The Arctic: Technology and Infrastructure on Earth and in Space

As global warming continues, the geography of the Arctic changes, and, subsequently, human activity in the Arctic increases.  Countries with economic and national security interests in the region need to develop new infrastructure and technology not just for land and sea, but also for space.

“The entire planet is warming. However, the temperature in the Arctic is increasing at twice the rate than is averaged around the rest of the planet,” Admiral Robert Papp told The Cipher Brief. Papp, who is the U.S. State Department’s Special Representative for the Arctic and the former Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, explains that this creates a positive feedback loop, in which rising temperatures melt Arctic ice, creating more dark blue water area, which absorbs heat and exacerbates the ice melting process.