Bow and Arrow Technology in North America

This Paper illustrates that safe and cost-effective Arctic tanker transportation on a year-round basis is feasible in both the North American and Russian Arctic areas. An overview of existing icebreaking tankers is followed by a review of recent advances in icebreaking technology, proposed improvements to ice regulations, and the environmental impact of Arctic tankers. A year-round transportation system is described, including a discussion on tanker loading in the Arctic. A voyage analysis is used to demonstrate the positive economic effects of improved technology on transportation costs. INTRODUCTION Icebreakers and open water tankers have quite different characteristics. It is worth considering those differences as an introduction to the design of icebreaking tankers. Icebreakers are small, powerful, highly manoeuvrable multi-propeller ships (Average Horsepower Displacement Ratio HP/?=2. 1)[Ref. (1)]. They are also extremely strong, double-hulled, built of ductile steel and have excellent safety and environmental records. Open water tankers are large, relatively low powered, single-screw ships with poor manoeuvring characteristics (Average HP/?=O.2). They are usually built with a single skin of about one inch of steel. These large vessels have a less than favorable safety and environmental performance record. What is needed for the transportation of oil in an Arctic setting is a tanker which has more of the useful characteristics of an icebreaker. Very few icebreaking tankers exist today; all of them operate safely and successfully. But for year-round operation in the Arctic waters of Russia and North America, a synthesis of the characteristics of each is required. This Paper will show that such icebreaking tankers can be designed and built. ICEBREAKING TANKERS Key examples of icebreaking tankers are presented below. It should be noted that extensive icebreaking research has been undertaken in association with each. A major research program in the North American Arctic in 1969 and 1970 with the modified open water tanker Manhattan proved successful [Ref. (2)], when it was demonstrated that safe tanker navigation through the Arctic is possible. The large propulsion power, 43000 hp (HP/?=O.3), made efficient icebreaking possible. Four icebreaking tankers (Lunni et al, HP/?=O.7), intended primarily for service in the Northern part of the Baltic Sea, were built in Germany in the 1970s [Ref. (3)]. Their design incorporated features such as an icebreaking hull form with a new bow shape, and an ice-strengthened structure that included double-bottom tanks and a double-skin side shell. These vessels have proven to be able to transit level ice of 1 m (3 ft.) continuously. They have been profitably employed in independent icebreaking in trips to the North American and Russian Arctic regions without incident. The MV Arctic was built in Canada in 1978 as a double-hull Ice Class 2 bulk carrier (HP/?=O.4). During the winter of 1984/1985, the ship was modified to an OBO carrier to facilitate the shipment of crude oil from the Bent Horn field in the Canadian Arctic Islands.

Measuring retouch location and intensity on hafted bifaces is shown to be an effective technique for assessing artifact function. Unlike other areas of North America, where dart technology is replaced by arrow technology, Coalition Period occupations on the Pajarito Plateau of New Mexico contain both hafted biface forms used simultaneously. A stylistic analysis of dart points shows that hafted biface forms found in Coalition Period contexts were recycled from Middle and Late Archaic surface scatters. Furthermore, retouch location and intensity show that Coalition Period dart points were used for cutting and sawing activities and not as projectile technology. INTRODUCTION In the American Southwest, and throughout North America, dart-sized hafted bifaces identified as projectile points, normally associated with sites dating to the Paleoindian and Archaic time periods, are regularly found on sites dating to the past thousand years (cf. Kohler 2004; Turnbow 1997). Late period points were likely small and designed to be attached to the smaller arrow foreshaft. Although researchers have noted the presence of dart-sized points in settings where the bow and arrow were likely used, few have addressed the question of the context of manufacture or use of these larger hafted bifaces. In the Northern Rio Grande, the presence of Scottsbluff, Jay, Bajada, and other large dart points dating to the Late Paleoindian and Archaic in Coalition and Classic period sites rarely elicits more than a description as a “curated” item or “heirloom,” or as a knife replicating an older style.

The oxidation rate and residence time of sulphur dioxide in the arctic atmosphere

THE OXIDATION RATE AND RESIDENCE TIME OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE IN THE ARCTIC ATMOSPHERE

Among Indigenous populations of the Arctic, domestic dogs (Canislupus familiaris) were social actors aiding in traction and subsistence activities. Less commonly, dogs fulfilled a fur-bearing role in both the North American and Siberian Arctic. Examples of garments featuring dog skins were collected during the 19th-20th centuries and are now curated by the National Museum of Denmark. We sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of macroscopically identified dog skin garments. We conducted stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio analysis of the dog furs and of fur samples from contemporaneous pelts of Arctic (C. lupus arctos) and grey (C. lupus) wolves. Despite the presence of biocides used to protect the fur clothing during storage, we extracted well-preserved DNA using a minimally-invasive sampling protocol. Unexpectedly, the mtDNA genomes of one-third of the samples were consistent with wild taxa, rather than domestic dogs. The strong marine component in the diets of North American dogs distinguished them from Greenland and Canadian wolves, but Siberian dogs consumed diets that were isotopically similar to wild species. We found that dog provisioning practices were variable across the Siberian and North American Arctic, but in all cases, involved considerable human labor.

