The dynamics of a new and changing Arctic Ocean will have profound effects on the climate and the global economy, said an assistant professor from UNC Wilmington’s Department of Physics & Physical Oceanography in a presentation last Monday at Hoggard Hall.

“The perceived openness of Arctic space enables it to become a space of masculinist fantasy and adventure, which is mirrored in contemporary accounts of Arctic geopolitics.” said Dr. Till Wagner, quoting an academic article written by Jason Dittmer, Sami Moisio, Alan Ingram and Klaus Dodds.

Dr. Wagner’s presentation, titled “The New Arctic Ocean,” was the third lecture held in the 2019-20 Planet Ocean Seminar Series, an annual series of academic presentations held by the UNCW Center for Marine Science.

The series, which offers members of the public access to three to four authoritative seminars per academic year, is funded in part by the Bluefish Society — the Center for Marine Science’s annual giving program.

Dr. Wagner’s presentation discussed at length the ongoing changes occurring in the Arctic climate — namely the fact that sea ice coverage in summer months is in continuous decline, and that the amount of thick sea ice has decreased by around 75 percent.

“I lived in the Arctic for, like, 25 years, so I kind of saw the sea ice form up and meltdown over that time,” said audience member Tim Holder. “I’ve just put my photo albums together and I’ve got my photos from flying over the ice and looking straight down shooting the different kinds of ice, so I’m as excited as he is.”

As a consequence of these shifts in the Arctic climate, the region is now opening up to global trade and geopolitics, says Dr. Wagner. Summer Arctic shipping routes—the long-sought-after Northwest Passage—now allow ships to bypass the lengthy journeys around Asia and South America which have long characterized international trade. Dr. Wagner estimates that by 2050, ships may be able to travel the summer routes without the aid of icebreaker vessels.

Maritime jurisdiction over the Arctic, however, is open and under debate. According to Dr. Wagner, the countries of Russia, Norway, Denmark, Canada and the U.S. hold claim to the majority of the Arctic ocean, with Russia’s long Siberian coast granting it the majority under international law.

“The work they do and the science behind it is quite amazing, I think,” said Bluefish Society member Steve Colwell. “But when it comes down to it, we still don’t really know how it all works. Its theory, and they keep getting more and more data all the time and trying to figure out what’s going on in nature.”