Science | Cold United

Snow Change in North Siberia: Indigenous Peoples’ Views on Climate Change and Ecology

On 05.19.10, In Climate, Cultures, Environment, Lives, People, Science, Societies, By Bolot

Reindeer in Yakutia, North Siberia, Russia. Photo by Bolot Bochkarev.

Here I would like to share the current results of the Siberian part of the Snow Change International Research Project realization. It took me real efforts to find this information. The project I am about described has its own website, but its owner doesn’t have time to publish a very interesting research results info on its online resource. Therefore, I asked a regional coordinator, the Northern Forum Academy chairman, Vladimir Vasiliev, to present the text to me. He did, but it was totally written in Russian. So I have translated it into English and not sure yet if some terms sound correctly. If any, just let me know about mistakes.

About: SnowChange is a not-for-profit independent cooperative organisation with headquarters in Finland. Head of International Affairs: Tero Mustonen
Status: Active. Website: SnowChange.org.

Project Mission

The international community network of SnowChange spans all eight Arctic states. Most of the member communities and families are from the various Arctic Indigenous Nations and other subsistence communities.

The project involves working with the various Northern areas and peoples on the topics of ecological, especially climatic and weather changes from the scientific and traditional knowledge point of view. In addition to the community documentation Snowchange as well works to advance local Indigenous knowledge in the global context and advance decolonisation of the North in the face of rapid changes.

The scientific priority of Snowchange is currently in the following areas of the North:
- The Saami territories of Finland, Russia, Sweden and Norway
- Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Murmansk and Republic of Karelia in Russian Federation
- Savo, North Karelia and Kainuu, Finland
- Iceland and Faroe Islands
- British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada
- Alaska, USA

In addition to the operations in all Arctic countries (United States / Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Greenland and Faroe Islands (Denmark), Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russian Federation) SnowChange has partners in Bolivia, Nepal, Ghana and New Zealand.

Report on the Snow Change project realization in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
Information from its regional coordinator, Vladimir Vasiliev
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Tagged with: Arctic • Climate change • climate changes • Environment • Evenk • Finland • Iengra • Indigenous Peoples • Indigenous Peoples of the Russian North • Kolyma • NGO • North Siberia • Northern Forum • Northern Siberia • Reindeer • reindeer herders • research project • Russia • Science • Siberia • snow change • snow report • Yakutia • Yukagir

Videos: Enjoy the fragile beauty of the Arctic & the North Pole

On 05.13.10, In Climate, Environment, Natures, Science, Travel, Videos, By Bolot

Two Arctic/North Pole scientific expeditions. Take your time and enjoy the Arctic! This beauty is fragile. Climate changes and global warming, you know, do gain ground.

Video #1: Jean-Louis Etienne’s Generali Arctic Observer

A famous French Arctic explorer Jean-Louis Etienne’s The North Pole balloon crossing from Spitsbergen to Siberia’s Yakutia in April of 2010. Check out the Generali Arctic Observer expedition website. More info on his landing and rescue operation in Siberia’s Yakutia, north from the village of Batagai, Verkhoyansky region, at eYakutia.com.

Video #2: North Pole + Nuclear Icebreaker Yamal + Magic of Arctic Ice

From Russia’s Chukotka via the North Pole to Scandinavia by the Russian nuclear powered ice-breaker “Yamal”. You may also want to go to the North Pole. Hurry up! The Arctic is melting fast. It sounds like a joke, but, unfortunately, it is not.

If you can recommend more videos with the awesome Arctic views, please, share. Leave your links in comments.

Tagged with: Arctic • balloon • Batagai • Chukotka • cold • expedition • France • Generali Arctic Observer • global worming • Greenland • ice • Jean-Louis Etienne • Kisilyakh • melting • North • North Pole • Norway • nuclear ice-braker • Polar ice • Polo Norte • Russia • Sakha Republic • Scandinavia • Science • Siberia • snow • Spitzberg • USA • Verkhoyansky • Yakutia • Yamal

Russia to Launch Arctic Satellite Monitoring Project

On 05.05.10, In Climate, Projects, Science, By Bolot

Russia’s new space monitoring system, “Arktika” will help to reveal secrets of the Arctic. Four satellites will study the hard-to-reach regions around the North Pole. The first satellite of this system will be launched in three years.

The development of such a system will guarantee the implementation of Russia’s key tasks in the Arctic, said the head of the Russian Space Agency, Anatoly Perminov.

“Satellites should first and foremost explore oil and gas deposits in the seas of the Arctic Ocean,” said Anatoly Perminov. “To guarantee safety, the development of these fields and the delivery of hydrocarbon to consumers should be accompanied by space monitoring. The next task is to escort ships sailing between the Far East, Kamchatka and the Barents Sea. Establishing control over all kinds of economic activity that will be shifted to the far north of Russia will be another task of the space monitoring system,” Anatoly Perminov said.

The “Arktika” space monitoring system paves the way for making more precise weather forecasts for a long time period not only in Russia but in the Northern Hemisphere as a whole. Moreover, it could be used for assessing emergency situations. For one, the existing space systems have failed to monitor the spread of volcanic ash from a volcano in Iceland in the past weeks.

The Arktika space system consists of two satellites with radar systems and another two with equipment for hydro-meteorological monitoring.

Although Russia itself can implement the project, it is ready to establish cooperation with others, Anatoly Perminov said.

