Kjerstin Askholt will be the new Sysselmannen på Svalbard from 01 October. The Sysselmannen is the highest representative of the Norwegian government in Svalbard and is appointed (not elected) for 3 years. This time, there were 7 applicants, as usual mostly high-ranking police officers or the juridical administration.
Kjerstin Askholt has been involved with the administration of the Norwegian polar areas within the Ministry of Justice since 2003 and is accordingly experienced in relevant matters. She has announced to emphasize general continuity and a continuously good relationship with the Russian neighbours in Barentsburg. There are challenges in both, as the difficult situation of the coal industry, growing tourism and the relationship with the Russians is usually good in Spitsbergen but internationally currently obviously difficult, which may reflect on the local dialogue as well.
Kjerstin Askholt will be the second woman in the position of the Sysselmannen. The first one was Ann-Kristin Olsen, who was the boss on Skjæringa from 1995 to 1998. Skjæringa is the part of Longyearbyen where the Sysselmannen’s office is located and a commonly used local term.
May 17th is the National Day of Norway. On this day Norwegians celebrate the Norwegian Constitution which was adopted on May 17th in 1814 by the recently established Constituent Assembly at the small place of Eidsvoll in southern Norway. A considerable act for the country and courageous as well, as Norway before was governed by the Danish crown for almost 300 years. Officially Norway was part of the Danish kingdom, the important positions were held by Danes and by the impact of culture- and school-politics Norwegians should become Danish.
In 1814, at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, as the territorial reorganization of the Scandinavian countries was negotiated in the Treaty of Kiel, the Norwegians took the opportunity: They established a national assembly, gave themselves a constitution and elected an own king. Yet, it did not work that easy. Norway was pressed into a union with Sweden instead and the Swedish king also became king of Norway in personal union. But at least Norway was a separate kingdom again, the national assembly was transformed into a parliament (Storting) and the constitution, celebrated on May 17th, was maintained. Norway became completely independent in 1905 when the union with Sweden was suspended.
Traditionally the National Day is celebrated with a parade including music, lots of Norwegian flags and a diversity of traditional costumes from the different parts of the country. In the capital Oslo the parade moves along Karl Johans Gate and passes the Royal Palace. All over the country people raise the Norwegian flag.
In the Norwegian Arctic May 17th was celebrated as well, not only on Spitsbergen, in Longyearbyen, among the researchers in Ny Ålesund and in the mining settlement of Sveagruva, but also at the meteorological stations on the remote islands of Bjørnøya, Jan Mayen and Hopen. Even the crew of the research vessel RV ´Lance´, frozen in the ice north of Spitsbergen, organized a parade: across the ice, once around the ship. Afterwards there was a party onboard. The station on Bjørnøya was visited by the crew of the coastguard vessel KV ´Harstad´, increasing the number of participants at the parade significantly. It is also said, that they could win some new members for the Bjørnøya Nude-Bathing-Association. The smallest May 17th celebration was held on Hopen. At least with 4 persons (and the 4 station dogs) all inhabitants were present.
In Longyearbyen the parade moved from the church to the city center and further to the war memorial where flowers were laid down and speeches were held. The speakers were Robert Hermansen, former CEO of the mining company Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani and the Russian Consul General in Barentsburg, Jurij Gribkov, who congratulated the Norwegians to the celebration of their Constitution. Afterwards the parade moved to the Svalbardhall where a meal was served and the celebration continued with several events, especially for the children. In his speech the Sysselmannen Odd Olsen Ingerø emphasized Norway´s sovereignty over Svalbard and confirmed the validity of the Spitsbergen Treaty.
Inspite of thawing periods in April, the winter season has lasted for quite a long time. Now it is coming to an end. In late April, the weather had finally stabilized with temperatures below zero and many sunny days, bringing good touring weather beyond 17 May, the Norwegian national day.
