Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Polar bears trap scientists in remote Arctic

Polar bears trap scientists in remote Arctic

By Joshua Berlinger, CNN
Updated 12:33 AM ET, Wed September 14, 2016
This is not one of the polar bears currently trapping Russian scientists
This is not one of the polar bears currently trapping Russian scientists

Story highlights

  • Five Russian meteorologists are trapped on tiny Troynoy island
  • One female polar bear is spending evenings under station's window
(CNN)Surrounded in the Arctic tundra. By polar bears.
That's life for five Russian meteorologists on tiny Troynoy island in Russia, according to state media.
CNN Map
Troynoy Island
+-
1000 km
500 mi
Vassiliy Shevchenko, the head of the Sevgidromet State Monitoring Network that owns the weather station, told Tass news that some 10 polar bears and their cubs have gathered on the island and are dangerously close to the researchers.
The incident began on August 31, when some polar bears killed two dogs, according to Vadim Plotnikov, the head of the weather station.
Recent years have seen the Arctic become a target for oil exploration. Last year oil giant Shell abandoned as uneconomic an exploratory drilling program in Alaska, but a resumption isn't ruled out.
Photos:
Oil prospects? – Recent years have seen the Arctic become a target for oil exploration. Last year oil giant Shell abandoned as uneconomic an exploratory drilling program in Alaska, but a resumption isn't ruled out.
Hide Caption
9 of 17
"Agreeing to Arctic drilling is a bad decision and a mistake," says Susan Adie, wildlife activist and G Adventures operations manager. Sub-sea oil exploration could, she says, present a threat to the rare beluga, blue and bowhead whales that use these waters.
Photos:
Whale worries – "Agreeing to Arctic drilling is a bad decision and a mistake," says Susan Adie, wildlife activist and G Adventures operations manager. Sub-sea oil exploration could, she says, present a threat to the rare beluga, blue and bowhead whales that use these waters.
Hide Caption
10 of 17
The midnight sun casts a golden glow, hovering just above the horizon as it struggles to climb the earth's curvature at this latitude.
Photos:
Midnight sun – The midnight sun casts a golden glow, hovering just above the horizon as it struggles to climb the earth's curvature at this latitude.
Hide Caption
11 of 17
Another Arctic denizen, the guillemot, clings to limestone rocks that resemble landscapes from "Jurassic Park."
Photos:
Guillemots – Another Arctic denizen, the guillemot, clings to limestone rocks that resemble landscapes from "Jurassic Park."
Hide Caption
12 of 17
The High Arctic landscape also hosts reindeer, Arctic foxes and kittiwakes.
Photos:
Reindeer – The High Arctic landscape also hosts reindeer, Arctic foxes and kittiwakes.
Hide Caption
13 of 17
Trips ashore from the MS Expedition are punctuated by lectures from chief field researchers. They're driven by the concept that welcoming and educating visitors to the region will help to preserve its future.
Photos:
Education – Trips ashore from the MS Expedition are punctuated by lectures from chief field researchers. They're driven by the concept that welcoming and educating visitors to the region will help to preserve its future.
Hide Caption
14 of 17
In 2015, Arctic ice cover fell to the fourth lowest extent in the satellite record, with temperatures hitting the second highest recorded, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Photos:
Record melt levels – In 2015, Arctic ice cover fell to the fourth lowest extent in the satellite record, with temperatures hitting the second highest recorded, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Hide Caption
15 of 17
"Ten years ago this would have been an astonishing summer of ice melt," says Ted Scambos, NSIDC's lead scientist. "Now it is just another season in a decade of low years."
Photos:
'Low years' – "Ten years ago this would have been an astonishing summer of ice melt," says Ted Scambos, NSIDC's lead scientist. "Now it is just another season in a decade of low years."
Hide Caption
16 of 17
"The almost complete melt-away of the multi-year ice in recent summers has really knocked the core productivity of the whole ecosystem," says Jamie Watts, ship leader and marine life enthusiast.
Photos:
Ecosystem – "The almost complete melt-away of the multi-year ice in recent summers has really knocked the core productivity of the whole ecosystem," says Jamie Watts, ship leader and marine life enthusiast.
Hide Caption
17 of 17
The High Arctic is an ice-bound desert that supports a fragile ecosystem. Environmentalists warn it's under threat from global warming as summer ice melts reach record levels.
Photos:
The High Arctic – The High Arctic is an ice-bound desert that supports a fragile ecosystem. Environmentalists warn it's under threat from global warming as summer ice melts reach record levels.
