sheet being torn to shreds.

Video - NASA satellite witnesses Arctic ice sheet being torn to shreds.(Yahoo).The fracturing started in late January, as a warm-weather system over Alaska fed an ocean current known as the Beaufort Gyre. This strengthened current picked away at the southwest corner of the ice sheet until a massive crack opened up north of central Alaska (at about 3 secs into the video), and then another crack, apparently around 1,000 kms long, opens up in late February (at around 30 sec in the video), leading to the collapse of the rest of the ice sheet, all the way east to Bank Island.

“It took just seven days for the fractures to progress across the entire area from west to east,” Trudy Wohlleben, senior ice forecaster at the Canadian Ice Service, told the National Post.
According to Walt Meier, a research scientist with the National Snow & Ice Data Center (NSIDC), it's not unusual for this area to experience fracturing events. However, what is unusual is the extent of the fracturing and the scale (both length and width) of the cracks being seen, and it's the age of the ice that's being blamed.Read the full story here.

Video - Weather manipulation? HAARP Busted: Amazing Satellite Imaging showing Wave Spiral coming from a Base!

Video - Weather manipulation? HAARP Busted: Amazing Satellite Imaging showing Wave Spiral coming from a Base!HT: Investmentwatch.