A quantitative assessment of Arctic shipping in 2010–2014.

View/ Open
Average rating
votes
Date
2016Author
Eguíluz, Victor M.
Fernández-Gracia, Juan
Irigoien, Xabier
Duarte, Carlos M.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Rapid loss of sea ice is opening up the Arctic Ocean to shipping, a practice that is forecasted to increase rapidly by 2050 when many models predict that the Arctic Ocean will largely be free of ice toward the end of summer. These forecasts carry considerable uncertainty because Arctic shipping was previously considered too sparse to allow for adequate validation. Here, we provide quantitative evidence that the extent of Arctic shipping in the period 2011–2014 is already significant and that it is concentrated (i) in the Norwegian and Barents Seas, and (ii) predominantly accessed via the Northeast and Northwest Passages. Thick ice along the forecasted direct trans-Arctic route was still present in 2014, preventing transit. Although Arctic shipping remains constrained by the extent of ice coverage, during every September, this coverage is at a minimum, allowing the highest levels of shipping activity. Access to Arctic resources, particularly fisheries, is the most important driver of Ar.....
Resource URL
https://www.nature.com/articles/srep30682.pdfJournal
Scientific ReportsVolume
6Issue
Article 30682Page Range
6pp.Document Language
enSustainable Development Goals (SDG)
14Essential Ocean Variables (EOV)
Sea IceBest Practice Type
Manual (incl. handbook, guide, cookbook etc)Spatial Coverage
Arctic OceanNorwegian Sea
Norwegian Sea
DOI Original
10.1038/srep30682Citation
Eguíluz, V. M., et al.(2016) A quantitative assessment of Arctic shipping in 2010–2014. Scientific Report Reports, 6:30682, 6pp. DOI:10.1038/srep30682Collections
- CAPARDUS Practices [244]
The following license files are associated with this item: