ISSN 1994–4128ISSN 1994–4128

FEATURING:

� EVENTSReport of V.N.Dyadyuchenko, vice�head of Roshydromet, at themeeting of the Security Council on the Franz Josef land archipelago

� ACTIVITIES IN THE ARCTICEastern Chukotka coast – global climate change impact on biotaand living conditions of indigenous people

Biocenotic research at the Laptev Sea polygon in 2008

� ACTIVITIES IN THE ARCTICInternational geophysics and geodesic reserach in the centraleastern Antarctic during IPY

Study of opportunities for establishing snow/ice aerodrome atVostok station (central Antarctica) available for handling heavywheel aircrafts (IL�76 TD type)

� RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTDrift magnitometers

� CONFERENCESScientific conference "Russia's contribution to IPY"

� HISTORYThe history of the lost polar station "Taimyr Lake"

I N F O R M A T I O N B U L L E T I N

THE INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR 2007/08 IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND AROUND THE WORLD

№ 20 (Oktober 2008)

IPY 2007/08 NEWS

ISSN 2071–601X

IPY 07/082

EVENTS

Economic, military, scientific and other activityin the Arctic determines the scale of the RussianFederation presence in this region.

Challenging natural and climatic conditions of theArctic result in high natural risks for socio�economiccomplex and affect significantly the economiceffectiveness and safety of economic activity. A factorof Arctic climate change was added to these conditionsin past years. Investigations show significant changeof the Arctic climate that is more likely to remain in futuredecades. Thus, monitoring of the Arctic environmentgains special value and serves as a basis forhydrometeorological safety of economics and livingactivity in the region.

The basis for system of Arctic environmentalmonitoring is the observation network includinghydrometeorological and other stations, automaticmeasurement instruments, aviation and spaceapparatuses, research vessels.

Activity of the monitoring system of Arctic environ�ment is provided by six hydrometeorological centersof four Administrations (Murmansk, Northern, Yakutskand Chukotka) and research organizations ofRoshydromet.

In last two decades the network of polar hydro�meteorological stations has been significantly reduced(from 110 to 48 stations). As a result an unsatisfactoryconfiguration of the network and violation of regionalstandards of observation stations density are observedwhen distances between meteorological stations are2–2.5 times and between aerological – 3–4 timesexceeding allowable limits and as a result many high�latitude regions do not have sufficient data supply.

Recently the coastal and island network wasreconstructed and modernized thanks to measurestaken. In 2006 automatic meteostations were installedat Cape Zhelaniya, Vise is. and Mudyug is. in the WhiteSea, in Tiksi the most modern hydrometeorologicalobservatory meeting international standards is beingconstructed. Expedition observations are carried out.

Nevertheless, Russian system of complex seaobservations in the Arctic Ocean is considerably

MONITORING OF THE ARCTIC ENVIRONMENTIN CONDITIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPACT

OF CHANGING CLIMATE ON ACTIVITYIN THE REGION

"behind" of one in the West, a large part of the Arcticbasin remains out of reach of Russian expeditions firstof all due to lack of suitable expedition instruments ofobservation (platforms, measurement complexes).

At the same time, intensification of economic activityin the region requires additional measures to be takenand government support of restoration of the landArctic network mentioned above. The priority tasksinclude construction of specialized research vessels ofhigher ice reinforcement.

In general average age of vessels in our country is24 years and by 2015 most of them (80%) will have tobe discarded due to unsatisfactory technical state.Ageing level of research vessels this high is explainedby practical absence of budget funding for renovationand modernization of fleet during the last 18 years.

There is an ice�information system "Sever" for dataprovision of work in the Arctic with the core being theCentre for ice and hydrometeorological informationsituated in Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute(AARI).

We do not have a national system of satelliteconnection in the Arctic so we are forced to use theIRIDIUM satellite system.

Intensification of weather and climate anomalies inrecent years aggravated the problem of improvementof meteoforecasts reliability, in Arctic region inparticular. Future progress in this area is largelydetermined by satellite observational systemsdevelopment.

