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- Addressing the energy field of the future;
- Defense energy systems in the North;
- Natural hazards and aerospace/defense;
- Empowering Alaska's entrepreneurs;
- Navigating the changing Arctic; and,
- Developing local and global energy solutions.
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Media
Russian Commandos Debut Arctic Combat Buggy That Looks Right Out of Fast and Furious. Some of Russia's most elite troops appear to be eying a variant of the Chechen-made Chaborz M-3 combat buggy modified for Arctic operations. Looking like something out of a Hollywood blockbuster or better suited to carrying around action figures, the vehicle is the latest indication of the country's steadily expanding presence in the highly strategic Arctic Region. The Arctic or "Northern" variant of the M-3 first appeared at a training exercise in the Franz Josef Archipelago, a chain of islands in Russia's far north that sits above the Arctic Circle, in March 2018. The National Guard of Russia hosted this event, which also included special operations elements from the country's Federal Security Service, or FSB, and the semi-autonomous region of Chechnya. Regular Russian military forces also took part and the vehicles subsequently appeared at other National Guard drills in the region.
The Drive
 Arctic Methane Leaks Go Undetected Because Equipment Can't Handle the Cold. The most widely-used technology for detecting methane leaks from oil and gas operations does not work reliably in extremely cold weather-like on Alaska's North Slope, according to recent research and the industry's own reports. When the weather hits the extreme lows common around Prudhoe Bay, when the winds whip and the sun dips below the horizon for a few months, the infrared technology required to look for methane leaks isn't always able to find them.
Inside Climate News
The Rise and Rise and Rise of Polar Cruising. Polar cruising commenced in the late 19th century when a German industrialist chartered ships that accompanied whale catchers to Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago. There they could join the whaler to watch the action. This tourism activity was part of a multifaceted enterprise encompassing coal mining and fishing. It wasn't financially successful, but no doubt adventurous travelers took advantage of northern Norwegian marine activity out of Tromso, as cruises to the Svalbard Islands continued into the early 20th Century.
Maritime Executive
 In Ancient Boulders, New Clues About the Story of Human Migration to the Americas. A geological study provides compelling evidence to support the hypothesis that ancient humans migrated into the Americas via a coastal route. By analyzing boulders and bedrock, a team shows that part of a coastal migration route became accessible to humans 17,000 years ago. During this period, ancient glaciers receded, exposing islands of southern Alaska's Alexander Archipelago to air and sun -- and, possibly, to human migration.
Science Daily
The Curious Case of Greenland's Research Hub. In 2013, Minik Rosing got the idea of establishing a research hub in Greenland. In 2017, it was listed as one of the concrete initiatives in the Danish government's Foreign and Security Policy Strategy. Despite the attention from the highest political level in Denmark, the idea has not yet materialized. Now, the Danish-Greenlandic Professor in Geology is ready to take the next step in cooperation with Greenlandic authorities and research institutions. High North News interviewed him during the Ilulissat Declaration's 10-year anniversary where he also pleaded for the idea in his two presentations.
High North News
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Future Events
The Effects of Climate Change on the World's Oceans, June 4-8, 2018 (Washington, DC USA).
The 4th International Symposium will bring together experts from around the world to better understand climate impacts on ocean ecosystems - and how to respond. The event is hosted by a variety of groups including International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), N. Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), Intergovernmental Ocea
nographic
Commission of UNESCO (IOC), and Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO). Session 16 includes Fran Ulmer, Diana Bull, Apurva Dave, Lawson Brigham, and Esther Babson, among others.
Background: The Nansen Legacy, June 6, 2018 (Washington, DC. USA).
The Royal Norwegian Embassy, in cooperation with The  National Academy of Sciences and The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, is pleased to invite you to a presentation of the Nansen Legacy project, followed by a discussion focusing on how North American (and other) scientists can join the effort. The changing Arctic Ocean affects climate and ecosystems on a Pan-Arctic scale. These effects are prominent on the two large and productive inflow shelves, the Chukchi and the Barents Sea. This gives Norway and the U.S. particular and comparative responsibilities to monitor and study the changes in the gateways to the Arctic Basin. It is therefore timely and necessary to build or strengthen collaborative links to enable synoptic or comparable observations opening for synthesis across the Arctic Ocean. Please
RSVP by May 31st
to
[email protected]
Vision on Marine Infrastructure, June 11, 2018, 1:00-3:00 pm (Washington, DC
).
