Photos: Climate change, polar ice melt opens up the Arctic as never before

Updated On Jul 28, 2017 10:25 am IST

A Finnish icebreaker captures the changing landscape of the Arctic across Alaska and the Bering Strait, documenting climate change and its impact on polar ice sheets.

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The Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica sails through ice floating on the Beaufort Sea off the coast of Alaska while traversing the Arctic's Northwest Passage, where global warming is melting sea ice and glaciers at an unprecedented rate, opening up once impenetrable Arctic routes to oil exploration and climate change observers. (David Keyton / AP)

Updated on Jul 28, 2017 10:25 am IST

The Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica sails through ice floating on the Beaufort Sea off the coast of Alaska while traversing the Arctic's Northwest Passage, where global warming is melting sea ice and glaciers at an unprecedented rate, opening up once impenetrable Arctic routes to oil exploration and climate change observers. (David Keyton / AP)

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Canadian Coast Guard Capt. Victor Gronmyr looks out over the ice covering the Victoria Strait, visibly pockmarked by signs of melting in the summer months. (David Goldman / AP)

Updated on Jul 28, 2017 10:25 am IST

Canadian Coast Guard Capt. Victor Gronmyr looks out over the ice covering the Victoria Strait, visibly pockmarked by signs of melting in the summer months. (David Goldman / AP)

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Researchers look toward the midnight sun while approaching the American island of Little Diomede, Alaska, and the Russian island of Big Diomede, as the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica sails along the international date line through the Bering Strait. The international date line is an imaginary border that runs through the middle of the Pacific Ocean and marks the boundary between calendar dates, effectively making it the zero-line for the planet’s time zones. (David Goldman / AP)

Updated on Jul 28, 2017 10:25 am IST

Researchers look toward the midnight sun while approaching the American island of Little Diomede, Alaska, and the Russian island of Big Diomede, as the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica sails along the international date line through the Bering Strait. The international date line is an imaginary border that runs through the middle of the Pacific Ocean and marks the boundary between calendar dates, effectively making it the zero-line for the planet’s time zones. (David Goldman / AP)

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Sea ice floats past the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as the ship sails through the Chukchi Sea off the coast of Alaska while traversing the Arctic's Northwest Passage. (David Goldman / AP)

Updated on Jul 28, 2017 10:25 am IST

Sea ice floats past the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as the ship sails through the Chukchi Sea off the coast of Alaska while traversing the Arctic's Northwest Passage. (David Goldman / AP)

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The bow of the icebreaker MSV Nordica pushes down sea ice as it sails through the Victoria Strait. The MSV Nordica is equipped with several heavy-duty engines and a hardened bow and hull that allow it either to drive through thin layers of ice or to crush thicker sheets by rising onto the ice with the help of its rounded hull. The ship's massive weight breaks the ice from above. (David Goldman / AP)

Updated on Jul 28, 2017 10:25 am IST

The bow of the icebreaker MSV Nordica pushes down sea ice as it sails through the Victoria Strait. The MSV Nordica is equipped with several heavy-duty engines and a hardened bow and hull that allow it either to drive through thin layers of ice or to crush thicker sheets by rising onto the ice with the help of its rounded hull. The ship's massive weight breaks the ice from above. (David Goldman / AP)

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A bird's wake is cast on the water with the American islands of Little Diomede, Alaska (L), and behind it the Russian island of Big Diomede (R), are seen from the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica in the Bering Strait. The international date line divides the two islands, putting them currently 20 hours apart despite roughly 3.8 kms separating them. Due to this time difference, Little Diomede is sometimes referred to as Yesterday Isle and Big Diomede as Tomorrow Island. (David Goldman / AP)

Updated on Jul 28, 2017 10:25 am IST

A bird's wake is cast on the water with the American islands of Little Diomede, Alaska (L), and behind it the Russian island of Big Diomede (R), are seen from the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica in the Bering Strait. The international date line divides the two islands, putting them currently 20 hours apart despite roughly 3.8 kms separating them. Due to this time difference, Little Diomede is sometimes referred to as Yesterday Isle and Big Diomede as Tomorrow Island. (David Goldman / AP)

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Broken sea ice emerges from under the hull of the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails through the Victoria Strait. As a general rule, the older ice gets the more it turns blue and acquires mounds, so-called hummocks, on top from years of crashing into other ice sheets. (David Goldman / AP)

Updated on Jul 28, 2017 10:25 am IST

Broken sea ice emerges from under the hull of the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it sails through the Victoria Strait. As a general rule, the older ice gets the more it turns blue and acquires mounds, so-called hummocks, on top from years of crashing into other ice sheets. (David Goldman / AP)

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MSV Nordica sails through ice floating on the Chukchi Sea off the coast of Alaska while traversing the Arctic's Northwest Passage, a treacherous, ice-bound route where Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen made the first successful transit in 1906. (David Goldman / AP)

Updated on Jul 28, 2017 10:25 am IST

MSV Nordica sails through ice floating on the Chukchi Sea off the coast of Alaska while traversing the Arctic's Northwest Passage, a treacherous, ice-bound route where Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen made the first successful transit in 1906. (David Goldman / AP)

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Ice is broken up by the passing of the MSV Nordica as it sails through the Chukchi Sea. The region has become a magnet for nations wanting to exploit the Arctic’s rich oil reserves and other natural resources and for scientists seeking to understand global warming and its impacts on the sea and wildlife. (David Goldman / AP)

Updated on Jul 28, 2017 10:25 am IST

Ice is broken up by the passing of the MSV Nordica as it sails through the Chukchi Sea. The region has become a magnet for nations wanting to exploit the Arctic’s rich oil reserves and other natural resources and for scientists seeking to understand global warming and its impacts on the sea and wildlife. (David Goldman / AP)

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The Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica sails through sheets of ice on the Beaufort Sea in international waters while traversing the Arctic's Northwest Passage. Ice breakers are the battering rams of far northern climes. (David Keyton / AP)

Updated on Jul 28, 2017 10:25 am IST

The Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica sails through sheets of ice on the Beaufort Sea in international waters while traversing the Arctic's Northwest Passage. Ice breakers are the battering rams of far northern climes. (David Keyton / AP)

News / Photos / News / Photos: Climate change, polar ice melt opens up the Arctic as never before

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