Hide Caption
1 of 17
The MS Expedition was originally built as a car ferry, but now traverses Arctic and Antarctic waters as a cruise ship operated by Canada-based G Adventures, which offers environmentally sensitive trips.
Photos:
MS Expedition – The MS Expedition was originally built as a car ferry, but now traverses Arctic and Antarctic waters as a cruise ship operated by Canada-based G Adventures, which offers environmentally sensitive trips.
Hide Caption
2 of 17
Polar bears are guided by their superior sense of smell which can detect prey more than a kilometer away.
Photos:
Polar bears – Polar bears are guided by their superior sense of smell which can detect prey more than a kilometer away.
Hide Caption
3 of 17
Raft expeditions allow passengers to get closer to the ice and the animals it supports. Trips to spot polar bears are accompanied by marksmen since the bears are known to hunt humans.
Photos:
Raft expeditions – Raft expeditions allow passengers to get closer to the ice and the animals it supports. Trips to spot polar bears are accompanied by marksmen since the bears are known to hunt humans.
Hide Caption
4 of 17
Pungent and blubbery, walruses live year-round in the waters off Norway's northernmost Arctic islands. Their tusks can grow up to a meter long.
Photos:
Walruses – Pungent and blubbery, walruses live year-round in the waters off Norway's northernmost Arctic islands. Their tusks can grow up to a meter long.
Hide Caption
5 of 17
Harp seals can be found around Norway's northernmost islands. On the ice, they're hunted as food by polar bears, in the water they're prey for whales. They're also hunted commercially by Norway, Canada and Russia.
Photos:
Harp seals – Harp seals can be found around Norway's northernmost islands. On the ice, they're hunted as food by polar bears, in the water they're prey for whales. They're also hunted commercially by Norway, Canada and Russia.
Hide Caption
6 of 17
Multi-year ice -- often formed over centuries -- is a rich source of nourishment for the entire Arctic food web. Its recent decline spells trouble for the region's fauna.
Photos:
Multi-year ice – Multi-year ice -- often formed over centuries -- is a rich source of nourishment for the entire Arctic food web. Its recent decline spells trouble for the region's fauna.
Hide Caption
7 of 17
In 2015, the multi-year ice has receded far north, allowing us to press deeper into the Arctic than expected.
Photos:
Deeper Arctic – In 2015, the multi-year ice has receded far north, allowing us to press deeper into the Arctic than expected.
Hide Caption
8 of 17
Recent years have seen the Arctic become a target for oil exploration. Last year oil giant Shell abandoned as uneconomic an exploratory drilling program in Alaska, but a resumption isn't ruled out.
Photos:
Oil prospects? – Recent years have seen the Arctic become a target for oil exploration. Last year oil giant Shell abandoned as uneconomic an exploratory drilling program in Alaska, but a resumption isn't ruled out.
Hide Caption
9 of 17
"Agreeing to Arctic drilling is a bad decision and a mistake," says Susan Adie, wildlife activist and G Adventures operations manager. Sub-sea oil exploration could, she says, present a threat to the rare beluga, blue and bowhead whales that use these waters.
Photos:
Whale worries – "Agreeing to Arctic drilling is a bad decision and a mistake," says Susan Adie, wildlife activist and G Adventures operations manager. Sub-sea oil exploration could, she says, present a threat to the rare beluga, blue and bowhead whales that use these waters.
Hide Caption
10 of 17
The midnight sun casts a golden glow, hovering just above the horizon as it struggles to climb the earth's curvature at this latitude.
Photos:
Midnight sun – The midnight sun casts a golden glow, hovering just above the horizon as it struggles to climb the earth's curvature at this latitude.
Hide Caption
11 of 17
Another Arctic denizen, the guillemot, clings to limestone rocks that resemble landscapes from "Jurassic Park."
Photos:
Guillemots – Another Arctic denizen, the guillemot, clings to limestone rocks that resemble landscapes from "Jurassic Park."
Hide Caption
12 of 17
The High Arctic landscape also hosts reindeer, Arctic foxes and kittiwakes.
Photos:
Reindeer – The High Arctic landscape also hosts reindeer, Arctic foxes and kittiwakes.
Hide Caption
13 of 17
Trips ashore from the MS Expedition are punctuated by lectures from chief field researchers. They're driven by the concept that welcoming and educating visitors to the region will help to preserve its future.
Photos:
Education – Trips ashore from the MS Expedition are punctuated by lectures from chief field researchers. They're driven by the concept that welcoming and educating visitors to the region will help to preserve its future.
