Coverage

The U.S. government has created the Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee to advise on infrastructure needed for vessels traveling the Arctic Sea Routes, including new deep draft and deepwater ports.

Repsol is expanding its Pikka oil and gas field in Alaska, with CEO Imaz calling the project a key growth opportunity amid new discoveries.

UK‑based Gino Watkins Fund announces new awards for polar expeditions, backing researchers, teams and explorers to deepen knowledge of the Arctic and Antarctic.

Ekati’s receivership will see most of its 350‑400 employees terminated in stages as operations wind down, with only a handful kept for care and reclamation work; those laid off receive no severance but may qualify for up to $9,275 through the federal Wage Earner Protection Program.

Smoke from a nearby wildfire still blocks Transport Safety Board investigators’ helicopter access to the wreckage of a Buffalo Airways firefighting aircraft that crashed near Fort Simpson on June 24, delaying recovery and analysis of parts that may lie in a lake. Investigators plan another attempt in weeks.

A new study tracing shrub scar evidence and satellite imagery shows that climate change is pushing North American beavers into previously ice‑bound Canadian Arctic areas, where their dam‑building could reshape local landscapes.

In June 2026 a Franciscan sister led a group of faith leaders to explore the 19‑million‑acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, where they documented wildlife abundance and vibrant landscapes.

Scientists suggest a coordinated experiment of Arctic climate models to map the ocean’s response functions, aiming to refine projections of temperature and sea‑ice dynamics.

The paper reviews how Arctic Ocean circulation is being reshaped by ongoing warming, freshening, and sea‑ice loss, outlining the resulting shifts in heat transport and their implications for regional ecosystems and global climate models.

Permafrost thaw is causing ground slumping, erosion and other hazards that threaten the livelihoods and infrastructure of Arctic communities.

Russia’s modernized nuclear-powered battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov has returned to the Arctic port of Severodvinsk after completing sea trials, underscoring the country’s naval presence in northern waters.

Marine traffic in the Arctic has risen roughly 40 % over twelve years as shrinking ice opens new routes, a trend researchers say alters cloud formation.

Ships heading for the Northwest Passage are paused in Nome as thicker Canadian Arctic ice has drifted into the Beaufort Sea, prolonging clearance times.

China has set sail from Dalian with four research vessels—icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2 plus Jidi and Tansuo 3—to conduct multi‑disciplinary studies of sea ice, ocean chemistry, biology, atmospheric dynamics, and geoscience across the Arctic Ocean. The mission, begun 3 July 2026 under China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, includes Russian and German scientists and aims to build a robust data base for climate research and sustainable Arctic development.

The USS Santa Fe completed a March mission by vertically breaking through Arctic ice and arrived in San Diego on Tuesday, illustrating U.S. naval reach into polar waters.

Ash from Shiveluch volcano triggered flight cancellations and delays at Anchorage, Fairbanks and Nome airports, affecting about ten Alaska Airlines flights with roughly 1,100 passengers.