Unprecedented - Norwegian Coast Guard On Science Mission Sailing At 82N At The End Of October

[hatrack]

KV Svalbard has over the last few days sailed in Russian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and is Tuesday east of Severnaya Zemlya in the Laptev Sea. The voyage started on October 15, first north to Longyearbyen, then on a path north of Svalbard and further east to about 82.0° North of Franz Josef Land.

The Norwegian Coast Guard says the route will follow the ice edge towards the Beaufort Sea, a distance of 5,700 nautical miles. That will for the most be inside Russia’s EEZ, although much further north than the traditional Northern Sea Route. Despite colder geopolitical climate and high north re-armament, the eight Arctic Council states are cooperating in the informal Arctic Coast Guard Forum, and operationally driven organization fostering safe and environmentally responsible maritime activity.

Never before in times of record has the ice edge in the Norwegian and Russian Arctic been further north than this autumn. Also worrying, by late October the freezing season has not yet started in the Laptev Sea, The Guardian reported.

On board the Norwegian Coast Guard ship is a crew of 55 officers and some of the scientists participating in the international climate project “Coordinated Arctic Acoustic Thermometry Experiment” (CAATEX).

EDIT

https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/arctic/2020/10/norwegian-coast-guard-ship-sails-high-latitude-arctic-transit-voyage-beaufort-sea

[madaboutharry]

1. This is very serious news.

I don’t think we have another few hundred years left of life on earth, at least as we know it, unless drastic changes take place.