STX Europe (formerly Aker Yards) A double-ended tanker built by Aker Yards can plow through ice in reverse because of its hardened stern, and ply open waters with its conventional bow.
NASA An illustration depicts warming estimated to have occurred in West Antarctica during the last 50 years.For the first time, countries bound by separate international agreements managing human affairs at the two poles met together Monday in a special session at State Department headquarters in Washington.
The meeting was the first joint session of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and the Arctic Council. It preceded the annual meeting of parties to the 50-year-old Antarctic Treaty, which is being held in Baltimore and ends on April 17.
Big changes at both ends of the eEarth are clearly getting the world’s attention. Normally, such events attract fairly low-level representatives. This time, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton kicked things off for the United States, discussing how the warming of the Arctic has “profound implications for global commerce,” offering a mix of economic opportunities and environmental threats (full text at link). See our 2005 Big Melt series for an early view of the Arctic rush.
Mrs. Clinton also discussed recent signs of continued warming in Antarctica. On the Antarctic Peninsula and in West Antarctica, warming waters are eroding the floating ice shelves that scientists say have impeded the seaward flow of the huge ice sheets of the interior. Seasoned experts on Antarctic ice say there is plenty of reason for concern, given that warming waters could continue freeing up the ice sheets for centuries to come, leading to relentlessly rising seas. But glaciologists say there is no clear answer yet on how fast and far seas could rise.
Mrs. Clinton said the recent changes were a sign that “we have no time to lose in tackling this crisis.”
She also brought up the issue of Antarctic tourism, alluding to recent accidents involving cruise ships. “The United States is concerned about the safety of the tourists and the suitability of the ships that make the journey south,” Mrs. Clinton said. “We have submitted a resolution that would place limits on landings from ships carrying large numbers of tourists. We have also proposed new requirements for lifeboats on tourist ships to make sure they can keep passengers alive until rescue comes. And we urge greater international cooperation to prevent discharges from these ships that will further degrade the environment around the Antarctica.”
The meeting in Baltimore will explore issues from managing big science projects down south to assessing the impact of growing fisheries in Antarctic waters for krill, the small crustaceans that are a core ingredient in the food web there.