#arctics

Up to half of the Arctic’s melt might be totally natural http://tklist.us/?p=19110

"The ice cover gradually loses its resilience, and now does not need as much heat, as in previous years, to melt. Sea ice cap, which previously was a thick layer of ice, now breaks up into small floes, more exposed to the action of warm ocean water. In the past Arctic glaciers have been a fortress, which could be attacked by ocean only from the outside. Now it looks as if the invaders have made a dig under it and the ice began to melt from the inside"-.. Walt Meyer said (Walt Meier) space flight Center NASA Goddard in Greenbelt (United States).

The melting of ice in Arctics has increased the interest of international actors to it. But, not in the case of Global Warming, rather because of the huge amount of resources that have been hidden and kept under the ice. The Arctic contains a huge number of undeveloped energy - oil and gas. According to the US Geological Survey, the Arctic oil reserves (both offshore and on the land) are nearly 90 billion barrels. According to the “British Petroleum data”, the world consumes more than 32 billion barrels every year. So, the accumulated oil will be enough for 3 years, while there is a demand for it.

I will not dive into the history in an attempt to understand the expedition of which country was the first and who is able or should claim their right on the territory or not. Every country which has access to it will try to gain as much territory and, accordingly resources, as possible. Still there are some unsolved cases, like Lomonosov’s Ridge on which three countries at the same time claim their rights: Russia, Canada and Denmark, and other small territories.

Important thing to mention: the extraction of resources in Arctics is extremely difficult and dangerous for the environment. The chance of accidents rises significantly because of the climate. The ability to eliminate the consequences of the oil spill, as well as its effectiveness is complicated by numerous storms and high waves. The consequences of oil split are very hard to eliminate. 

So, the retired Coast Guard admiral Roger Rufus said: "The spilled oil irrevocably pollutes the water. It is impossible anywhere in the world to clean the affected water more than 3, 5, or 10 percent, and so even more in the ice. "

So, the arena of international relations is gaining a new territory for politic struggle - The Arctic. And this territory in future is likely to become a “hot-spot” and even a conflict place. While the countries, related to the Arctic issue, are taking part in “resource race” they should consider that they can cause a tough consequences not only for the countries close to the Arctic, but for the whole world