Barents Sea and Svalbard
Position:
75°39'N 15°8'E
Datemark:
December 2006
Mission:
Report on a winter cruise of the Norwegian research vessel Jan Mayan
Under Auspices of:
Whole Systems Foundation; National Geographic
Transport:
Commercial air to departure port, Tromso, Norway; research vessel to Barents Sea
Results:
Radio and web features; radio documentary
SYPNOPSIS
Global warming is altering the conditions at the poles much faster than elsewhere on Earth. The Arctic Ocean is facing the most dramatic and troubling changes: the amount of sea ice there is declining dramatically. One impact expected from reduced sea ice is an increase in oil drilling and ship traffic, as seas become more open. I joined the Norwegian research vessel Jan Mayan on a rare winter cruise through the Arctic. Scientists on board were studying the impacts of oil spills on Arctic organisms. We traveled to the Norwegian archipelago Svalbard, within 800 miles of the North Pole.
- Listen to Meltdown, Dan’s radio documentary on the impact of global warming on the world’s ice
- Listen to Dan’s interview on The World from the Barents Sea
- Read More