The spring has brought new inhabitants to inner Isfjord: two polar bear families have been regularly seen in Billefjord and Tempelfjord, including one with 3 cubs, a great rarity. This very pleasant fact brought controversial discussions regarding snow mobile traffic in these frequently visited fjords. The Sysselmannen (local authorities) asked the public several times to execute good self control and keep traffic to an unavoidable minimum. Nevertheless, small groups were observed several times too close or too long near the bears.
Experience for example from Tempelfjord in 2013 shows that polar bears, including families with young offspring, do not necessarily suffer from frequent traffic. In that spring, a mother with 2 first year cubs spent several months in Tempelfjord, which was frequently visited by large numbers of groups. Respectful behaviour contributed to the well-being of the bear family, which was generally not visibly affected by traffic, but seemed to enjoy a good and healthy period, with regular hunting success.
Unfortunately, both cubs from 2013 are most likely dead by now. One died in Billefjord a short time after tranquilization for scientific reasons. There is now evidence for the tranquilization being the cause of the death, but the assumption is not far away.
The second one of those 2 cubs was most likely the one that was shot near Fredheim in late March 2015 by tourists in their camp. The bear had injured one person in a tent and was then injured with several bullets from a revolver. It was later shot by the police.
These observations indicate that a larger number of well-controlled tourists, with respectful behaviour, is less of a problem than a smaller number of visitors (including scientists) with more unusual activities, involving a higher risk. An interesting impression, as the public reception of tourists is generally much worse than that of scientists.
Currently, the greatest public concern is about the polar bear family with 3 cubs. Discussions in social networks make it clear that there is public concern and interest, at least locally, and there is little tolerance for behaviour that might disturb or even endanger the bears. On the other hand, the mother has already been marked by scientists, which involves tranquilization of at least the mother. It is not known in public wether the scientists used snow mobiles or helicopters to get within shooting range, but in any way this can safely be assumed to be a traumatic experience for the whole family, within a period that is believed to be so sensitive for the survival of the young bears that the Sysselmannen asks the public to minimize traffic in the same area.
Now, the snow mobile season is over anyway, which will make life for the polar bears a bit more quiet, as individual do not have the opportunity anymore to get too close to the bears.
Russia is using every opportunity to challenge the Norwegian government in the Arctic. Already in early March, the Russian ambassador has filed a sharp diplomatic note to the Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs to protest against the opening of blocks for oil and gas in the Barents Sea.
According to the Russians, the area in question should be governed by the Spitsbergen Treaty, which would give other countries more rights to make use of potential resources. The further development would, at least, not be a domestic Norwegian issue anymore.
The Russian reasoning, however, leaves a mixed impression at best: it is argued that Spitsbergen has a shelf area on its own, to which the relevant area belongs. Hence, the area should be treated as part of Spitsbergen, according to the Russian government, and not as part of the Norwegian economic zone.
It is commonly accepted, as is illustrated in the image in this article, that there is one continuous shelf from mainland Norway up to Spitsbergen, and this shelf belongs to Norway. This is certainly the perspective of the Norwegian government, which is certainly shared by the Russian government when it comes to their own shelf areas north of Russia. There is no geological or juridical reason to define a separate “Spitsbergen Shelf”.
The continental shelf in the Barents Sea (light blue) is commonly considered one continuous shelf. The arrow marks the position of Bear Island (Bjørnøya).
The Norwegian coal mining company in Spitsbergen, Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani (SNSK), has been in difficulties for a while (see December news: Coal mining not profitable: Store Norske cuts 100 jobs). The low world market prices for coal are the main reason. The SNSK has already cut a large number of jobs, which is reason for nervousness in a place as small as Longyearbyen, which may suffer strongly from a significant loss of jobs, both economically and socially.
Hence, a decision by the Norwegian government comes as a relief for many in Longyearbyen: As minister of economic affairs Monica Mæland announced during a press conference, SNSK will get a credit of 500 million Norwegian kroner (about 60 million Euro). The company had asked for 450 million NOK, less than it will actually get now.
