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Canada launches mission to map Arctic seabed

15 points by saeranv 12y ago

washedup 12y ago
So, we are going to try to open up untapped sources of energy in the Arctic? Isn't that the place we are worried most about in terms of climate change? If the Arctic melts, won't water levels rise throughout the world and drown various coastal cities? Seems like a bad place to bring a lot of attention and investment, regardless of the scope of reserves available. I was under the assumption that the world was beginning to move beyond oil because of the excitement that Tesla and other companies alike have created.
noiv 12y ago
So, three countries are going to claim the North Pole, all backed by scientific analysis. By irony the hydrocarbon resources below the sea ice becomes accessible because of excessive use of hydrocarbon. Summer sea ice volume atrophied to a fourth in last 30 years. On the Siberian side of the Arctic hydrocarbon bubbles already up from the sea bed probably because of Arctic amplification and recently we learned warming permafrost tends to explode and build craters. According to the USGS oil resources assumed in the Arctic satisfy global consumption for 3 years, gas a bit longer. If Arctic sea ice finally disappears you'll see the environmental damage from the moon with an unarmed eye. From the other pole we hear the western land based ice sheet is unstoppable collapsing adding a few meters to sea level on the long run. Actually the Arctic is still quite beautiful, that's why soon you can book month long passages from Anchorage to New York worth $20,000. Now please tell me that all makes perfectly sense and is not based on kids having sandbox adventures.
dmix 12y ago
Always good to see Russia continuing to keep our politicians motivated to fund bold scientific endeavors.
- saeranv 12y ago
  Hah, good point. This has funded a 10 year, $200-million scientific investigation in mapping and exploration of the Arctic seabed. Cite: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-orders-new-draft-of-arctic-seabed-claim-to-include-north-pole/article15756108/ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-orders-n...
beloch 12y ago
Whatever land is not claimed by Canada will be snapped up by Russia, and I'd place more faith in Canadian environmental standards than Russian ones. Yes, I know the protestors down in the U.S. are fond of telling us how evil Canada is and how environmentally destructive the country is, but the truth is that there is absolutely nothing in Canada, even the oil sands, that compares to places in Russia like Norilsk.

15 points by saeranv 12y ago

So, we are going to try to open up untapped sources of energy in the Arctic? Isn't that the place we are worried most about in terms of climate change? If the Arctic melts, won't water levels rise throughout the world and drown various coastal cities? Seems like a bad place to bring a lot of attention and investment, regardless of the scope of reserves available. I was under the assumption that the world was beginning to move beyond oil because of the excitement that Tesla and other companies alike have created.

noiv 12y ago

So, three countries are going to claim the North Pole, all backed by scientific analysis. By irony the hydrocarbon resources below the sea ice becomes accessible because of excessive use of hydrocarbon. Summer sea ice volume atrophied to a fourth in last 30 years. On the Siberian side of the Arctic hydrocarbon bubbles already up from the sea bed probably because of Arctic amplification and recently we learned warming permafrost tends to explode and build craters. According to the USGS oil resources assumed in the Arctic satisfy global consumption for 3 years, gas a bit longer. If Arctic sea ice finally disappears you'll see the environmental damage from the moon with an unarmed eye. From the other pole we hear the western land based ice sheet is unstoppable collapsing adding a few meters to sea level on the long run. Actually the Arctic is still quite beautiful, that's why soon you can book month long passages from Anchorage to New York worth $20,000. Now please tell me that all makes perfectly sense and is not based on kids having sandbox adventures.

dmix 12y ago

Always good to see Russia continuing to keep our politicians motivated to fund bold scientific endeavors.

saeranv 12y ago
Hah, good point. This has funded a 10 year, $200-million scientific investigation in mapping and exploration of the Arctic seabed. Cite: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-orders-new-draft-of-arctic-seabed-claim-to-include-north-pole/article15756108/ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-orders-n...

beloch 12y ago

Whatever land is not claimed by Canada will be snapped up by Russia, and I'd place more faith in Canadian environmental standards than Russian ones. Yes, I know the protestors down in the U.S. are fond of telling us how evil Canada is and how environmentally destructive the country is, but the truth is that there is absolutely nothing in Canada, even the oil sands, that compares to places in Russia like Norilsk.