Comments on: Geology and the battle for the Arctic http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/ Learning to love science. Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:54:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Geology And The Battle For The Arctic - Linkosphere [ Ectio.us ] http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-639 Geology And The Battle For The Arctic - Linkosphere [ Ectio.us ] Sat, 18 Aug 2007 10:33:55 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-639 [...] From blogs.earthsky.org [...] [...] From blogs.earthsky.org [...]

]]> By: George http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-439 George Thu, 09 Aug 2007 15:59:55 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-439 Northern Ireland has been trying to deal with a flag issue for some time now. Perhaps with Russian goodwill, the sea bed might be a good place to put some of them. If they need any 'energy' producing material, there seems to be plenty of that available also. George Northern Ireland has been trying to deal with a flag issue for some time now.

Perhaps with Russian goodwill, the sea bed might be a good place to put some of them.

If they need any ‘energy’ producing material, there seems to be plenty of that available also.

George

]]> By: Melting ice equals Arctic opportunities at Lindsay Patterson http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-412 Melting ice equals Arctic opportunities at Lindsay Patterson Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:43:57 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-412 [...] About « Geology and the battle for the Arctic [...] [...] About « Geology and the battle for the Arctic [...]

]]> By: lindsay http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-405 lindsay Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:02:41 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-405 Thanks for reading, Larry! I hope you continue to visit the blog. The practice of flag planting is interesting because it's almost exclusively symbolic these days. Russia has admitted that the flag itself doesn't actually mean anything, but it's gotten quite a few feathers ruffled with its implied intent. Thanks for reading, Larry! I hope you continue to visit the blog.

The practice of flag planting is interesting because it’s almost exclusively symbolic these days. Russia has admitted that the flag itself doesn’t actually mean anything, but it’s gotten quite a few feathers ruffled with its implied intent.

]]> By: Larry Hendrick http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-404 Larry Hendrick Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:49:31 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-404 I caught this story in by RSS reader because of all the talk about flags. I like the concise explanation you've made about the continental shelves and the basis for all the claims. It does seem a little silly at this stage in time to claim territory by flag planting, although, our Moon flag would give significance to the practice. It will be fun to watch the debate over this. I caught this story in by RSS reader because of all the talk about flags. I like the concise explanation you’ve made about the continental shelves and the basis for all the claims.

It does seem a little silly at this stage in time to claim territory by flag planting, although, our Moon flag would give significance to the practice. It will be fun to watch the debate over this.

]]> By: lindsay http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-351 lindsay Fri, 03 Aug 2007 21:31:13 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-351 An <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-arctic3aug03,1,4764956.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=6&cset=true" rel="nofollow">update</a> on this story: The Russian subs have dropped the flag and happily resurfaced. <blockquote>"The aim of this expedition is not to stake Russia's claim, but to prove that our shelf extends to the North Pole," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei V. Lavrov said Thursday. "There are specific scientific methods for doing this. I think the expedition, including the submersibles' dive to the bottom of the Arctic Ocean in the North Pole area, will provide additional scientific evidence for what we are planning to achieve."</blockquote> The US and Canada reply: <blockquote>"This isn't the 15th century," Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay told CTV television. "You can't go around the world and just plant flags and say, 'We're claiming this territory.' " In Washington, State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters, "I'm not sure of whether they've put a metal flag, a rubber flag or a bedsheet on the ocean floor. Either way, it doesn't have any legal standing or effect on this claim."</blockquote> Kathryn Moran said that these claims will probably be settled in international court. Whatever decision is made, it should take into account the necessity of environmental stewardship in the Arctic. It's a critical time to be fighting over such a thing. Also, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/10/weekinreview/10revk.html?ex=1186286400&en=6658b02c3e965e23&ei=5070" rel="nofollow">here's</a> a good summary of what's up for grabs in the Arctic sweepstakes. An update on this story: The Russian subs have dropped the flag and happily resurfaced.

“The aim of this expedition is not to stake Russia’s claim, but to prove that our shelf extends to the North Pole,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei V. Lavrov said Thursday. “There are specific scientific methods for doing this. I think the expedition, including the submersibles’ dive to the bottom of the Arctic Ocean in the North Pole area, will provide additional scientific evidence for what we are planning to achieve.”

The US and Canada reply:

“This isn’t the 15th century,” Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay told CTV television. “You can’t go around the world and just plant flags and say, ‘We’re claiming this territory.’ ”

In Washington, State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters, “I’m not sure of whether they’ve put a metal flag, a rubber flag or a bedsheet on the ocean floor. Either way, it doesn’t have any legal standing or effect on this claim.”

Kathryn Moran said that these claims will probably be settled in international court. Whatever decision is made, it should take into account the necessity of environmental stewardship in the Arctic. It’s a critical time to be fighting over such a thing.

Also, here’s a good summary of what’s up for grabs in the Arctic sweepstakes.

]]> By: 2wicky http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-349 2wicky Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:22:25 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-349 57 million years ago? Were there even mammals then? Isn't Russia about 56million 998thousand years too late? 57 million years ago? Were there even mammals then? Isn’t Russia about 56million 998thousand years too late?

]]> By: John Matta http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-348 John Matta Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:47:23 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-348 The Lomonosov ridge is about 50 mi wide by 1000 mi long, it runs from 45 deg to 150 deg longitude across the North Pole. When one looks at the undersea topography it is clear that, both ends drop down to a 1000 meter sea bed and are not attached to the continental shelves of either Greenland or Russia. The UN Maritime Convention 2001 ruling against Russia is not likely to be overturned since the ridge doesn't connect to anyone's continental shelf. http://www.rcom.marum.de/Binaries/Binary8172/Karte_Arktis.jpg The Lomonosov ridge is about 50 mi wide by 1000 mi long, it runs from 45 deg to 150 deg longitude across the North Pole. When one looks at the undersea topography it is clear that, both ends drop down to a 1000 meter sea bed and are not attached to the continental shelves of either Greenland or Russia.

The UN Maritime Convention 2001 ruling against Russia is not likely to be overturned since the ridge doesn’t connect to anyone’s continental shelf.

http://www.rcom.marum.de/Binaries/Binary8172/Karte_Arktis.jpg

]]> By: Benjamin Napier http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-340 Benjamin Napier Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:24:04 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-340 We got there first but are too stupid to claim resources. Russia will make a mess and we will beat our chests and give up more in missplaced guilt. There can only be one big dog. If not us, the prize will go to Russia and/or China. This will result in world war once again. We got there first but are too stupid to claim resources. Russia will make a mess and we will beat our chests and give up more in missplaced guilt.

There can only be one big dog. If not us, the prize will go to Russia and/or China. This will result in world war once again.

]]> By: Larry Sessions http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-336 Larry Sessions Wed, 01 Aug 2007 23:31:17 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/lindsaypatterson/science/080155/geology-and-the-battle-for-the-arctic/#comment-336 Seems rather greedy, divisionist and anti-environment, doesn't it? By the way, there is a new Arctic film out from the makers of "March of the Penguins." I haven't seen it, but it is supposed to be fantastic. It is called "Arctic Tale": http://www.arctictale.com/ LS Seems rather greedy, divisionist and anti-environment, doesn’t it? By the way, there is a new Arctic film out from the makers of “March of the Penguins.” I haven’t seen it, but it is supposed to be fantastic. It is called “Arctic Tale”:

http://www.arctictale.com/

LS

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