Chairpersons and responsible representatives of IHP National Committees from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan attended the meeting together with the representatives of the UNESCO IHP Secretariat and the CIS Executive Committee, scientists from the State Hydrological Institute, State Oceanographic Institute, Arctic and Antarctic Institute, Russian State Hydrometeorological University and Institute of Water Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

UNESCO: CIS countries discussed their involvement in the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

An oil spill response barge, the Arctic Challenger, which Shell promised the U.S. Coast Guard was "Arctic ready, " is in Washington state, beset with technical problems.

CNN: Shell Oil's multibillion dollar Arctic hoax

And in February 2009 it was discovered that scientists had previously been underestimating the re-growth of Arctic sea ice by an area larger than the state of California (twice as large as New Zealand).

FORBES: Hot Sensations Vs. Cold Facts

Jonathan Dimbleby, an accomplished British broadcaster, was by his frank admission in a state of considerable emotional turmoil when he travelled from the Arctic city of Murmansk to Vladivostok.

ECONOMIST: Russia

The term describes the moment at which the planet shifts from one environmental state to another: in this case, from an Arctic with summer sea ice to one without it.

ECONOMIST: Global warming

Dr Boyd joined Sams in 2007 from Oregon State University in the US and was well-respected internationally for his expertise in Arctic oceanography.

BBC: Scientist Dr Tim Boyd 'killed by lightning' in Argyll