Mæland made it clear that the credit does not come without some conditions: it is not to be taken as a guarantee for the long-term existence of coal mining in Spitsbergen. Future government politics in Svalbard, which set the framework for the development, are to be defined in a government policy statement (“Svalbardmelding”), which comes every 5-10 years. The next Svalbardmelding is currently under preparation in the ministry of justice. The current credit still needs approval from the Storting (Norwegian parliament). And the land property of the SNSK, which is an important local land owner, is to be transferred to the government. This shall strengthen Norwegian sovereignty and is likely to be more of a symbolic character, rather than having major practical consequences.
The credit for SNSK has led to common relief in Longyearbyen.
Coal mining in Spitsbergen: an industry with future or only with a lot of history?
The sudden surfacing of the powerful Russian politician Dmitry Rogozin, vice premier and leader of the Russian government’s new Arctic Commission, stirred Norwegian officials up. Rogozin is on an EU sanction list and not welcome in Norway, as was subsequently made clear by the Norwegian government.
Rogozin provoked the Norwegian government by mentioning that the Norwegian sovereignty is limited in Svalbard (the Spitsbergen Treaty makes undisputably clear that Norway has full sovereignty over the Spitsbergen archipelago, but it does indeed put some limits to the execution of the sovereignty). According to Rogozin, nobody could be kept from visiting Svalbard.
It is not known how Rogozin, who made his arrival known via twitter, arrived at the airport at Longyearbyen, but it is safe to assume that he did not travel trough mainland Norway. Rogozin soon continued to the Russian drift ice station Barneo near the north pole, where he made further provocative comments in an interview to Russian state TV: “Last year, we had the historical reunification of Sevastopol and the Crimea. This year, we present a new view and new powerful stress on the development of the Arctic. Basically, its is all about the same …” and he continued: Russia is now “starting to get more conscious about territory, its interests and borders”. Russia is known as nationalist and expansionist.
Norway’s foreign minister Børge Brende did not leave any doubts that “people on the sanctions list, people that have been central in breaching international law in Ukraine, are not welcome to the mainland or to Svalbard”.
It is, however, unlikely that this will make of an impression on the Russian vice premier.
Russian vice premier Dmitriy Rogozin at the Russian drift ice station Barneo near the north pole (twitter photo)..
Two tickets have become available again on the expedition to Jan Mayen 2015 (15th-27th June) due to a cancellation. Demand is high, the Jan Mayen expedition in 2016 is already fully booked.
There is also still the opportunity to join us on the voyage in Spitsbergen (15th-25th September) 2015 with SV Antigua, with focusses on glacier hikes and photography, next to the “more usual” landings and walk, which we will certainly also do. This voyage will be German speaking.
There is a new panorama tour (virtual tour) from Antarctica, namely from Cape Adare in the Ross Sea. Cape Adare is one of the most famous, but rarely visited places in Antarctica: in 1895, it was the site of the first well-documented landing on the continent, and in 1899 it was the site of the very first wintering on the continent, by an expedition led by Karsten Borchgrevink. These stories are shortly summarized in the new panorama tour, and so is the visit of the northern party under Campbell during Robert F. Scott’s final expedition with Terra Nova.
The panorama tour documents the historic huts at Cape Adare and gives impressions of the amazing scenery of the place at the northernmost end of Victoria Land, being part of the famous Transantarctic Mountains. Cape Adare is also home to the largest colony of Adélie penguins in Antarctica, which means in the world.
The arctic blog is now continued! Since mid March, I am back in Spitsbergen and frequently out on tour. Camera, an open eye and eagerness to see and experience arctic scenery, wildlife and history are always with me, and this results in photo galleries and little stories from travels out in the arctic wilderness, published in my arctic blog, which will be continued for most of the year. A trip to Tempelfjord makes the beginning, followed by the event of the year in Spitsbergen, the solar eclipse. Enjoy some virtual high latitude traveling!