In present hydrometeorological forecasting isprovided by Roshydromet that uses data of foreignsatellites only. In recent years Russia does not have itsown meteorological space apparatuses and is fullydependent on data of foreign space systems.

Works on recreation of national space meteo�rological group become especially urgent in presenttime. According to the Federal Space Programme ofRussia it is planned to make by 2015 a constantly activegroup of operational meteorological satellites including2 geostationary SA of "Electro" series and 3 polar�orbital SA of "Meteor" series (including specialized

19th issue of “IPY 2007/08 News” contained infromation on the meeting of the Security Council on the Franz JosefLand archipelago where V.N.Dyadyucheko, Deputy Head of Roshydromet, has given a report. We are quoting text ofthe report below.

IPY 07/08 3

EVENTS

oceanographic satellite).However, these works are threeyears behind the schedule andthey must be accelerated. Oneof the reasons of negativesuccess is that Roscosmos isa governmental customer thatorders the systems from itselfthat is against national andforeign experience of makingthese complex systems.

Roshydromet together withRoscosmos is also developinga unique (having no interna�tional analogues) spacesystem "Arctica" for monitoringof Arctic region. It is necessaryto mention that the existinginternational space hydro�meteorological system of geo�stationary and polar�orbitalsatellites cannot providecontinuous acquisition ofrequired volume of data on the Arctic region of theEarth.

It is planned that "Arctica" system will consist of twohydrometeorological satellites at high�elliptic orbitswith ~63° obliquity and revolution period about 12hours.

Realization of SS "Arctica" based on existingnational developments of weather forecast for theentire Northern Hemisphere will provide Russia apriority in producing of space instruments of Arcticstudy and exploration, in supporting of the Russiastatus as a great space power. SS "Arctica" will havegreat importance for provision of strategic interests ofthe Russian Federation and will make it possible tosolve in complex the qualitatively new objectives ofeconomic development of Arctic region, national andinternational aviation and marine transport, defenseand other types of activity.

Proposals on the SS "Arctic" project were present�ed and agreed on the Russian Federation GovernmentMeeting on 24.04.2008. According to the Governmentof Russia a system project of SS "Arctic" is developedin present time. Terms of putting it into operation are2012–2013. The system realization is carried out todayin frames of FTP "World Ocean".

There is an important component in environmentalmonitoring system – observations of Arcticenvironment pollution. Results of environmentalmonitoring of recent years held by Roshydrometorganizations in the Arctic show that pollutant content

(stable organic pollutants, acidifying compounds, oilhydrocarbons, heavy metals, artificial radionuclides) insea water, soil, vegetation, tissues of animals and birdsremains low in general and as a rule does not exceedregional background values and established standardsof maximum allowable concentrations.

The main problems of environmental pollution inRussian Arctic are associated with local territories oflarge urban areas and industrial zones (Kola Peninsula,Norilsk). However, area of regions with environmentpollution levels considerably exceeding regionalbackground values are less than 2 % of Arctic territoryof Russia.

It is especially important to mention the problem ofgeophysical monitoring that is associated with a widerange of objectives: from provision of reliablefunctioning of land and space systems to economicexploration of the North. A restoration of appliedgeophysical research above the RF territory is started,in its northern regions in particular.

Launches of geophysical rockets from Heis is. areresumed to study atmosphere characteristics up to 120km heights. In September it is planned to launch sixrockets. They make it possible to determineundisturbed atmosphere characteristics.

An important component of monitoring system isthe expedition work. In 1990s volumes of expeditionresearch works have significantly declined in ourcountry. IPY 2007/08 was a great contribution to theirrenaissance and development.

