Western Sections of Northern Sea Route Largely Ice Free but Eastern Portions Still have Dense Ice Pack, Russian Researchers Say

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Aug. 5 – Global warming has left large parts of the western Northern Sea Route ice free for increasing periods during the year, but it has not done much to reduce ice packs in the eastern sections, thus limiting the NSR’s value for China and reducing Moscow’s ability to supply ports in that sector, according to Vladivostok’s Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute.

            The icepack in the eastern sections remains so dense that most ships cannot make it through that route without accompanying icebreakers, the Russian experts say (aari.ru/press-center/news/novosti-aari/aanii-v-prolive-longa-sokhranyaetsya-ochen-splochennyy-led and thebarentsobserver.com/en/2024/08/dense-sea-ice-high-arctic-could-threaten-shipping).

            The risk of accidents and oil leaks thus remains high. Also of concern is the fact that Russia’s only floating nuclear power station now at Pevek can’t move unless icebreakers come to its rescue; and thus Moscow’s hopes to use it to supply power in a variety of places in the Russian north have had to be put on hold.

            For background on problems arising from differences in melting in the north and what that means for Moscow both domestically and with regard to its trade with China, see windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2021/12/ice-in-eastern-portion-of-northern-sea.html, windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/08/moscow-now-plans-to-focus-on.html and windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2024/07/beijing-and-moscow-may-develop-network.html.