Emergency services and hospital have got a record-high number of missions and patients from snow mobile accidents this year. Until late March, the hospital had 38 patients in treatment with injuries related to accidents from snow mobile driving. In 2014, the equivalent number was 21. Injuries often include fractures.
The data base is not sufficient to analyze reasons, but this season’s instable weather may have contributed with bad visibility at times and icy surfaces.
The proportions of locals and tourists is also not known. Several serious accidents included local drivers, such as the young man who died in an avalanche in January and the extensive search and rescue mission on the east coast. In late March, a young man from Longyearbyen fell into a 6 m deep snow whole with his snow mobile and received heavy head injuries. He is still in hospital in Tromsø, not in a life-threatening condition anymore but he his being kept in an artificial coma.
The numbers of participants on organized tours have not reached the levels of the record years of 2007 and 2008 again, but the numbers of individual snow mobile rentals have increased, indicating a larger number of tourists individually in the field. Those who are out on individual trips with limited experienced and without local knowledge have to remember that they are traveling with a strong vehicle that can quickly reach high speed in terrain that has all the potential traps and dangerous that the winter arctic may have. Uneven terrain, windholes in the snow etc. can be difficult to see in bad weather or poor light conditions, which may quickly result in dangerous accidents.
Enjoyable evening on tour with snow mobiles. But the weather is not always as nice as here.
The Spitsbergen-Svalbard.com Easter brainteaser – what does the photo at the bottom show? – has got a lot of nice replies. A selection of answers (my own translation of those that were sent in German):
Close-up of Humpback whale skin
Close-up of Walrus skin in black & white
Ice surface. It looks like something has ground it (like the surface at a curling court (Sweden become world champs yesterday!)). So that has to be my guess. Not a curling court, but a ice covered surface that been grounded in some way. Maybe from dog sledge skids?
Ice structures
Is it frozen water from below with trapped air bubbles?
A warm item (e.g. a warm kettle) put on frozen water.
An aerial photo of frozen mud flats at low tide.
I thought frozen water at first, but I don’t think that’s right.
Not polished concrete?
Iced-over stromatolithes that got a glaciological haircut
Negative imprint of a fossil fern
think it is water over some frozen soil or something….
actually i have no clue even after staring for 30 minutes at the picture!
in any case: it is beautiful! 🙂
A true conch in shallow water?
Maybe a shoe sole
A rather rare iron structure on a geode (or part of it)
Profile of a snow mobile belt
Close-up of ice structure
A dog in a river bed / ice surface
A number of interesting and surprisingly varied answers! It seems to have been more difficult than I had thought, and this shows how much camera and lens may help to see things that otherwise are hidden or that we see, if at all, in a different way. All those who have seen glacier ice have had this phenomenon near them (but not necessarily seen it and paid attention to it).
This is how the picture was taken:
What is this? Glacier ice!
A macro photo of glacier ice in an ice cave in a glacier, with tripod and macro lens, to make smallest details visible. The brainteaser photo shows very small air bubbles in glacier ice. The individual bubbles and channels are smaller than 1 mm. The area shown on the photo is, in reality, an estimated 4×6 mm large, or rather: small. This network of air bubbles was oriented in a plain parallel to the very clear ice surface, about 2-3 cm deep in the ice, which altogether made it possible to photograph it. Please don’t ask me how exactly this pattern of air channels comes into existence, I don’t know. Please tell me if you know.
The first price for “Close-up of ice structure” goes to Stephanie in Scotland! Stephanie, the choice is yours!
The second price goes to Leipzig and the third one to Sweden. Congratulations to all winners and a big thanks to all who sent their answers! It was fun, and that was the whole purpose of it.
