Operation arctic crossroads 2009: local and national leaders go to Nome and beyond for Arctic mission.

• Position: PHOTO ESSAY

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Dignitaries met in Nome Aug. 17 to discuss global warming, creating a united fishing front between Russia and Alaska, detail a new boat harbor that would allow bigger cruise ships into Nome, mention President Obama's efforts to look at ice melt in this northern community to come up with ways to halt climate change it its tracks, stress the need for better search and rescue capabilities in Northern Alaska, discuss the opening of channels once covered by ice and its impact to Alaska and the region, and outline measures for safeguarding oceans and resources.

This was all part of Operation Arctic Crossroads 2009, a combined effort among the Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, Army National Guard, Air National Guard and U.S. Public Health Services, who deployed to Nome and Barrow for 20 days "to determine operational effectiveness and overall capabilities of assets, as well as provide medical, dental, optometry, boating safety awareness and other community services to more than eight boroughs throughout Northern Alaska," a press release from the U.S. Coast Guard stated.

From left, Heather Zichal, deputy assistant to the president for Energy and Climate Change, Nancy Sutley, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, undersecretary of commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration; Admiral Thad Allen, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, David Hayes, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Jay Reich, deputy chief of staff of the U.S. Commerce Department...