Improved Sea Transportation Route

Jyllian Kemsley has an article entitled, "Connecting Ice and Air" in the December 5 issue of Chemical and Engineering News. It is about a scientific probe concerning the role of sea ice in atmospheric chemistry as the Arctic warms. This seems to me to be a reasonable study, providing it doesn't cost "too much". I should also point out that I am not disputing warming of the Arctic and the reduction in ice coverage, nor am I disputing that there is such a thing as climate change. However, I do dispute any implication that the activities of man has had any significant effect on this climate change.

With that aside and unrelated to the basic study,, I am impressed with the shrinkage of ice coverage, leading to opportunities in sea transport.

According to Wikipedia, Roald Amundsen found a connection between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans north of Canada in the early 1900s.. However until 2009, Arctic pack ice prevented regular marine shipping throughout most of the year. Climate change has now reduced the Arctic pack ice making this waterway more navigable.

It should be noted that, other than this Northwest Passage, the only connections between the Atlantic and Pacific are through the Panama Canal and around the southern end of South America. The Panama route has its limitation in the size of ships if can handle, although the capacity has recently been somewhat expanded. The southern route has the disadvantage of increased distance, which extends the time of delivery.

We hear many predictions of doom from the effects of climate change. Here is one effect that could be significantly economically helpful.