Hide Caption
14 of 17
In 2015, Arctic ice cover fell to the fourth lowest extent in the satellite record, with temperatures hitting the second highest recorded, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Photos:
Record melt levels – In 2015, Arctic ice cover fell to the fourth lowest extent in the satellite record, with temperatures hitting the second highest recorded, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Hide Caption
15 of 17
"Ten years ago this would have been an astonishing summer of ice melt," says Ted Scambos, NSIDC's lead scientist. "Now it is just another season in a decade of low years."
Photos:
'Low years' – "Ten years ago this would have been an astonishing summer of ice melt," says Ted Scambos, NSIDC's lead scientist. "Now it is just another season in a decade of low years."
Hide Caption
16 of 17
"The almost complete melt-away of the multi-year ice in recent summers has really knocked the core productivity of the whole ecosystem," says Jamie Watts, ship leader and marine life enthusiast.
Photos:
Ecosystem – "The almost complete melt-away of the multi-year ice in recent summers has really knocked the core productivity of the whole ecosystem," says Jamie Watts, ship leader and marine life enthusiast.
Hide Caption
17 of 17
The High Arctic is an ice-bound desert that supports a fragile ecosystem. Environmentalists warn it's under threat from global warming as summer ice melts reach record levels.
Photos:
The High Arctic – The High Arctic is an ice-bound desert that supports a fragile ecosystem. Environmentalists warn it's under threat from global warming as summer ice melts reach record levels.
Hide Caption
1 of 17
The MS Expedition was originally built as a car ferry, but now traverses Arctic and Antarctic waters as a cruise ship operated by Canada-based G Adventures, which offers environmentally sensitive trips.
Photos:
MS Expedition – The MS Expedition was originally built as a car ferry, but now traverses Arctic and Antarctic waters as a cruise ship operated by Canada-based G Adventures, which offers environmentally sensitive trips.
Hide Caption
2 of 17
Polar bears are guided by their superior sense of smell which can detect prey more than a kilometer away.
Photos:
Polar bears – Polar bears are guided by their superior sense of smell which can detect prey more than a kilometer away.
Hide Caption
3 of 17
Raft expeditions allow passengers to get closer to the ice and the animals it supports. Trips to spot polar bears are accompanied by marksmen since the bears are known to hunt humans.
Photos:
Raft expeditions – Raft expeditions allow passengers to get closer to the ice and the animals it supports. Trips to spot polar bears are accompanied by marksmen since the bears are known to hunt humans.
Hide Caption
4 of 17
Pungent and blubbery, walruses live year-round in the waters off Norway's northernmost Arctic islands. Their tusks can grow up to a meter long.
Photos:
Walruses – Pungent and blubbery, walruses live year-round in the waters off Norway's northernmost Arctic islands. Their tusks can grow up to a meter long.
Hide Caption
5 of 17
Harp seals can be found around Norway's northernmost islands. On the ice, they're hunted as food by polar bears, in the water they're prey for whales. They're also hunted commercially by Norway, Canada and Russia.
Photos:
Harp seals – Harp seals can be found around Norway's northernmost islands. On the ice, they're hunted as food by polar bears, in the water they're prey for whales. They're also hunted commercially by Norway, Canada and Russia.
Hide Caption
6 of 17
Multi-year ice -- often formed over centuries -- is a rich source of nourishment for the entire Arctic food web. Its recent decline spells trouble for the region's fauna.
Photos:
Multi-year ice – Multi-year ice -- often formed over centuries -- is a rich source of nourishment for the entire Arctic food web. Its recent decline spells trouble for the region's fauna.
Hide Caption
7 of 17
In 2015, the multi-year ice has receded far north, allowing us to press deeper into the Arctic than expected.
Photos:
Deeper Arctic – In 2015, the multi-year ice has receded far north, allowing us to press deeper into the Arctic than expected.
Hide Caption
8 of 17
Recent years have seen the Arctic become a target for oil exploration. Last year oil giant Shell abandoned as uneconomic an exploratory drilling program in Alaska, but a resumption isn't ruled out.
Photos:
Oil prospects? – Recent years have seen the Arctic become a target for oil exploration. Last year oil giant Shell abandoned as uneconomic an exploratory drilling program in Alaska, but a resumption isn't ruled out.
Hide Caption
9 of 17
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Iceberg-3
Landscape-4
Glacier-11
Glacier-10
Landscape-1
Guillemots-2
Reindeer-1
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Ice-2
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A female polar bear has been spending its evenings under the station's window, making it dangerous to go outside.
Tass reports that Sergey Donskoy, Russia's minister of natural resources and environment, instructed the country's federal weather-watching service to ensure the security of the Troynoy island personnel.
Sevgidromet, the state research agency, will send flares to scare the bears and dogs. The flares are not expected to reach the station for another month.
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