U.S. scientists head to the arctic

LONDON, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists are beginning a four-week research mission to the arctic aimed at mapping the polar sea floor.

The $1 million effort is designed to gather data to support a territorial claim the U.S. will make to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, The Financial Times of London reported Friday.

Russia and Norway have submitted data to the commission and lawyers said they expect Canada and Denmark to follow suit.

The claims are being made under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea that will govern many of the decisions on how polar oil and shipping rights are divided.

The treaty hasn't been ratified by the U.S. Congress because of opposition from members who worry it will erode national sovereignty and expand the powers of the United Nations.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is to have a hearing on ratification next month.