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Today's C
ongressional Action:
The House and Senate are not in session.
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Media
 Arctic Fish Populations Changing as Ice Dwindles, Report Says.
Pacific cod, walleye pollock and some types of salmon have been found in more areas of U.S. Arctic waters and sleeper sharks are now established there, according to a new report released by the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. In all, 109 species of marine fishes have been identified in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, and 20 are new to the list, according to the report, first posted on the USGS website Monday. Another 63 species have changed their ranges from what was previously documented, according to the report. Alaska Dispatch News
President Appoints Engineer Specializing in Sea Ice to Seat on US Arctic Research Commission.
President Obama has announced his next appointment to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission. It's Jackie Richter-Menge, a research civil engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers' Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, N.H. "To have the opportunity now to be a commissioner, and actually be the one (who) goes out and looks for input, takes that input and develops the goals, is very exciting for me," she said in an interview. KUAC
Melting Ice Sheet Could Release Frozen Cold War-era Waste.
Camp Century, a U.S. military base built within the Greenland Ice Sheet in 1959, doubled as a top-secret site for testing the feasibility of deploying nuclear missiles from the Arctic during the Cold War. When the camp was decommissioned in 1967, its infrastructure and waste were abandoned under the assumption they would be entombed forever by perpetual snowfall. But climate change has warmed the Arctic more than any other region on Earth, and a new study finds the portion of the ice sheet covering Camp Century could start to melt by the end of the century. If the ice melts, the camp's infrastructure, as well as any remaining biological, chemical and radioactive waste, could re-enter the environment and potentially disrupt nearby ecosystems, according to the study's authors. Environmental Research Web
 Nunavut's Northwest Passage Gateway Braces for Giant Cruise Ship.
The Crystal Serenity - the biggest ship to take on the Northwest Passage to date - sets sail Aug. 16 from Seward, Alaska, on its 32-day journey to New York City. And Cambridge Bay, Nunavut's gateway to the Northwest Passage, will welcome the ship's record-breaking load of 1,600 or more passengers and crew Aug. 29 in one of only two shore visits slated for Nunavut. The second will take place Sept. 5 in Pond Inlet. Nunatsiaq Online
[Opinion] Standoff in the Arctic: Closing the Icebreaker Gap.
Just days later, the Ilya Muromets's launch was upstaged when Russia floated the largest icebreaker in history. The nuclear-powered Arktika displaces 33,500 tons and is the first of three planned hulls.
Russia even plans on adding two icebreaking patrol ships armed with cruise missiles by 2020.
While Russia has been steadfastly building its Arctic capabilities, the U.S. nearly lost its only heavy polar icebreaker on an Antarctica deployment. Only quick thinking and tireless effort by Coast Guard personnel averted a failure that would have stranded the aging Polar Star near Antarctica. Newsweek
Futuristic Airship Scheme Plan Unveiled to Transform Siberia and the Arctic.
The Russian Security Council is reported to have presented a draft to the government for consideration. It envisages 'transport and logistic' corridors linking Siberia, the Far East and the Arctic. The advanced airships would enable passenger and cargo traffic between, or example, the Northern Sea Route along the north of the Russian land mass, and the Trans-Siberian and Baikal-Amur Mainline railways. Siberian Times
 Narwhals: The 'Giant Unicorn of the Sea' at Risk for Climate Change.
Narwhals - the Arctic dwelling, sabre-tusked whales of the North - number in the tens of thousands. But with a rapidly changing Arctic climate, they face significant challenges. Clint Wright is the vice president and general manager at the Vancouver Aquarium, and before he headed to the Arctic to study and tag the unique whales, he spoke to The Early Edition's Rick Cluff. CBC News
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Legislative Action
No Arctic legislation was formally considered Friday.
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Future Events
** New this week**
Sikuliaq Tours and Reception, August 16, 2016 (Seattle, WA USA).
Tours of the R/V Sikuliaq will take place in Seattle, WA, at Pier 91, Smith Cove Cruise Terminal. A reception will be held at Palisade Restaurant, 2601 W. Marina Place, Seattle, WA. The specific purpose of the tours and reception is three-fold: to recognize and thank donors in the Seattle WA area who have given to the Sikuliaq, the School and the University; provide an education and outreach opportunity to learn about the new NSF-owned, UAF-operated state- of-the-art oceanographic research vessel, and to encourage donor participation in support of the ship. For further information contact Teresa Thompson, [email protected], (907) 474-1867.
