http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/sep/HQ_08234_Artic_Sea_Ice.html
Press release which reports that Arctic Sea ice appears to have reached its lowest extent for 2008 and the second-lowest amount recorded since the beginning of satellite coverage in 1979. From the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34547_20080623.pdf
Speculates on the possible federal revenues that could be derived from exploration and extraction of oil from the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the uses to which such revenue could be put. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by OpenCRS.org.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/servicerpt/anwr/pdf/sroiaf(2008)03.pdf
Provides an assessment of federal oil and natural gas leasing in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ANWR in Alaska and of the potential impact of leasing there on domestic crude oil production. Sees production from ANWR developing to 780,000 barrels per day by 2027 and then declining. Also predicts impact of ANWR oil on other world production and price. From the Energy Information Administration
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/pubs/PDF/rich2952/rich2952.pdf
Presents a review of scientific data primarily from 2000-2005 which shows the Artic area undergoing continued warming and sea ice continuing to decrease as compared to patterns in the latter part of the 20th Century. From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/special/polar_bears/
Covers a series of studies that link future reduction of sea ice in the Arctic to loss of 2/3 of the world's polar bear population. From the U.S. Geological Survey
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/2007stratozoneprogressreport.html
Reports on the people, programs, and organizations that are working to protect the ozone layer and on the reduced emissions level of ozone-depleting substances. Predicts full recovery of Antarctic ozone layer to pre-1980 levels by 2060 to 2075. From the Environmental Protection Agency
http://opencrs.cdt.org/rpts/RL33872_20070208.pdf
Reviews the controversy surrounding whether to tap energy reserves at the risk of damaging the area's biological, recreational, and subsistence resources. Also reviews developments in the 109th Congress and prospects for change in the current 110th Congress. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by Open CRS.org
http://opencrs.cdt.org/rpts/RS22582_20070125.pdf
The Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing polar bears as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act because of the later freezing and earlier thawing of the Arctic Sea ice. This report reviews the threats to polar bears, including hunting, climate change, and contamination of the environment. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by OpenCRS.org.
http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2006/nov06/noaa06-088.html
Describes the availability of and offers links to a new climatology dataset to improve seasonal climatological sea-ice-change forecast research in the Arctic. From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2725.htm
Press release about the largest ozone hole every observed at 10.6 million square miles in the polar region of the Southern Hemisphere. From the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Website devoted to news, resources, data, and photos relating to the Arctic/Antarctic and the U.S. contribution to the International Polar Year, sponsored by the International Council of Science. From the National Science Foundation
