Sea ice variability and maritime activity around Svalbard in the period 2012–2019
Abstract Climate change is strongly impacting the Arctic environment, leading to rapid sea ice loss. In some sectors, the retreating ice edge is perceived as an opportunity to expand and develop economic activities. Previous studies show this development in the Canadian and Russian Arctic. This pape...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-74064-2 |
| _version_ | 1818926229914386432 |
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| author | Alexandra N. Stocker Angelika H. H. Renner Maaike Knol-Kauffman |
| author_facet | Alexandra N. Stocker Angelika H. H. Renner Maaike Knol-Kauffman |
| author_sort | Alexandra N. Stocker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Climate change is strongly impacting the Arctic environment, leading to rapid sea ice loss. In some sectors, the retreating ice edge is perceived as an opportunity to expand and develop economic activities. Previous studies show this development in the Canadian and Russian Arctic. This paper examines mobility patterns of cruise ships and fishing vessels around Svalbard, a major hotspot of maritime activity and retreating sea ice cover, in relation to sea ice variability between August 2012 and September 2019. The results show a slight overall increase in fisheries and cruise activity, as well as remarkable trends of stretching operational seasons and expanding navigational areas in these sectors. Overall increasing activity and changing mobility patterns provoke a discussion about the implications for safe navigation and sustainable management, thus raising issues of high pan-Arctic relevance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T02:53:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-66d63b12688d4016b8ec3d3ab716340a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T02:53:48Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-66d63b12688d4016b8ec3d3ab716340a2022-12-21T19:55:58ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222020-10-0110111210.1038/s41598-020-74064-2Sea ice variability and maritime activity around Svalbard in the period 2012–2019Alexandra N. Stocker0Angelika H. H. Renner1Maaike Knol-Kauffman2Department of Geography, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Oceanography and Climate, Institute of Marine Research, Fram CentreNorwegian College of Fishery Sciences, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of NorwayAbstract Climate change is strongly impacting the Arctic environment, leading to rapid sea ice loss. In some sectors, the retreating ice edge is perceived as an opportunity to expand and develop economic activities. Previous studies show this development in the Canadian and Russian Arctic. This paper examines mobility patterns of cruise ships and fishing vessels around Svalbard, a major hotspot of maritime activity and retreating sea ice cover, in relation to sea ice variability between August 2012 and September 2019. The results show a slight overall increase in fisheries and cruise activity, as well as remarkable trends of stretching operational seasons and expanding navigational areas in these sectors. Overall increasing activity and changing mobility patterns provoke a discussion about the implications for safe navigation and sustainable management, thus raising issues of high pan-Arctic relevance.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-74064-2 |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra N. Stocker Angelika H. H. Renner Maaike Knol-Kauffman Sea ice variability and maritime activity around Svalbard in the period 2012–2019 Scientific Reports |
| title | Sea ice variability and maritime activity around Svalbard in the period 2012–2019 |
| title_full | Sea ice variability and maritime activity around Svalbard in the period 2012–2019 |
| title_fullStr | Sea ice variability and maritime activity around Svalbard in the period 2012–2019 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sea ice variability and maritime activity around Svalbard in the period 2012–2019 |
| title_short | Sea ice variability and maritime activity around Svalbard in the period 2012–2019 |
| title_sort | sea ice variability and maritime activity around svalbard in the period 2012 2019 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-74064-2 |
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