Hosted by Saint Petersburg State University, the UArctic Congress 2016 will feature Science and Meeting sections, including:
- Acclaimed keynote speakers and scientific experts presenting research.
- Parallel sessions on Arctic science, policy, and education topics.
- Meetings for reps of the Council of UArctic and UArctic Rectors' Forum.
- Pre-Meetings to foster contacts and enhance networking.
- Opportunities to promote and market your organization and activities.
- A UArctic Student Forum with workshops.
- A Cultural and Social program.
The 2016 UArctic Rectors' Forum and the 19th annual meeting of the Council of UArctic form an integral part of the congress.
Conference on Water Innovations for Healthy Arctic Homes: September 18-21, 2016, Anchorage, Alaska. This circumpolar conference will bring together engineers, health experts, researchers, community members, policymakers, and innovators to discuss health benefits, challenges and innovations associated with making running water and sewer in remote northern communities safe, affordable and sustainable. Information and an expression of interest in attending can be found
here. (The full link is:
http://wihah2016.com/)
13th International Conference on Gas in Marine Sediments: September 19-22, 2016 (Tromso, Norway).
GIMS 13
promotes the study of natural gas and release systems on a global scale and
facilitates interdisciplinary and international cooperation. The conference
intends to bring together geologists, biologists, microbiologist, geophysicists, oceanographers, geochemists and scientists from modeling disciplines. The forum will provide a platform for current knowledge and future programs in gas inventories, fluxes and their role within the carbon cycle and biodiversity. Conference is organized by CAGE - Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate at UiT The
Arctic University of Norway. Abstract submission deadline is May 30th and registration deadline is June 20th. For more information:
http://gims13.uit.no
Bridging the Future of Arctic Social Science Research, September 23-24, 2016 (Monticello, Virginia, USA).
The event is sponsored by Arctic Horizons. The event will reassemble the members of the National Steering Committee and a small but diverse selection of representatives from the five regional workshops, to total about 15 people. The aim will be to identify and synthesize the core threads of the previous workshops and public contributions proffered between workshops. The target output for the workshop will be a final report draft and outline of steps leading to the final report release in June 2016. The Jefferson Institute will manage production of the publication.
Second International Conference on Natural Resources and Integrated Development of Coastal Areas in the Arctic Zone, September 27-29, 2016 (Arkhangelsk, Russia).
The Conference is organized by FASO of Russia, Russian Academy of Sciences, Government of Arkhangelsk region, Arkhangelsk Scientific Center and International Arctic Science Committee (IASC). Conference is aimed at elaboration of research-based practical measures and instruments for realization of human, natural and transport-logistical potential of the Arctic zone, including development of the Northern Sea Route and implementation of models of integrated coastal areas management. For additional information, please email.
Arctic Ambitions V: International Business Conference & Trade Show, October 4-5, 2016 (Anchorage, Alaska, USA). This once-a-year event uniquely focuses on business and investment opportunities flowing from developments in the Arctic. With interest in commercial development in the Arctic growing rapidly, WTC Anchorage initiated the Arctic Ambitions conference five years ago to address issues such as innovation, investment, infrastructure development, transportation, natural resources, and trade. At the event, corporate executives and senior government officials from across the Arctic, and around the world, make presentations and participate in panel discussions. This year's conference also includes a Trade Show and B2B Matchmaking Session. For more information, please contact Greg Wolf (
[email protected]) or call
907-278-7233.
Inuit traditions are a repository of Inuit culture and a primary expression of Inuit identity. The theme for the 2016 Inuit Studies Conference invites Elders, knowledge-bearers, researchers, artists, policy-makers, students and others to engage in conversations about the many ways in which traditions shape understanding, while registering social and cultural change. The institutional hosts of "Inuit Traditions," Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Nunatsiavut Government, invite you to contribute to an exchange of knowledge to be held in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, October 7-10, 2016. Presentations on all aspects of Inuit studies will be welcome.
Arctic Technology Conference, October 24-26, 2016 (St. John's, Canada). Founded in 1969, the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) is the world's foremost event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production and environmental protection. The Arctic Technology Conference (ATC) is built upon OTC's successful multidisciplinary approach, with 14 technical societies and organizations working together to deliver the world's most comprehensive Arctic event.
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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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