The UK government’s new Artic strategy framework
The UK announces a new Artic strategy. The UK government pledges to take a significant part in fostering peace and prosperity in the Arctic. A portion of “Looking North: the UK and the Arctic,” the UK’s new Arctic strategy framework.
As a result of the catastrophic upheaval that climate change is causing in the Arctic. the UK has pledged to take a significant role in supporting security and prosperity in the region.
The UK government outlines in an updated policy framework how it will be the greatest neighbour it can be to Arctic nations, working closely with them on environmental protection, scientific collaboration, defence and security, and commerce.
Despite not being an Arctic state, the UK is directly impacted by changes in the area as it is its closest neighboour and they share a lot of the same species.
The danger of extreme weather, floods, and environmental damage is rising as the Artic warms at a rate four times faster than the world average in global warming era.
The UK’s Arctic strategy will consequently be centred on combating climate change, stopping the loss of biodiversity, and perserving the rights of indigenous groups.
The 8 member Arctic Council, of which the UK is a State Observer, has been characterised by peaceful cooperation and minimal tension since its foundation in 1996.
However, Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine 2022 has severely damaged these qualities. The feasibility of new maritime route via Arctic waters is being investigated by nations, which is raising geopolitical interest and competitiveness in the area.
In response to these possibilities and challenges, the UK will employ its strengths in science, the military, and diplomacy, according to the new framework, Looking North.
On February 9, 2023, Lord Goldsmith, Minister of State in charge of the Polar Regions at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, officially inaugurated Looking North during a reception.
He stated the Arctic matters to the UK and we are the region’s nearest neighbour and share a common interest in its environment, security and prosperity.
He continues, “Our new policy framework sets out how we will be an active, reliable and influential partner in the Arctic – at a time of heightened geopolitical tension and with climate change posing an existential threat to the region as we know it.”
“Drawing on our scientific, diplomatic and military strengths, the UK will work closely with our partners in the region to achieve our shared vision of a clean, green and stable Arctic.”
Looking North, which was developed in collaboration with Arctic partners and is in accordance with the 2021 integrated that are gathers all current UK policies that are pertinent to the Arctic.
It incorporates The UK’s Defence Contribution in the High North, which the Ministry of Defence released 2022, and expands on the UK’s 2018 framework, Beyond the Ice.
Forecasters warns that UK’s impending chilling air
Despite of an impending cold front in the UK, a forecaster has claimed that making ling range predictions is “guesswork.” British Weather Services forecaster Jim Dale told Express.co.uk that the UK’s weather will stay sedate over the long term.
Otherwise, the remainder of February 2023 is too far out, he claimed, to be accurately predicted. But now that we’ve endured extreme pressure for an eternity and a day, he said, “you might anticipate something to happen.”
The disruption of the polar vortex and stratospheric warming are topics of much discussion. However, that has the drawback of travelling someplace. It will impact us if it occurs and you have that outspill of really cold, chilling air.
The impacts of these weather events can’t be predicted by models until “about 10 days or seven days out,” Mr Dale added.
The polar vortex is a circulation of winds high up the stratosphere up to 30miles(50km) above the earth. It is present in winter and is not a new phenomenon. The winds regularly exceed 155 miles(250km) per hour and its strength is in the strongest hurricanes.
A strong polar vortex favours a strong jet stream that us a fast moving ribbon of air around 5 to 7 miles above the earth that drives weather systems form the Atlantic towards the UK.
In a typical UK winter, the jet stream brings winds from the west giving us mild, damp climate. With a stronger jet stream, stormy and very wet weather, which is normal.
Jet stream has another names, anti trades, westerlies, prevailing westerlies. Jet stream has two types, subtropical jet stream and polar jet stream. The earth rotates daily, which causes jet stream.
Jet stream blocks chilly polar vortex air. A weaker jet stream allows more frequent spells of northerly or easterly winds to affect the UK and in winter these bring very cold air from the Arctic and continental Europe. Global warming makes jet stream weaker frequently and as the result the polar vortex air is released to UK and other regions.
At last On 8th March 2023, it’s been snowing since early morning in London. There was 5cm snow cover in the roofs and gardens. On the road snow covers’s melt fast.
Source: gov.uk, express.co.uk
