Rear Adm. Dave Titley observes operations in the Beaufort Sea on the deck of the ice breaker USCGC Healy (WAGB-20). U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Laura-Michel Dehaan.

This blog post was written by Rear Adm. Dave Titley, Oceanographer of the Navy and director of Task Force Climate Change for the NavyLive blog. This Friday, June 18, from 12:00 – 12:45pm (EST) Rear Adm Titley will be participating in a Blogger’s Roundtable to discuss Task Force Climate Change and the way ahead for the Navy.

Task Force Climate Change (TFCC) was created by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in May 2009 primarily to ensure our Navy is fully mission-capable and ready to meet any potential challenges to mission requirements, force structure and infrastructure created by a changing climate. It is charged with making recommendations on the way ahead based upon the best available scientific knowledge. In the broadest sense, TFCC is helping ensure the Navy understands the nature and timing of potential climate change impacts on military operations so we don’t have to spend a dime unnecessarily. If it becomes clear that the time has arrived to make investments, the Navy will have thought through the myriad of issues and will make the proper investments to ensure we can continue to execute our missions in a changing environment.

Our first task was to evaluate the Arctic region, both a maritime domain and the most rapidly changing region of the planet. As sea ice continues to decrease in volume and overall areal extent, the Arctic will probably become navigable by mid-century. We are already witnessing greater human access to the Arctic through the gradual opening of the Northwest Passage and Northern Sea Route. This will provide greater opportunities for commercial shipping, fishing, and mineral resource exploration. To meet Navy strategic objectives in the Arctic, we may need to make investments in naval force and infrastructure. At a minimum we need to continue to hone our ability to operate in these environments.

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