Vice�Head of Roshydromet V.N.Dyadyuchenko

IPY 07/084

EVENTS

53 expedition and field projects were carried out in2007 to acquire new knowledge on natural processesin polar regions for complex assessment and forecastof state of Arctic natural environment in conditions ofchanging climate on the basis of coordinatedhydrometeorological and geophysical observations,modern information technologies and technicalequipment. The most important projects were thelarge�scale investigations held in high�latitude Arcticin frames of the expedition "Arctica�2007" on board theRV "Academic Fyodorov". A range of measures weretaken on restoration and modernization of hydro�meteorological network and broadening of observa�tion range. Significant complex of research was madeon Svalbard archipelago and its coastal waters, in FranzJoseph Land by organizations of Roshydromet,Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, RAS.

In 2008 research is continued. In frames of theexpedition "Arctica�2008" on September 8, 2008 adrifting research station "North pole�36" was organizedfrom the RV "Academic Fyodorov" in the Arctic basin.

Warming occurred in last two decades is an evidentfact and is visible in various components of naturalenvironment. According to data of internationalIntergovernmental Group on Climate Change andArctic Council global changes of climate are especiallynoticeable in the Arctic. During last decades averagetemperature in this region has been growing almost twotimes faster than average global one. Air temperatureincrease is observed as well as reduction of volume andarea of ice cover that is especially evident in summer.From 1997 to 2007 ice cover surface area in Septemberhas decreased on 26 % in the whole Arctic and on 79% in the Siberian seas (the Kara, Laptev, East�Siberian,Chukotka seas). During the period of 1997–2008September Arctic ice edge has retreated and icesurface area reached a record minimum in thebeginning of September, 2007. Scenarios of possiblechanges of ice conditions in the Arctic seas for 5–10years and ahead up to mid�XXI century show with thehigh level of probability that ice conditions in the Arcticseas will be formed on the lowered ice coverbackground. According to the scenario ofIntergovernmental Group of Experts on ClimateChange warming in the region by 2090 will be 6 degreesCelsius as compared to 1990.

Among possible consequences of warming in theArctic are decrease of snow and ice cover area,increase of precipitation, shorter and warmer winters.Reduction of ice cover will result in possible growth ofmarine transportation and will improve accessibility of

natural resources of the Arctic. Nevertheless,disappearance of Arctic ice on the Northern Sea Routein future decade is not expected. By 2015 and aheadice period duration eastwards from the Kara GateStraight will be over six months in a year, probability ofextreme conditions at some parts of the route in someyears will remain.

According to the Intergovernmental Group ofExperts on Climate Change a significant growth of risksfor Arctic infrastructure is to be expected by 2050 dueto thawing of permafrost.

Negative events such as port icing, intensivedestruction of coasts made of loose permafrost rockswill get stronger due to increase of wind�wave activity.

Retention of the trend shown in the end of XX –beginning of XXI centuries can result in an increase ofprobability of iceberg occurrence in the areas ofnorthern sea mining fields including the Shtokman field.Flood risks in coastal wetlands are forecasted that willaffect population, industrial objects, naturalecosystems, etc.

Consequences of occurring and expected climatechanges in the Arctic need the development ofadaptation programmes and their implementation ongovernment and regional levels, levels of economicentities to prevent (decrease) losses from negativeresults of climate change in the Arctic. Future supportis needed for development of research in the Arctic ona wide range of problems in the area of climate,including the refinement of assessments of climatechange effects for socio�economic complex of theArctic. A significant enhancement and growth ofhydrometeorological activity of the country is requiredin this region and in the first place – of the monitoringof the Arctic environment.

It is necessary to create interdepartmental researchcenters on these issues the first of which is planned tobe opened on Svalbard archipelago with joint effortsof Roshydromet, RAS, Federal Agency on SubsoilUsage, Federal Agency on Fisheries and otherinterested authorities.

It is required to develop a system of monitoring ofpopulation health in the Far North due to climatechanges and to work out methods of adaptation aswell as to create a large infrastructure of life provisionand rehabilitation of people working in extremeconditions.

These problems are planned to be partly solved inframes of a project of sub�programme "Exploration anduse of the Arctic" of the Federal Target Programme"World Ocean".

