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Arctic Reading for the Quarantine:
This week's newly shared reports and publicans.
(Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History) Arctic Studies Center Newsletter, May 2020.
The Arctic Studies Center conducts research on northern lands, environments, cultures, and people using Smithsonian collections and field studies to learn about the history and contemporary peoples of the circumpolar region. The Center works closely with indigenous groups, universities, organizations and government agencies to promote the welfare of northern people and to educate the public about the history, arts, and languages of the North. The May 2020 newsletter includes collection updates, news, articles summarizing ongoing research, summaries of museum collections, book reviews, and much more.
Quiz: Which Arctic Council Report Should You Read Based on Your Interests? At any given time, the Council's Working and Expert Groups are engaged in close to 100 projects and initiatives. We put together this simple quiz to help guide you through Arctic Council reports and find science-based answers to your questions about many different Arctic issues. Find out what Arctic Council report you should add to your reading list by taking this quiz.
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Media
 Maritime Infrastructure: A Strategic Approach and Interagency Leadership Could Improve Federal Efforts in the US Arctic. Climate change has led to record low levels of ice in the U.S. Arctic-prolonging the shipping season and opening up shipping routes. This may expand economic opportunities, but harsh weather and ice conditions-plus the lack of maritime infrastructure-pose safety risks. For example, not having a designated harbor of refuge means ships don't have a place to moor in an emergency. Agencies have taken steps to address infrastructure gaps, but federal efforts lack consistent leadership and a current strategy. We recommended designating an interagency group and developing a strategy to lead efforts in addressing the region's maritime infrastructure.
US Government Accountability Office
 Coronavirus Halts Climate Research and Raises Fears of Long-term Hit to Science Budgets. From delaying Arctic expeditions to cancelling vital climate conferences, the coronavirus pandemic has hindered global climate change progress and threatens effective disaster forecasting as hurricane season approaches. A slew of vital field projects are also being postponed and scientists worry that research budgets could be hit in the long-run."A concern is all the resources shifting to combat coronavirus will starve other parts of the economy to the extent that we see a curtailment of our climate monitoring work," said climatologist Jason Box.
CNBC
Nagurskaya Arctic Airfield on Alexandra Land Island Gets All-Weather Runway. A new all-weather runway is being built at the Nagurskaya airfield of the Northern Fleet on Alexandra Land Island, Franz Josef Land Archipelago. Despite the ongoing construction work, it is already being used. "The commissioned runway is suitable for most aircraft that are in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces and naval aviation of the Russian Navy," the fleet's press service reported.
The Arctic
Epic Arctic Research Mission Forced to Break Out of Ice. When scientists were planning MOSAiC - a pioneering expedition that would trap a research vessel in Arctic sea ice for one year - they considered the North Pole's hazards. But no one anticipated a pandemic. The travel restrictions and flight cancellations caused by the coronavirus outbreak have now forced mission planners to take a tough decision. Polarstern, the German ship central to the expedition, will temporarily leave its position in the ice to exchange its crew, and will abandon the research camp where it has been frozen since last October.
Nature
 New Report Illustrates the Domino Effect of Arctic Sea-Ice Change. Inuit traditional knowledge has shown that gradual change in the Arctic Ocean has always occurred, but it has also illustrated that this critical environment is now changing at a rapidly increasing rate. Combining Inuit knowledge and scientific study, a recent report released by the federal government takes stock of the Arctic Ocean within Canadian borders and how that ecosystem is in flux.
Nunatsiaq News
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Future Events
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COVID-19 Impacts in the Arctic
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** new this week **
COVID-19 Impacts in the Arctic, May 19-20, 2020 (Virtual conference, Zoom). Organized and hosted by the US Naval War College, the Wilson Center's Polar Institute, and the US Arctic Research Commission, this event will be a series of panel conversations on the impacts of the virus in the Arctic. COVID-19 threatens the Arctic region with new challenges to human life, economic prosperity, and the fabric of communities. Ongoing climate and environmental change further compound the challenges facing Arctic communities. In light of these unprecedented, intersecting challenges, the co-hosts will run a virtual conference of panels focusing on Arctic community health, economic activities, US Coast Guard Operations, scientific research, international impacts and more. Speakers will include leading voices from Arctic communities, federal and state agencies, academia, international entities, and the private sector. Registration is open and is required.
ICESAT-2 Cryospheric Science Hackweek, June 15-19, 2020 (Seattle, Washington USA). ICESat-2 Cryospheric Science Hackweek is a 5-day hackweek to be held at the University of Washington. Participants will learn about technologies used to access and process ICESat-2 data with a focus on the cryosphere. Mornings will consist of interactive lectures, and afternoon sessions will involve facilitated exploration of datasets and hands-on software development.
Arctic Circle Assembly, October 8-11, 2020 (Reykjavik, Iceland). The annual Arctic Circle Assembly is the largest annual international gathering on the Arctic, attended by more than 2000 participants from 60 countries. It is attended by heads of states and governments, ministers, members of parliaments, officials, experts, scientists, entrepreneurs, business leaders, indigenous representatives, environmentalists, students, activists and others from the growing international community of partners and participants interested in the future of the Arctic.
3rd Arctic Science Ministerial, November 21-22, 2020 (Toyko, Japan). Since the last Arctic Science Ministerial in 2018, changes in the Arctic ecosystem and the resulting impacts locally and globally have been severely felt. While the reasons for these changes in climate largely stem from activities outside of the Arctic, the Arctic is warming at a rate of nearly double the global average. Considering the need for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and repair measures, the relevance of an international Arctic Science Ministerial has never been greater. It is necessary to strengthen scientific cooperation and collaboration among both Arctic and non-Arctic States in order to develop our understanding of the rapid changes impacting the Arctic. The First Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM1) was hosted by the United States in 2016, and two years later, the Second Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM2) was co-hosted by Germany, Finland, and the European Commission. The Third Arctic Science Ministerial will be co-hosted by Iceland and Japan.
Arctic Science Summit Week, March 20-26, 2021 (Lisbon, Portugal). The Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Local Organizing Committee will host the Arctic Science Summit Week 2021. The Conference is organized by FCT, Ciência Viva, AIR Center, the Portuguese Arctic Community and by IASC and partners. Framed by the overarching theme for the Science Conference "The Arctic: Regional Changes, Global Impacts," Lisbon invites International experts on the Arctic and Indigenous Peoples to discuss the "New Arctic" and also its impacts and interactions to and with the lower latitudes.
Save the Date: 2nd Symposium on Polar Microbes and Viruses, May 3-6, 2021 (Hanko, Finland). Organizers announce, that due to the coronavirus outbreak, the 2nd Symposium on Polar Microbes and Viruses has been postponed to 2021. This symposium will bring together molecular microbial ecologists specializing in different organism groups to share our latest results and discuss methodological problems, as well as future prospects in the field, including practical international collaborations. The environmental focus will be on cryospheric environments including sea ice, glaciers, ice sheets, and permafrost, but excellent research in other polar environments is also invited. The methods to be discussed will focus on 'omics' techniques, ranging from single cells to metagenomes, but research using additional methods is encouraged as well.
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** New this week **