What is this? Very small bubbles and channels of air trapped in glacier ice
Update: I haven’t got an answer so far that really hits the nail on the head. The question will remain open and entries can be filed until the answer appears as a new spitsbergen-svalbard.com news entry.
An Easter brainteaser on spitsbergen-svalbard.com? Yes, why not. I took the photo recently here in Spitsbergen. And the first one who can tell me what it shows will receive any item (your choice) of the books, postcards or calendar on this website (see right side or click here). The second and third incoming answers – being correct – have the choice within postcards or calendar. Entries by email (contact).
Not difficult, is it?
The answer has to be correct and concrete. Everything that is not wrong is correct, unless it is wrong. I (Rolf Stange) decide if it is concrete (someone has to do it). It is not enough to write that it is a bit of Spitsbergen. This would be correct, but not concrete.
To make it easier, you can download a larger file of the same photo by clicking here.
Modern life in the arctic is demanding considerable resources. Food stuffs are imported over long distances, which is costly and burns a lot of fuel. Many visitors get a bit nervous when they see the prices for food in the high north, and so-called fresh vegetables are not always as fresh as you might want.
Food waste is shredded and washed straight into the fjord together with waste water, altogether a great waste. Another solution would be highly desirable, both from an environmental and an economic perspective.
Thinking local food in the arctic, most people would probably have reindeer steaks on their mind, which is obviously not the solution. Local vegetables? Negative. Even the Russian (Sovjet, back then) settlements Barentsburg and Pyramiden were, in a way, more advanced, with considerable local production in greenhouses and stables for cows, pigs etc., most of which have been abandoned years ago.
But creative people are working on solutions to grow vegetables locally, fresh and environmentally friendly. A start up project called Polar Permaculture Solutions is developing techniques in Longyearbyen for advanced greenhouses to grow vegetables in permafrost areas without high energy and water consumption. First tests are promising: according to Polar Permafrost Solutions, parsley, coriander, basil, paprika, summer squash, mini corn, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, eggplant, red chili peppers and more have already been grown successfully. Food waste is used to produce soil and fertilizer with biological techniques (sounds better than worms, but that’s what it is)
Fresh, tasty, local production and environmentally friendly – we are looking forward to see the further development!
Fresh vegetables of local production in Longyearbyen: so far an utopia, hopefully soon a reality that makes a lot of sense for the environment and economy.
During this winter season 2014/2015 the sea ice in the Arctic has extended much less than it usually did.
As the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado reports, this winter the ice likely reached its maximum extend as soon as February 25th. This is 15 days earlier than the average of the years 1981 to 2010 which serves as the reference period.
More alarming is the fact that the extent of sea ice on this date had not proceeded very far yet. Indeed, since the beginning of the satellite record the maximum extent of Arctic sea ice has never been as low as in this winter. On February 25th the ice covered an area of 14.54 million square kilometers. This is 1.1 million square kilometers less than the long term average and 130.000 square kilometers less than the former negative record of 2011. All areas were affected except for the Labrador Sea and the Davis Strait between Greenland and Canada. There was a remarkably low extent of ice on the Pacific side of the Arctic and in the Barents Sea west of Novaya Semlya and southwest of Spitsbergen.
After reaching its low maximum on February 25th the sea ice extent initially decreased significantly (with regional variations) and then increased again in the second half of March. However, a new maximum could not be reached. Currently the ice is retreating again, according to the time of the year.
It can be expected that the low extent of sea ice in winter will also lead to less ice in the summer season. This scenario is supported by the effect that open water surfaces are absorbing more solar energy and are warming up faster than ice surfaces which reflect most of the sunlight (see also Spitsbergen-Svalbard.com news: Retreat of Arctic sea ice accelerates global warming from February 2014).
Good news from the Habitat Restoration Project in South Georgia in the news section of the antarctic counterpart of this website (click here).
Seabirds near South Georgia: thanks to the Habitat Restoration Project, populations especially of smaller species can be expected to increase significantly in years to come.