Nations compete for a stake in the Arctic

[PLC1]

Canada pushes past North Pole in Arctic survey

Canada's mapping of the Arctic is pushing into territory claimed by Russia in the high-stakes drive by countries to establish clear title to the polar region and its seabed riches.

Is this a new frontier? What do you think?

 

[BigRob]

Canada pushes past North Pole in Arctic survey



Is this a new frontier? What do you think?

Russia has been making big steps to try to claim Arctic land. Ultimately I think that Russia looses out in the Arctic because they are a declining power, and the Chinese have been moving into Siberia. Give it 20-30 years and the population in Siberia will be majority Chinese probably, causing Russia some problems when trying to make strides in the Arctic.

 

[Bunz]

Canada pushes past North Pole in Arctic survey



Is this a new frontier? What do you think?

I say good on Canada! I am glad they are standing up to the Russians. I think people around the world take Canada for granted. Without understanding the unimaginable wealth that lays to the north and east of the US.
Also, side question...In the article provided, the reason for this flight was to better map a particular area that Canada might also have legitimate claim to under the UN system that is being used. Doesnt the Navy already have fairly accurate underwater charts of some sort of the landscape under the ice?

As for a new frontier...the Arctic always has been, always will be. Personally I wished it would be managed similar to the Antarctic outside of the 200 mile limit. Some kind of an international zone. Left as much to nature as possible.

On a beautiful day here today, looking through binocs I managed to see a flight of 4 f-22s heading west to who knows where. It is no secret that the Russians have increased thier airspace incursion tests lately.

 

[Bunz]

Looks like the Russians probably do have most of the natural gas resources that lay in the Arctic. From the Anchroage Daily News....
http://www.adn.com/money/industries/oil/story/811257.html
This is only an exerpt, the story is much longer and in depth, it wont let me post the whole thing.

Natural gas in Arctic mostly Russian
STUDY: By comparing geological conditions with other parts of the world, Alaska could fare well too.

Daily News staff and wire reports

Published: May 28th, 2009 09:58 AM
Last Modified: May 29th, 2009 06:28 AM

Nearly one-third of the natural gas yet to be discovered in the world is north of the Arctic Circle and most of it is in Russian territory, according to a new analysis led by researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey. Alaska also is believed to hold a significant storehouse.

"These findings suggest that in the future the ... pre-eminence of Russian strategic control of gas resources in particular is likely to be accentuated and extended," said Donald L. Gautier, lead author of the study published in Friday's edition of the journal Science.

Russia is already the world's leading natural gas producer, noted Gautier, of the Geological Survey's office in Menlo Park, Calif.

The report, by an international scientific team, estimated that the Arctic also contains 3 percent to 4 percent of the world's oil resources remaining to be discovered.

Two-thirds of the undiscovered gas is in just four areas -- the South Kara Sea, North Barents Basin, South Barents Basin and the Alaska Platform -- the report said.

Indeed, the South Kara Sea off Siberia contains 39 percent of the Arctic's undiscovered gas, the researchers said.

The Alaska Platform extends from the central North Slope to offshore waters in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.

 

[MistyTiger]

I say good on Canada! I am glad they are standing up to the Russians. I think people around the world take Canada for granted. Without understanding the unimaginable wealth that lays to the north and east of the US.

I agree. Canada could gain a new respect from America and other countries of the world. If Canada does have to fight Russia, I hope Canada wins. And that leads me to the question: how strong is Canada's military?

 

[pocketfullofshells]

I agree. Canada could gain a new respect from America and other countries of the world. If Canada does have to fight Russia, I hope Canada wins. And that leads me to the question: how strong is Canada's military?

Canadas military is about as strong as ours, in that there is a 99.8% change any war they are in, we are in with them...not sure there own, but I bet they are crushed by the Russian army one on one.

 

[BigRob]

I agree. Canada could gain a new respect from America and other countries of the world. If Canada does have to fight Russia, I hope Canada wins. And that leads me to the question: how strong is Canada's military?

Canada is not going to go to war with Russia over the Arctic anytime soon if ever.

 

[Bunz]

While I cant envision a plausible scenario where open warfare in the arctic would break out. There will be issues when it comes to resource extraction. I have had quite a few conversations on the ANWR issue and I have spoken with a number of people on Arctic issues and there is a messload of oil/gas under the Arctic Ocean. There is a number of potential problems they face on the technical side. First one being, getting the product out of the earth and onto land towards refinement, and the second biggie is the ability to clean up a spill in pack/heavy ice conditions.

 

[Saxon]

Canada pushes past North Pole in Arctic survey



Is this a new frontier? What do you think?

The territory is OURS! End of discussion. Good thing we are arming against both Russia AND the USA. Watch out for those new Arctic bases we are building, and a new anti-sub net through the Northwest Passage. We two of us could be at war sooner than you think. God, I love the future.

 

[Saxon]

Russia has been making big steps to try to claim Arctic land. Ultimately I think that Russia looses out in the Arctic because they are a declining power, and the Chinese have been moving into Siberia. Give it 20-30 years and the population in Siberia will be majority Chinese probably, causing Russia some problems when trying to make strides in the Arctic.

The Chinese have been moving into Siberia, which is Russian territory? However did you come to this conclusion? ESP?

Russia is a declining power? Then, so are you. China has caused Russia problems since the days when they first embraced communism.

 

[Saxon]

I say good on Canada! I am glad they are standing up to the Russians. I think people around the world take Canada for granted. Without understanding the unimaginable wealth that lays to the north and east of the US.
Also, side question...In the article provided, the reason for this flight was to better map a particular area that Canada might also have legitimate claim to under the UN system that is being used. Doesnt the Navy already have fairly accurate underwater charts of some sort of the landscape under the ice?

As for a new frontier...the Arctic always has been, always will be. Personally I wished it would be managed similar to the Antarctic outside of the 200 mile limit. Some kind of an international zone. Left as much to nature as possible.

On a beautiful day here today, looking through binocs I managed to see a flight of 4 f-22s heading west to who knows where. It is no secret that the Russians have increased thier airspace incursion tests lately.

And we escort their asses right back out with our CF-18s.

 

[Saxon]

I agree. Canada could gain a new respect from America and other countries of the world. If Canada does have to fight Russia, I hope Canada wins. And that leads me to the question: how strong is Canada's military?

How strong is our military??? Bwaaaaaaahhhhhaaaaaaaaaaa! The Russians need only blink, and it is over for us.

 

[Saxon]

Canadas military is about as strong as ours, in that there is a 99.8% change any war they are in, we are in with them...not sure there own, but I bet they are crushed by the Russian army one on one.

Our military is as strong as yours? Where the **** have you been? We have perhaps the weakest military in the world. The Russians cold slap us around without breaking into a sweat.

 

[Saxon]

Canada is not going to go to war with Russia over the Arctic anytime soon if ever.

ONLY because we have not the means. We are the weakest force by far in all of NATO. You should dump us... please.

 

[Saxon]

While I cant envision a plausible scenario where open warfare in the arctic would break out. There will be issues when it comes to resource extraction. I have had quite a few conversations on the ANWR issue and I have spoken with a number of people on Arctic issues and there is a messload of oil/gas under the Arctic Ocean. There is a number of potential problems they face on the technical side. First one being, getting the product out of the earth and onto land towards refinement, and the second biggie is the ability to clean up a spill in pack/heavy ice conditions.

Uh, those are Canada's areas of expertise. We have been doing it for ages, the Russians only very recently. They had not the technology when they were the Soviet Union.