Photo. Arctic expeditions are set up for research within several areas (photo from Xexplorersweb: www.explorersweb.com)
It`s always a good idea to be prepared.
If you would like to travel to Antarctic, I am sure you might wonder about several things:
- Are the polar bears dangerous?
- Are they curious or aggressive?
- What do you do when you encounter a polar bear face to face?
- How to be prepared?
- How do you organise the campsite?
- And other things.
The Norwegian Polar Institute, does research work in the areas of marine ecology, climate, terrestrial ecology and geology.
Polar bears
First of all, what about the polar bears? How are they? Research work has revealed that polar bears have a high pollution factor, and female polar bears have abnormal genitalia: are polar bears in trouble? Polar bears in the Norwegian Arctic are exposed to levels of pollution that may cause serious damage both to individuals and to the population. The degree of exposure can be explained by circulation patterns of air and water that transport pollutants into the Arctic from southern latitudes.
Foxes
Scabbard's arctic foxes experience extreme contrasts in light and temperature, and periodic limitations of food availability. Food is available during the summer and is highly restricted during winter.
Since "Fram" and "Maud" were built (the latter in 1918), Norway has had no research vessel specially designed to meet the requirements for research expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctica.
The Arctic environment has traditionally been considered an unspoilt wilderness. In many ways this is still true, but today there are some challenges. One of the biggest challenges is to preserve the polar areas against pollution. Pollution from near and distant sources is an increasing threat.
Pollution
Accordingly, the Norwegian Polar Institute's websites, scientists from this institute are convinced that the high pollution levels reducing the polar bears' survival and reproductive abilities. Other researchers reports that there are similar problems among the indigenous populations in the Arctic who eat much of the same as the polar bears do, included sea mammals.
The pollution is transferred from near and distant sources, through the food chains, and become concentrated in the whale and seal blubber. This is an example why it is so vital to investigate scientifically the natural environment of the Polar Regions.
Based on these expeditions and research work, governments will be able to make the right decisions about how to stimulate a sustainable development in the Arctic. It is the aim of the Norwegian Government to administer the Norwegian Arctic so that they can preserve it as one of the best wilderness areas in the world. So here it still opportunities for adventures to achieve unique experiences.
Stein Morten Lund, 17 July 2000
Additional information
To find out more about what is happening in the Arctic regarding environments, climate, animals, for example bears, vital advice for travelling and explorations, more information can be obtained at the Norwegian Polar Institute's website.
Read more (http://www.npolar.no/).
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