Posted on 12/30/2015 12:50:58 PM PST by Retain Mike
The Arctic geopolitical situation is changing rapidly. The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the globe, with the region losing roughly 13 percent of its ice per decade. Melting ice has raised the possibility of access to new transshipment routes, fishing grounds, mineral deposits, vast petroleum reserves, and tourism opportunities. Use of the Northwest Passage across Canada or the Northern Sea Route across Russia could shorten transcontinental shipment distances by at least a third and open new venues for destination tourism. A truly transpolar route may be possible by 2030, which would shorten shipping times even more. On the energy front, the harsh environment, sanctions on Russia, and recent low oil prices have put a temporary halt to Arctic energy extraction, but the long-term potential remains. Thirteen percent of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30 percent of the world’s undiscovered natural gas could lie in the Arctic, to say nothing of huge ore and rare-earth deposits on Greenland and in Arctic waters.
Balancing these opportunities are emerging flashpoints, and not just due to Russia’s growing proclivity to challenge the international order through its remilitarization of its northern coast, its actions in Ukraine, or its infringements on Nordic and Baltic states’ airspace and territorial waters. Consider the following scenarios, each of which represents a type of geopolitical iceberg.
(Excerpt) Read more at usni.org ...
Global Warming coulda saved the Titanic.
Great deals on future tropical beachfront properties in northern Canada and Alaska (mineral rights not included). Time to get in on the ground floor. All future beachfront property currently located at least 50 miles from the nearest water to account for sea level rise, making it much cheaper and easier to construct a dock and boathouse.
Bullcrap.
Name me an agency that studies global weather patterns that has not been infiltrated with socialist propagandists.
Why even post this crap anymore? We know what these agencies believe, and none of it is based on reality.
I agree with the assessment, but I posted it to make people aware of just how little reality influences the Arctic. I think one take away is how little impediment there is to Russian and Communist Chinese domination. The U.S. and Canada now have few military resources which would be effective in the region.
I remember in the about 1970 the ice receeded enough that an oil tanker was built with a reinforced bow to travel the Northwest Passage. Then the ice built up again and it went to the breakers.
Why do we need big new ice breakers for the Coast Guard then?
http://www.npr.org/2015/09/01/436673714/obama-asks-congress-to-fund-new-coast-guard-icebreakers
A couple of years ago, some nimrod was going to sail the Northwest Passage because it was clear of ice. If I recall correctly, the ice came in and trapped his ship, almost before he got started.
Great idea! You definitely need to incorporate in California.
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