IPY 07/08 5

ACTIVITIES IN THE ARCTIC

EASTERN CHUKOTKA COAST – GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON BIOTA ANDLIVING CONDITIONS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

One of the key research areas in frames of the 6�1 Project "Socio�ecological vulnerability of the Arcticcoastal zone due to global climate change andanthropogenic impact" is the Eastern Chukotka coast.Ethno�ecological research has been carried out herefor several tens of years, however, in the past threeyears according to the goals of IPY 2007/08 a specialattention was given to investigation of those changesthat affect in various ways the activity of local peopleand first of all the character and possibilities oftraditional farming and living conditions.

For many thousands of years there have beencontinuous rhythmic climate fluctuations in the Arcticwith amplitude for summer period reaching sometimes8–9 °С. These fluctuations depend on variability ofnatural factors of cosmic, global and regional levels. Anasynchronism (difference in time) of climatic changeswas registered in different polar regions. For example,the largest warming in the European part of the Arctictook place 5500–6500 years ago and in the AsiaticArctic – 8700–10000 years ago. During the long period

of their existence people and biota of the Arcticexperienced warming or cooling (so called little ice ages)periods more than once.

Increase of temperature in 1961–1990s wasregistered in the entire Arctic zone but the biggest riseof temperatures was observed in area between 60° and140° W (between Novaya Zemlya and Novosibirskiyeisles archipelagos). However, level of mean annualtemperature have started to approach the level of1930–1940s only in past years but it is still significantlybelow the warming level of the Early Middle Ages(Viking Age, IX–XII centuries). It is important to mentionhere that warming in many regions of Russian Arcticoccurs mainly due to winter temperatures.

Climate and ice conditions change in the past andin present time vary considerably in different polarsectors. Sometimes relatively rapid and sharp regionalchanges of air temperature and sea ice cover exceedin their magnitude similar global processes occurringmuch slower. Besides, air temperature fluctuations canhave reversely directed vectors even in neighboring

Arctic regions.Modern researches showed that significant changes

in Northern Hemisphere occur in the area of the BeringStraight. Gradual rise of mean annual temperatureshave enhanced here in past two–three decades –temperature rose on more than 2 °С. This processreached its maximum development at the Chukotkapeninsula and coastal zones of Alaska. Consequentlylevel of ice coverage of the Bering and the Chukcheeseas has visibly decreased.

It is very important during identification andregistration of various changes in natural environmentand character of living of indigenous people to providecontinuity of observations including both seasonal andannual. To solve this problem representatives ofindigenous people interested and agreed to carry outthis kind of observations were informed and involved inthe joint work in frames of this project in 2005–2007. Itis necessary to mention that this kind of collaborationcontinues for several years now and productivity of thiswork was confirmed in the last three years – period ofinvestigations in frames of IPY. As a result of joint work ofexperts and local people a unique material was collected;its analysis made it possible to conclude on the effect ofmodern stage of climate change on biota, on traditionalfarming and people living conditions. The changes werereported by Kai�Kai (Enmelen); N.Kychi (Nunligran);N.Gal'gaugye, P.Typyhkak and other hunters (Sireniki);

Map of the Eastern part of the Chukotka peninsula

IPY 07/086

ACTIVITIES IN THE ARCTIC

L.Aynana, I.Zagrebin(Providence); E.Paulin,P.Lyuneut, V.Yatta (NovoeChaplino); A.Ashkamakin,K.Kavranto, K.Kymyyechgynand other hunters(Yanrakynnot); V.Kelerul'tyn,A.Ottoy, Ranav (Lorino);B.Al'pyrgin, V.Aronov(Lavrentiya); R.Armayrgyn,Ya.Tagyek (Welen); Agranat,Guvalin, Shipirgyn (Inchoun);Irilyup, Leiviteu (Neshkan).Besides, we took intoaccount data on noticeableweather changes in 1978–1982 that were described by inhabitants of Billings, capeShmidt, Pevek who wrote to the captain of whale boat"Zvezdnyi" L.Votrogov. Below are the results of observa�tions and conclusions made on the basis of analysis ofcollected data.