“Several foreign space agencies have already expressed their desire to be involved in the development of this system. This will make it possible to attract investment from state-run companies and private enterprises across the world,” Anatoly Perminov said.

The head of Russia’s space agency said that the country is planning to launch two satellites to guarantee reliable communication and television links to the northern regions. The project has aroused great interest among leading experts.

Only Russia, the US and Canada can independently develop such a system. At present, the Canadian experts are discussing the idea, while the Russian space corporations are ready to start implementing the project.

Via Eye on the Arctic.

Tagged with: Arctic • Arctic monitoring • Arctic project • Climate change • monitoring system • North Pole • oil and gas deposits • Russia • satellite monitoring • satellite system • space monitoring

Canada: Melting Arctic ice reveals hunting weapons

On 04.28.10, In Archeology, Climate, People, Science, By Bolot

This 340-year-old bow was reconstructed from several fragments found near melted patches of ice in the Mackenzie Mountains in the Northwest Territories. (Tom Andrews)

Melting ice pockets high in Canada’s Arctic mountains are slowly revealing the habits of caribou hunters over thousands of years as they moved from attacking with spears to bows and arrows — and even set traps to snare smaller snacks while they waited for their main prey.

Since 2005, archeologist Tom Andrews and colleagues have been piecing together how hunters in the area adapted over many generations, studying bits of tools grabbed from melting snowy patches in the remote Mackenzie Mountains in western Northwest Territories along the Yukon boundary.

Mountain boreal caribou have long sought refuge on the cooling patches, escaping annoying bugs and warmer temperatures over the summer months. Over generations, humans learned to hunt them there and have left tools buried deep beneath years and years of winter snow.

Now, said Andrews, the ice patches are slowly receding each year, likely due to global warming, revealing perfectly preserved relics of the past. (more…)

Tagged with: Archeology • Arctic • Canada • caribou • Yellowknife

Sir David Attenborough’s documentary “Frozen Planet”

On 04.28.10, In Climate, documentary, Natures, News, Science, TV, By Bolot

Sir David is filming for a BBC 1 series, Frozen Planet

Sir David Attenborough has realised a life-long ambition and reached the North Pole, the BBC has said.

The broadcaster, 84, is filming in the Arctic Circle for Frozen Planet, a BBC One series due to air in late 2011.

Sir David, who has also visited the South Pole for the series, said it was a “huge privilege” to reach both Poles.

The BBC said the seven-part series is the “ultimate polar expedition to the last great wilderness on the planet – before the regions change forever”.

Speaking from the Svalbard archipelago, 700 miles from the North Pole, Sir David said: “The Poles – North and South – look superficially very similar.

(more…)

Tagged with: a must to see • Antarctic • Arctic • BBC • BBC News • David Attenborough • documentary • expeditions • international • News • news online • North Pole • South Pole • UK • world

Greenland: Silent Snow – The Project

On 04.24.10, In Climate, documentary, Education, Environment, Events, Lives, Music, Natures, Projects, Science, By Bolot

Heroes of the Silent Snow documentary

I am really thankful to the destiny for giving me opportunity to get acquanted with Galya Morell, a New York based educator, who appeared eventually to be my best channel to many Arctic environment alert projects. Today, with her help, I learned about another fantastic Greenland project called “Silent Snow.”

“This morning Silent Snow – a must see documentary featuring the Uummannaq Music protagonists – was introduced to a forum of distinguished delegates and ambassadors at the UN. Thank you to Moki Kokoris who made it possible. Hopefully, this will lead to some concrete results,” wrote Galya Morell in her last status update on the Uummannaq Music facebook fan page on April 23, 2010.

So what is this project about? Before clicking the link “More”, please, know that I am very open-minded and extremely interested in any inspiring helpful Arctic-related projects. If you run some of them or are aware of some great initiatives, I beg you to share such info with me via our Cold United FB fan page or directly via the contact form.

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Tagged with: documentary • Environment • Galya Morell • global environmental system • Greenland • inuit • pollution • Silent Snow Project • Uummannaq Music

The Cool(E)motion Project launched sculptures on a floating Arctic iceberg

On 04.22.10, In Arts, Climate, Cultures, Projects, Science, By Bolot

Track the iceberg with sculptures in the Arctic Ocean

As Joel and Galya worked at their great project “Uummannaq Music Festival” in Uummaannaq, Greenland, 590 kilometers north of the Artic Circle, the team of Cool(E)motion, placed two huge sculptures on an iceberg.

The sculptures start to float shortly and will make an uncertain trip through the Arctic oceans. Cool(E)motion attached GPS systems on the sculptures so everybody can see ‘live’ where they are drifting to.

The project is launched to show the impact of climate change on local cultures.

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Tagged with: Arctic • Arctic Ocean • Climate change • Culture • GPS • Greenland • iceberg • sculptures

Yakutsk Permafrost Institute: Why did climate changes not affect permafrost in Yakutia?

On 03.12.10, In Climate, Photos, Science, By Bolot

Yakutsk Permafrost Institute

Yakutsk Permafrost Institute with its underground laboratory in the form of tunnel is a sort of a must-to-see sight in the capital of Siberia’s Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). It is the most visited by international guests.

The last year before The Copenhagen Climate Change Summit it became a real Mecca to international journalists, who wanted to know whether the global warming affected the life of the only city in the world, that was entirely built on permafrost.

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