Quartz-tipped arrows older than 60 ka: further use-trace evidence from Sibudu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Despite the disappearance of wild reindeer more than 100 years again, the Sami of Northern Sweden still possess detailed traditional knowledge of the hunting, capture and ecology of wild reindeer. Interviews with Sami elders conducted over the past 30 years have carefully documented the techniques and technology for hunting reindeer on alpine snow patches. Elders report that wild-reindeer behavior was largely conditioned by avoidance of two parasitic insects- sjlávtjá (Hypoderma tarandi, warble fly) and nuhpak (Cehpenemyia trompe, nose bot fly) and understanding the reindeer response to insect harassment allowed Sami hunters to successfully harvest the animals on the snow patches. This article provides a summary of Sami traditional knowledge in the hunting on wild reindeer on alpine snow patches, including the construction and use of bow and arrow technology, the capture and use of wild reindeer. The main source for this information is 88 year old retired reindeer herder Ola Omma, who recalls the stories of older Sami hunters in great detail.

Research efforts to identify, measure, and interpret musculoskeletal stress markers (MSM) provide data which have utility as independent tests of archaeological hypotheses. The purpose of this paper is to examine MSM from the upper appendicular skeletal elements of prehistoric hunter gatherer groups in the southern Levant of southwest Asia to investigate what forms of weapon technology were being used. Examination of 72 Natufian (12 500–10 000 B.P.) individuals from sites in Jordan and Palestine comprise the skeletal data set. Observations and ordinal measures of the grade and type of MSM reflect higher functional demands and pronounced right side asymmetry among Natufian males. Among the 22 muscle and ligament attachment sites examined, males scored consistently higher, significantly so, with respect to a suite of synergistic muscles that are associated with overhand throwing motions. While this evidence does not preclude the use of bow and arrow technology during the Natufian, it does suggest that hand- and atlatl-delivered projectiles may have continued to play an important role in hunting activities. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Molecular phylogeny of the Sphaerophorus globosus species complex

The Sphaerophorus globosus complex (Lecanorales, lichenized Ascomycota) shows a large morphological variation, and three relatively distinct morphotypes can be distinguished in parts of the distribution area. Here, we utilize a multigene‐based maximum‐parsimony approach (nITS+ LSU rDNA, mtSSU rDNA, β‐tubulin, and actin) to investigate whether these morphotypes constitute distinct species. The results show that there are at least two well‐supported monophyletic groups that we interpret as phylogenetic species within the S. globosus complex. These species do not completely correspond to the predefined morphotypes. One group, an apparently undescribed species, contains noncoralloid specimens from the North American Pacific Northwest. The other group, S. globosus, consists of two well‐supported monophyletic groups: one contains coralloid epiphytic specimens from the North American Pacific Northwest that are morphologically indistinguishable from epiphytic specimens from Europe and are presently interpreted as belonging to the same species and the other is morphologically variable and contains terrestrial specimens from Europe, North America, and southernmost South America and coralloid epiphytic and epilithic specimens from Europe. The results suggest that the population in southernmost South America originated by long‐distance dispersal from arctic populations in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Phylogeny of Prokaryotes Associated with Australia's Great Basin

Abstract. The Arctic Ocean is currently undergoing significant transformations due to climate change, leading to profound changes in its microbial plankton communities, including photoautotrophic prokaryotes and eukaryotes (i.e. phytoplankton), as well as hetero-, phago-, and mixotrophic protistan species. Among these unicellular organisms, species of potentially toxic and/or harmful algae (hereafter referred to as HA) are of particular concern, as they pose a threat to human and ecosystem health if they potentially spread into Arctic waters. Despite their importance, the spatiotemporal distribution of these communities in the North American Arctic is poorly understood. To address this gap, we compiled and synthesized a large dataset from various sources, partitioned into nine regions based on the Large Marine Ecosystem classification. Our dataset contains 385 348 georeferenced data points and 18 268 unique sampling events (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10498858, Schiffrine et al., 2024), encompassing 1442 unique taxa, with Heterokontophyta (notably diatoms) and Dinoflagellata being the most dominant phyla. Our results indicate distinct spatial patterns of diversity, with the highest diversity observed in Atlantic-influenced regions of the North American Arctic. An analysis of the maximum latitude of HA species over time shows a gradual increase, with a notable rise towards the 1990s. However, this trend is likely influenced by increased research at higher latitudes, meaning no substantial spread of HA species into the North American part of the Arctic. Our study underscores the importance of extensive and long-term sampling efforts to understand the Arctic's biodiversity, particularly with respect to documenting the presence and distribution of HA species. While the occurrence of HA species in the Arctic is recognized, our findings highlight the need for further detailed investigations to fully grasp their ecological impacts and variability in the region. Overall, our results provide new insights into the spatial patterns and biodiversity of the microbial plankton communities in the North American Arctic and have implications for understanding the ecological functioning and response of this region to ongoing climate change.

