Randall Hyman has covered cultural and environmental topics from the Arctic to the tropics for over 30 years for Smithsonian, National Wildlife, Discover, The Atlantic, Science and various National Geographic publications. As an Alicia Patterson Foundation Fellow, he traveled across the Norwegian Arctic last year in the tracks of reindeer, polar bears and sled dogs.
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Russia’s Arctic settlement of Barentsburg has long depended on coal production. But tourism now supports a growing share of the economy, says Sergey Shirokiy, manager of Arctic Travel Company Grumant.
Longstanding friendly relations between the two countries have become frosty over the past few years. To understand why, we spoke to two experts at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington.
Faced with the grim reality that this year’s Arctic sea ice may once again hit the all-time record lows of 2012, scientists weigh up the subsequent risks.
Low coal prices have forced the Store Norske Spitsbergen Coal Company to shutter its largest mine on Svalbard. For Longyearbyen, the collapse of coal presents daunting challenges. But Arild Olsen, the town’s mayor and a former miner, sees opportunities ahead.
Trapped by deep ocean pressure and cold temperatures along continental shelves, methane hydrates could be an energy windfall or a looming disaster. Norway is spending millions to discover whether this ice-like form of natural gas will prove boon or bane.
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