Norway's most advanced polar research vessel ended its summer expedition to the Arctic early after thick ice prevented the Kronprins Haakon from reaching the North Pole. 1
Thick one-year ice combined with large patches of multi-year ice have merged to form powerful helmets, and several of these are impenetrable to us, said Captain Johnny Peder Hansen. 2
This year Arctic sea ice in the area of interest on July14 was unexpectedly thicker than it was last year at the same time, and a heck of a lot more than what some climate models and Al Gore projected a bit more than 10 years ago. 3
The ice is still 3 meters (10 ft) thick, in mid-July. Even the researchers' long special purpose chainsaws proved hopeless, while the 20,000 horsepower Kronprins Haakom, at a cost of US $175 million, failed miserably at attempts to push through. 4
Others have run into similar problems:
The University of Rhode Island's Inner Space Center (ISC) planned to conduct an innovative Northwest Passage Project research expedition with a team of natural scientists, students and a professional film crew from August 23 to September 13, 2018. On the morning of August 24, their ship became grounded in the western Gulf of Boothia in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.
The ship was eventually refloated and all passengers were safely returned and cared for. Ed Struzik, a Canadian author and photographer called this a harrowing account, “The grounding of the research vessel was a reminder of the hazards of increased ship traffic in an ice-free arctic.” 5
On August 29, an 11 meter sailboat was crushed and sunk by Arctic Ice in the Bellot Strait on. The vessel was attempting the Northwest Passage. 6
In June 2017, a science team on Canadian research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen involving 40 scientists from five universities and $17 million in taxpayer funding to study climate change canceled the first leg of the 2017 expedition because of the severe ice conditions and the increasing demand for search and rescue operations and ice escort. 7
The incentive to cross the Arctic passages in the summer is huge. Doing so would mean at least a week of fame with the media blaring out your name along with grossly hyped headlines of an Arctic ice meltdown due to global warming. 3
Yet the increasing chaotic nature of the climate system in the Arctic is making it difficult to predict how sea ice is going to behave. The changing ice conditions are also making it difficult to rely on climatological technology to predict day to day and seasonal environmental variability in the region.
Perhaps before starting these ill-advised trips, folks should check with the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI). This organization reported that since 2010, i.e. 9 years ago, the sea ice areas of the Arctic have been growing in trend. Reports about disappearing sea ice in the Arctic are fake news. 8
DMI also reported that for 15 years, the sea ice areas of the Arctic have been stable at around 13 million km2. Once again, reports about disappearing sea ice in the Arctic are fake news.
References
Kevin McGwin, “For Norway's newest ice breaker, it's (almost) to the pole and back,” arctictoday.com, July 22, 2019
“We had expected more melting—thick Arctic ice forces Norwegian research vessel and icebreaker to turn back at Svalbard,” electroverse.net, July 17, 2019
P. Gosselin, “2019 climate 'ship of fools' runs into 3-meter thick ice...Baffin Inlets mid summer ice extent no trend in 50 years,” notrickszone.com, July 19, 2019
“Icebreaker headed for North Pole turned back by thicker ice than expected,” iceagenow.info, July 16, 2019
Ed Struzik, “In the melting Arctic, a harrowing account from a stranded ship,” Yale Environment 360, August 29, 2018
Anthony Watts, “Arctic ice claims another ship- this time with a sinking,” wattsupwiththat.com, August 30, 2018
"Large Canadian Arctic global warming study canceled due to climate change,”newsumanitoba.ca, June 14, 2017
“Arctic sea ice surprise global warming experts by remaining stable this decade,” climatedepot.com, June 28, 2019
Jack Dini is author of Challenging Environmental Mythology. He has also written for American Council on Science and Health, Environment & Climate News, and Hawaii Reporter.
Norway's most advanced polar research vessel ended its summer expedition to the Arctic early after thick ice prevented the Kronprins Haakon from reaching the North Pole. 1
Thick one-year ice combined with large patches of multi-year ice have merged to form powerful helmets, and several of these are impenetrable to us, said Captain Johnny Peder Hansen. 2