CR Climate Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials CR 67:117-134 (2016) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01363 Sea ice impacts on polar surface weather types in the North American Arctic Thomas J. Ballinger1,*, Scott C. Sheridan2 1Department of Geography, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA 2Department of Geography, Kent State University, 413 McGilvrey Hall, Kent, OH 44242, USA *Corresponding author: tballinger@txstate.edu ABSTRACT: Summer and autumn sea ice conditions in the Western Arctic have rapidly changed in recent years, while increases in lower tropospheric air temperature and moisture have concurrently been observed across much of the high northern latitudes during the autumn (October to December) and winter (January to March) months. However, the spatiotemporal relationships between this region’s ice cover and North American climate are not particularly well understood. This study employs a synoptic climatological weather typing scheme known as the Spatial Synoptic Classification (SSC) to holistically evaluate temperature and moisture characteristics throughout the terrestrial North American Arctic (NAA) associated with the Western Arctic sea ice freeze-up dates from 1979 to 2013. Monthly climatologies and linear trends of autumn/winter-dominant SSC weather types in the region, Moist Polar (MP) and Dry Polar (DP), are assessed and statistically linked to the freeze dates. Results suggest that the MP weather types are increasing, at the expense of DP types, across much of the domain. The apparent NAA transition to MP conditions is positively correlated with the timing of the Western Arctic freeze-up, and far more MP days occur during late-freeze versus early-freeze years, especially at the most northerly weather stations. Positive near-surface temperature anomalies and northerly low-level winds across the Western Arctic Ocean during late minus early freeze years potentially connect delayed ice formation to a changing NAA climate. KEY WORDS: Sea ice · Freeze-up · Western Arctic · Weather typing · Spatial Synoptic Classification Full text in pdf format Supplementary material PreviousNextCite this article as: Ballinger TJ, Sheridan SC (2016) Sea ice impacts on polar surface weather types in the North American Arctic. Clim Res 67:117-134. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01363 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in CR Vol. 67, No. 2. Online publication date: February 24, 2016 Print ISSN: 0936-577X; Online ISSN: 1616-1572 Copyright © 2016 Inter-Research.

Many Rangifer tarandus (caribou or reindeer) populations across North America have been declining, posing a variety of challenges for Indigenous communities that depend on the species for physical and cultural sustenance. This article used a scoping review methodology to systematically examine and characterize the nature, extent, and range of articles published in academic journals on the connection between Rangifer and Indigenous well-being in the Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America. Two reviewers independently used eligibility criteria to identify and screen abstracts and titles and then screen full texts of each potentially relevant article. To be included in this review, articles had to discuss linkages between Rangifer and Indigenous well-being in the North American Arctic and Subarctic and be published prior to 2018. A total of 4279 articles were identified and screened for relevance; 58 articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using descriptive quantitative and thematic qualitative methods. Results characterized the depth and diversity of what we know about Rangifer for Indigenous culture, food security, livelihoods, psychological well-being, and social connections across North America in the academic literature. Several gaps were identified. Little is known about the psychological ties between Rangifer and Indigenous Peoples and the influence of Rangifer-related change on Indigenous well-being and adaptive capacity. We urgently need to know more about the emotional connections that arise from Indigenous-Rangifer linkages, the effectiveness of adaptive strategies, and the intergenerational implications of Rangifer-related change. Further, enhanced inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in the production of knowledge on this topic is fundamental to the future of understanding Indigenous-Rangifer relationships.

Multiple diplomatic and cooperative endeavours have recently emerged to strengthen governance structures and mechanisms in the Arctic region. At the same time, new actors such as companies, non—governmental organizations, and sub—national governments were incorporated in new forums such as the Arctic Economic Council and the Arctic Circle Assembly. The Western and Eastern sections of the North American Arctic (NAA) are animated by distinctive cooperative dynamics, and the interests of sub—national administrations in both sub—ensembles hardly converge. The NAA is characterized by sub—national governments detaining various levels of autonomy vis——àvis their respective national governments. Alaska and the Canadian Northern territories are sub—national units in a federation. The NAA, on a multilateral level, is quite underdeveloped in comparison to other cross—border cooperative endeavours in North America. In contrast, cooperation in the Pacific Northwest or between Eastern Canada and the states in the US Northeast was established decades ago and can be declined on numerous dimensions.