Reports results of investigation sponsored jointly by NASA and the University of California-Irvine which determined that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet will melt into the sea raising sea levels by four feet. From the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/148/18136.pdf
Decision of the International Court of Justice that Japanese whaling activities in the Antarctic is a commercial whaling venture that is a violation of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. Japan claims it is a scientific research program. From the International Court of Justice
http://irmafiles.nps.gov/reference/holding/489332
Presents results from mapping of all glacier extents and from measurements of surface elevation change for Alaskan glaciers. Discovered that glaciers decreased 5% to 11% from 1950/51 to 2005/07. From the National Park Service
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/nat_arctic_strategy.pdf
Proposes a strategy for taking advantage of emerging economic opportunities in the warming Arctic region while working with other nations to protect the environment and promote peace. From the White House
http://www.defense.gov/pubs/2013_Arctic_Strategy.pdf
The ice is melting and the mineral resources are becoming more available for exploitation. This document presents the U.S. strategy for maintaining stability and security in the arctic in a warming world. From the Defense Department
http://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/press_releases/documents/WMO_1108_EN_web_000.pdf
Covers key findings, regional climate features and tropical cyclones. 2012 joined the ten previous years as one of the warmest on record. From the World Meterological Organization
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL34391.pdf
Describes the current state of the U.S. icebreakers, the budget prospects for improvements, and how polar icebreaking should be handled in the future. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists
http://www.unep.org/pdf/uyb_2013.pdf
Sounds an alarm about damage to the polar icecaps. As sea ice melts (it was 18% below previous recorded minimums in the summer of 2012), a rush to exploit natural resources creates conditions for further damage to the fragile system. From the United Nations Environment Programme