Abstract
There is growing evidence from observations that the Arctic sea ice cover is undergoing a significant change where both ice area and ice thickness are decreasing. Also climate simulation models predict that the sea ice will be reduced significantly in the next 50 years. The reduction has started and is documented by 20 years of satellite data observations. A reduced ice cover will facilitate sea transportation in the Northern Sea Route significantly. Several scenarios can be foreseen: less ice-covered areas will make it possible to use lower ice-class vessels and navigation can be carried out with less icebreaker support; longer melt season will extend the navigation period along the Siberian coast; finally, thinner ice-cover and more open leads in the central Arctic allows powerful icebreakers to sail efficiently across the North Pole, which is the shortest distance between the Barents Sea and the Bering Strait.
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Johannessen, O.M., Miles, M.W., Drange, H., Evensen, G., Lisæter, K.A., Sandven, S. (2000). Arctic Sea Ice Reduction — Implications for the Northern Sea Route. In: Ragner, C.L. (eds) The 21st Century — Turning Point for the Northern Sea Route?. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3228-4_50
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3228-4_50
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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