New frontier: how retreating ice is putting navy on climate watch

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The effect of retreating ice in the Arctic is going to be significantGreenpeace/EPA

Michael EvansPentagon Correspondent

Last updated at 10:19PM, July 6 2010

America must be prepared to re-equip its warships to venture into the Arctic
Ocean as climate change gradually makes the entire region ice-free for a few
weeks a year, the US Navy’s Oceanographer has told The Times.

The effect of retreating ice in the Arctic is going to be so significant,
according to Rear-Admiral David Titley, that the Pentagon will have to make
a decision within the next two or three years on whether to invest billions
of dollars to “ice-harden” ships and submarines to cope with the changing
conditions.