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## Nachricht vom 09.08.99, erstellt von greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org
## weitergeleitet durch Klaus Merkle
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For Immediate Release
Thursday 6th August 1999

GREENPEACE EXPEDITION FINDS NEW EVIDENCE OF  CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS IN THE
ARCTIC

A three week Greenpeace scientific expedition to the retreating Arctic ice
pack, completed on July 31st,has uncovered new evidence that climate
change appears to be impacting on the wildlife and ecology of the region,
particularly walrus young.   

The Greenpeace icebreaker Arctic Sunrise with an international crew and
scientific research team from ten  countries (UK, Netherlands,
Denmark,Russia, NZ, Australia, US,  Canada, Japan, and Spain) travelled along the
edge of the  polar ice pack in the Chukchi Sea between Alaska and Russia 
counting and ageing groups of walrus, and observing polar  bears and black
guillemots(birds dependent on arctic ice).   

"Preliminary results indicate that the walrus population isn't doing so
well," said Dr Brendan Kelly, from the University of Alaska and head of
the research team. "Although we saw more calves than last year, the last
several years have seen low juvenile survival rates, clearly indicating
that this is a population in decline. We don't have enough data to say how
rapid a decline it is, but the early signs of climate change such as the
retreat of the sea ice and the changes in the food supply for these
animals, do not bode well for the walrus."  

Dr. Brendan Kelly headed the research team, which included  Dr. Gennady
Smirnov of Chukotka's Marine Mammal Research  Group, senior researcher
Lori Quakenbush of the University of Alaska, and Clarence Waghiyi from the
Alaska Eskimo Walrus Commission. The main body of research was on the
Pacific  walrus, and the team of nine scientists surveyed  nearly 5000
animals during the three week expedition, using  unique methods developed
by Dr. Kelly and his associates.   

The melting of the polar pack is the most obvious impact of  climate
change in the western Arctic, which is warming at a rate 3-5 times
faster than the rest of the globe. While the sea ice was heavy during the
spring of 1999, July saw an extremely rapid melt-out of the ice in the
Chukchi Sea, which retreated nearly 300 miles in some places during the 
the three weeks of the expedition.    

Walrus, polar bears, seals, seabirds and other uniquely Arctic animals are
dependent on the sea ice for their survival and so are immediately
affected by any change to the ice. The walrus is a mainstay of the diet
for Alaska Native communities in the Bering and Chukchi seas.  

The expedition witnessed an extremely rare event - an  attack by a polar
bear on an adult male walrus hauled out on  the ice. Adult walruses are
generally at least twice as large and heavy as polar bears, with extremely
thick, tough skin, and are not considered common prey for the bears. The
expedition also visited Herald Island, a major polar bear denning area.
Polar bears are also under threat from the retreating sea ice and
ecosystem changes which could threaten their food supply.  "The signs of
climate change are all around us," said Steve   Sawyer, Greenpeace
spokesperson aboard the Arctic Sunrise.   "Climate change is caused by
humans burning fossil fuels.   It's time to stop pumping greenhouse gases
into the  atmosphere and phase out the use of  fossil fuels in  favour of
cleaner forms  of energy such as solar and wind power."   

Ends

http://www.greenpeace.org