The U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System and its Marine Transportation System Federal partners will share their visions and priorities on maritime infrastructure, which refers to physical infrastructure, informational infrastructure (such as aids to navigation, nautical charts, and real-time meteorological and oceanographic services), and mariner needs. Open to the public, but RSVP is required. Please contact
[email protected]
by June 6, 2018 to RSVP. See
here
for additional details.
POLAR 2018, June 15-27, 2018 (Davos, Switzerland).
POLAR2018 is a joint event from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC). The SCAR meetings, the ASSW and the Open Science Conference will be hosted by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL under the patronage of the Swiss Committee on Polar and High Altitude Research. The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF is organizing POLAR2018.
From Entering the Field to Taking the Helm, Women's Perspectives on Polar Research, June 20, 2018 (Kongresszentrum Davos, Switzerland). This event is hosted by ARCUS and co-sponsored by USARC. Research findings are shaping our understanding of the issues that women face in technical fields, particularly those with strong connections to fieldwork. Concerns include a deficit of female leadership due to the so-called "leaky pipeline," a lack of safety and inclusivity at field locations, and explorations of ways in which research agendas have discounted contributions of women. Despite historical barriers to participation in polar field work, women have made outstanding contributions to polar physical, biological and social sciences, as well as to community-level efforts to coordinate and communicate science. In the past decade, women have stepped into leadership roles at polar institutions. Yet evidence of persistent challenges, reflected both in academic studies and media reports, compels us to examine the sources of those challenges and to explore solutions to ensure a bright future for all those who wish to engage in polar research.
5th European Conference on Permafrost, June 23-July 1, 2018 (Chamonix-Mont Blanc, France). In the continuation of the International and Regional conferences convened by the International Permafrost Association, the 5th European Conference on Permafrost (EUCOP 2018) will be held in Chamonix-Mont Blanc, France, 23rd June - 1st July 2018. The conference aims at covering all relevant aspects of permafrost research, engineering and outreach on a global and regional level. Conference website:
here.
Arctic Observing Summit 2018, June 24-26, 2018 (Davos, Switzerland). The Arctic Observing Summit (AOS) is a high-level biennial summit that provides a platform to address urgent and broadly recognized needs of Arctic observing across all components of the Arctic system. AOS 2018 will be held in Davos, Switzerland (
June 24-26) and will focus on pressing issues in the implementation and support of sustained observations that can be addressed through a business-case lens. To that end, short submissions are requested that address any and all aspects of the overarching theme and sub-themes. Additional information can be found
here.
17th International Congress of Circumpolar Health (ICCH17), August 12-15, 2018 (Copenhagen, Denmark). The ICCH congresses are held every third year in different locations in the circumpolar area and represent the largest scientific meetings worldwide on circumpolar health. The ICCH congresses serve as the primary source of information exchange and scholarly communication in issues relating to circumpolar health. More than 750 participants generally register and participate in each Congress, and more than 400 scientific papers or posters are usually presented.
UArctic Congress 2018, September 3-7, 2018 (Oulu and Helsinki, Finland).
The UArctic Congress 2018 will bring together key UArctic meetings and a science conference into one single gathering, including business meetings of the Council of UArctic, Rectors' Forum, Student Forum, and Thematic Networks & UArctic Institutes Leadership Team. The Congress is an integral part of the Finland's Arctic Council chairmanship program, and open to the public. The event will highlight the themes and priorities of the Finnish chairmanship, including the goals of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Scientific Exploration of the Arctic and North Pacific (SEA-NorP), September 25-27, 2018 (Mt. Hood, Oregon USA). This workshop will include discussion of hypotheses that can be tested by scientific drilling in the region, the technology necessary to achieve those goals, ideal sites for drilling based on existing data, and where additional site survey data is needed. The goal of the workshop organizers is that multiple proposals will be initiated at the workshop, both for full cruise legs and for shorter, targeted expeditions around the following themes: ocean gateways, geohazards, volatile cycling, ice histories at transition zones, biosphere and climate.
The second Arctic Biodiversity Congress is hosted by the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), the biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council, and the Ministry of the Environment, Finland. The second Arctic Biodiversity Congress will build on the success of the first Congress, held in 2014 in Trondheim, Norway, and will bring together scientists, policymakers government officials, Indigenous representatives, Traditional Knowledge holders, industry, non-governmental organizations, and others to promote the conservation and sustainable use of Arctic biodiversity.
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External links in this publication, and on the USARC's World Wide Web site (
www.arctic.gov) do not constitute endorsement by the US Arctic Research Commission of external Web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the USARC does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this newsletter and the USARC Web site.
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