Onwards - To the Arctic Congress

Summer has finally arrived here on the North Norwegian coast, and even as pleasant as the mild summer weather is, there is no denying that this spring has reminded us of how fragile susceptible we are to changes in climate and weather. The latter is something we as northerners have been resilient to since… forever, but the slow but relentless changes in the overall climate leaves us with more precipitation, warmer winters and locked-in weather systems. In Nordland this has manifested in a two month long rainy season during what is usually spring. Modelling shows that the Lofoten Islands may very well be snow-free in 2070, and data shows that, as an example, Vågan municipality receives 60% more precipitation now than in the 1960s We hope that as we brace for the consequences of lack of action on climate change, our community remain firm in our commitment to keep focusing on lives lived in the north, and how to secure it. Do continue to let us know what you’re all up to, we at Northern Notes would love to be able to show more of all the wonderful work that is being done out there

Norway's Chairship Arctic Council 2023 - 2025

The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum for Arctic issues. The overall objective for Norway’s chairship of the Council will be to promote stability and constructive cooperation. We will focus on the core issues the Council deals with, including impacts of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to enhance the well-being of people living in the region. Norway will continue to support ongoing activities and projects run by the Council’s six working groups and its expert groups. Our national priorities are based on the first Arctic Council Strategic Plan, which was adopted in Reykjavik in 2021. Through four priority topics: the oceans; climate and environment; sustainable economic development; and people in the north, we will continue to pursue the long-term approach taken by the Council in its important efforts to ensure a vibrant and sustainable Arctic region. A mid-term review of the Strategic Plan is to be carried out in 2025

Arctic Art & Culture

The popular science review includes the materials about educational, research, scientific and practical activity of the team from the Arctic State Institute of Culture and Arts, their partners, and the Northern Forum regions facilitating the modern image-making of the North and Arctic

Influence of sea ice and sea surface temperature on the abundance of Antarctic krill in Area 48.2

In this paper we examine the relationship between Antarctic krill catch, sea ice concentration, and sea surface temperature (SST). Data on the Antarctic krill catch from 2003 to 2010 in CCAMLR Area 48.2 were combined with sea ice and SST data. Results showed that krill fishing in Area 48.2 took place from February to August each year but the catch was concentrated from March to July, with production during this period accounting for about 99.3% of the annual catch. Regression analysis showed that the catch per unit effort (CPUE) was clearly related to sea ice concentration and SST intervals. CPUE was negatively correlated with the area of sea ice among years (R2=0.64), and the correlation was strongest (R2=0.71) when sea ice concentration was greater than 90%. Over the months the CPUE initially increased, then decreased as the area of sea ice increased. The relationship was strongest (R2=0.88) when the concentration of sea ice was 60%—70%. There was no negative correlation among years between CPUE and the ice-free area when SST was between -2℃and 3℃ (R2=0.21), but there was a significant negative correlation when SST was between 1℃ and 2℃ (R2=0.82). Over the months, CPUE initially increased then decreased with increasing sea ice-free area, and the relationship was strongest (R2=0.94) when SST was between 0℃ and 1℃. This study shows that sea ice concentration and SST have significant effects on the abundance of krill in Area 48.2, and the findings have practical significance for the use and conservation of Antarctic krill resources

Polar Perspectives No 13 - The Intelligence Community Must Evolve To Meet the Reality of Arctic Change

Climate change is accelerating and significant changes are occurring at relatively low levels of warming. 1 The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere on Earth, with tremendous implications for U.S. homeland and national security, as well as U.S. security interests abroad. 2 Future conditions are not well-represented by past experiences so it is important for the U.S. intelligence community (IC) to evolve to meet the demands of this new reality. 3 This includes creating an holistic approach towards the Arctic region, as well as several other targeted, structural interventions pertaining to Arctic engagement and equities. This natural evolution will allow the IC to provide more robust, agile, and comprehensive support to policymakers and the military; properly reflecting the period of unprecedented complexity and consequence we are now within

Looking North: The UK and the Arctic. The United Kingdom's Arctic Policy Framework

The Arctic is one of the most rapidly changing regions of the world. While the United Kingdom is not an Arctic State, we have a strong and enduring connection to the region as the Arctic’s nearest neighbour. We know that changes in the Arctic environment are already affecting the UK through global sea-level rise, changes to our climate and weather patterns, and threats to our shared biodiversity

The Outer Limits of the Extended Continental Shelf of the United States of America

This Executive Summary provides information on the outer limits of the U.S. continental shelf in areas beyond 200 nautical miles from the territorial sea baselines (referred to as the “extended continental shelf”). The United States has delineated these outer limits in accordance with the relevant provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Convention) and the Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf

Arctic Art & Culture

The popular science journal includes the materials about educational, research, scientific and practical activity of the team from the Arctic State Institute of Culture and Arts and the Northern Forum regions facilitating the image-making of the North and Arctic

Solutions for Sustainable Economic Development - 4th Arctic Science Ministerial Meeting Report

Arctic Science Ministerial is a unique form of scientific cooperation that traditionally advocates preserving the Arctic region as a territory of peace, stability and constructive interaction focused on achieving concrete, practical results in the interests of all people in the northern latitudes, including indigenous peoples. The Russian Federation continues the coordinating functions within the ASM adopted from previous coordinators on June 16, 2021 at the final ASM3 webinar, and on October 14, 2021 in Reykjavik, Iceland at the annual international Arctic Circle Assembly, based on the continuity of previous ASM and the increasing relevance of scientific research in the Arctic. This book provides an overview of past events - webinars, participation in conference roundtables - with the aim of sharing scientific experience of Arctic research and forming informational materials to support science and higher education activities through international organizations and forums in the Arctic zone, supporting and updating the database of Arctic research projects carried out by scientific and educational organizations, including jointly, as well as through international. The information base for this work was the results of feedback assessment from Russian and foreign scientific and educational organizations, data on international projects in the Arctic, materials from the websites of the Arctic Council https://arctic-council.org/ and the working groups of the Arctic Council. In addition, climate, geological, biological, sociological, and technological research was used as the basis for developing strategies for sustainable economic development in the Arctic that take into account the interests of all stakeholders, including indigenous peoples, environmental organizations, industry, and government agencies