Suggestions and resources to further explore the topics of Arctic exploration, international shipping, polar science and climate change.

Arctic exploration | International shipping | Polar science |
Climate change | Who owns what? | Places to visit

Arctic exploration

What about other countries and their Arctic explorations?

The history in this resource focuses on British explorers. There were a small number of expeditions by other countries. You can find a comprehensive story of international exploration here: www.mariner.org/exploration/index.php

What were the different ships like? Why were the earlier ships so unable to cope with the ice?

In the early years of Arctic exploration, ships were built for trade and discovery in warmer climes, between countries that were fertile and habitable. The search for the Northwest Passage was aiming to reach those prized regions. Other ships used were built for war, for example in the Napoleonic Wars. You can find resources about the history of ships here: www.rmg.co.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.168
www.abc.net.au/navigators/ships/history.htm

What about the history of Antarctic exploration?

The Antarctic is a good deal further away from Europe and is colder than the Arctic so its exploration happened much later. Captain Cook crossed the Antarctic Circle first in 1773 but Antarctica itself wasn’t sighted until 1819.

For more information: www.antarcticaonline.com/antarctica/history/history.htm

Can I travel to the Arctic?

Yes, you can, if you can afford it. Just as there are more scientific expeditions, there is also a huge growth in tourism to the Arctic Circle. Perhaps people want to witness a landscape that is fast changing.

This website has everything you need to know if you want to travel there: www.allthingsarctic.com/default.aspx

Cape Farewell is a charity that helps raise awareness of polar research and climate change, and it supports artists and young people to accompany scientists on Arctic expeditions:
www.capefarewell.com

International shipping and trade

What will happen to shipping now the Northwest Passage can be navigated?

The International Chamber of Shipping are keen to point out that ‘can be navigated’ is not the same as ‘easily sailed’:

To state that the North West Passage can now be 'easily sailed' is very misleading; the statement made by the European Space Agency (ESA) was that the passage is now 'fully navigable' and should not be misinterpreted. 

The difference between these two phrases is along the lines of 'Anyone can walk to the North Pole… but not everyone should!'.  The North West Passage still remains one of the most difficult and elusive routes in the shipping industry and there are actually anywhere from 4 to 8 individual routes, depending on the time of year and various meteorological conditions, and not all are navigable by commercial vessels. 

Although this year has seen the Passage at its most open state since records began there are still many considerations with regards to its value to commercial shipping:

• the fact that the area is poorly charted proves a serious hazard to safe navigation 
• the large ice sheets can shift, change and break from season to season – causing further hazards such as changing 'coastlines', numerous icebergs and restriction of previously 'open' routes
• poor weather, with visibility deteriorating very quickly in hazardous waters strewn with ice 
• increased insurance premiums due to trading through such areas, and the impact this would have on cargo value 
• potential cost and damages arising out of any pollution incident – an operator involved in pollution in this part of the world would be given no quarter by the public, media or (especially) Canada 
• lack of safety services and Search & Rescue stations in case of emergency or medical vacuation needs 
• lack of facilities for breakdowns, servicing or refuelling in a worst case scenario – this is a very demanding sea area, with far more rigorous conditions exerted on a ship than would normally be expected

Furthermore, the Canadian government claims that some of the waters of the North West Passage, particularly those in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, are internal to Canada, giving Canada the right to bar transit through these waters. Most maritime nations consider them to be an international strait, where foreign vessels have the right of innocent passage.

For more information look at the website of the International Chamber of Shipping
http://www.marisec.org/index.htm

Polar science

Why do people keep going to such a cold and difficult place?

The history given in this resource shows that early Arctic expeditions were driven by the need to find a trade route through the ice. Some scientific observations were made on those voyages but only as a secondary outcome. Now, polar expeditions are made primarily to understand our global climate. Investigating the ice is a useful way to discover past changes in the Earth’s climate. It is also essential to predict what will happen to the ice in the future. Other scientists are concerned with the polar regions as habitats for wildlife. 2007-2009 has been designated International Polar Year, to communicate and increase research in the region.

For more information, see: www.ipy.org/

Climate change

Why do scientists think humans caused global warming? What will its impacts be on us? What can I do about it?

There are many resources available to learn more about climate change, about the science behind it and about the changes you can make to your daily life to reduce your carbon footprint. Here are just a few:

• Best for young people:
  www.yourclimateyourlife.org.uk/
• Best for those who want to join a campaign:
  www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/issues/climate_change/
• Best for those wanting detailed information:
  www.ipcc.ch/

Who owns what?

As the Arctic opens up to commercial shipping and easier exploration arguments over who ‘owns’ it are already raging. The Canadian government in particular believes that the waters that make up the Northwest passage fall under its sovereignty. Russia is claiming ownership of oil- and gas-rich territory close to the North Pole. Denmark and Canada have already come to diplomatic blows over the ownership of Hans Island.

You can read how some of these dispute have been reported in the press by following these links:

• 'Canada stepping up naval presence in Arctic' (The Institute of the Future)
• 'Global Warming Spurs New Race for Northwest Passage' (Associated press)
• 'Ice melts opening up Northwest Passage' (The Telegraph)
• 'Russia's Arctic Claim Backed By Rocks, Officials Say' (National Geographic)

Places to visit

If you want to find out more about climate change, here are some museums and visitor attractions in the UK:

• National Maritime Museum
• The Science of Survival
  This will be a touring exhibition, opening in April 2008 at the Science Museum in London. It shows what the world may be like in 2050 and challenges you to design new solutions to problems such as shortages of water. 
• The Eden Project in Cornwall
  This is an exciting place to visit, exploring the relationship between humans and plants. It helps you understand the importance of biodiversity and the role of plants in maintaining a stable climate.