1. Length of seasons have changed – autumn andspring have grown at the expense of winter. In manystations of the peninsula during warming periodsthunderstorms, rains and hurricane winds are observedin winter. Rivers have more water and some of them donot freeze up almost through the whole year.

Autumn lasts now till mid�November (river waterdoes not freeze, there is little ice on the sea) andbefore freezing temperatures were coming in mid�September. Sea ice stands a month later. There isvery few old ice (pack ice). In general autumn lastsnow one – one and a half months longer.

Spring starts 20–30 days earlier. In mid�May tundrastarts blooming in thaw holes and thunderstormsappear. Many birds comea month earlier, in the endof April – beginning of Mayinstead of the beginning ofJune.

2. Mosaic character ofwinter temperatureschanges. Differencebetween settlements thatare located 60–120 kmaway from each othersometimes reaches 6–8 °С. In winter southerliesare often blowing breakingoff the shore ice on thecoast of the Arctic Ocean.

3. Decline of sea icecoverage. Amount of old ice

in the Chukchee and theBering seas has sharplydecreased. Also terms ofsea ice formation havechanged – freezing hasshifted at later dates. On theeast of the Chukotkapeninsula not only a latefreeze�up is obsreved butalso a reduction of area andthinning of shore ice.

Character of ice cover�age became mosaic.Pack ice does not enterthe Providence bay from1997. In February–March

2007 only one year�old ice was observed there. Butat the same time the Mechigmensky bay near Lorinosettlement was so packed with new and old ice thathunters could not launch the boats on water.

4. Due to late freeze�up and absence of pack iceholding autumn storms the coastline of the peninsulahave sharply changed. In some areas (Lorino, etc.)autumn storms completely washed away sandybeaches and destroyed many washed up banks andbars. There are regions where land have stepped backon 150–250 m in the last three–four years. Bank whereWelen settlement is already built is intensively eroded,water is standing in the basements of houses nearestto the sea.

5. On the southern coast of the peninsula nearSireniki settlement rush�ups have increased that canlast for long time due to southerlies prevailing. If 40–50 years ago a rush�up would last for 3–4 days nowit stays up to 20 days and more.

6. As P.Typyhkak says(Sireniki, 1999) it is hardto make a weather fore�cast now – too manychanges have occurredand now "sea and cloudsdo not accord with eachother" and weatherchanges too rapidly.

7. The Chukotkapeninsula, especially itseastern part – is a tectonic�ally active zone, coastshere submerse in the sea.For the last 30–40 yearscoastline retreat at someparts made from 3 to 10 m(Yttygran is, area of "Whale

From the end of 1980s hunters began to meet and hunt for lynx in tundra ofeastern Chukotka that is a typical species of boreal forest, 2006. Archive of

the Natural�ethnic park "Beringia"

Due to lack of sea ice walruses have to stay on the coast where they do notalways have enough space. To get away from crowd a young walrus climbs

the rocks. Vankarem settlement. Photo by S.Kavra

IPY 07/08 7

ACTIVITIES IN THE ARCTIC

alley"; Arakamchechen Is., cape Kygynin and othercoastal locations). For the eastern part of the peninsulafrequent earthquakes are typical with the epicentre inthe Kolyuchinskaya bay. In last years tremors becamemore frequent, long and stronger and they areobserved by not only residents of Neshkan andEnurmino, but Lorino as well.

8. Warming caused penetration of more southernspecies of plants and animals in the Chukotka penin�sula ecosystem. Unknown plants were described byresidents of Lorino and Yanrakynnot. Small sharks arecaught at Welen, on the whole peninsula encount�ers of moose and lynx are registered; humming�birdfrom British Columbia is seen often on Ratmanov Is.

9. Climate changemade a significantdeterioration of naturalenvironment for cold�loving marine animalsand first of all for icespecies of pinnipeds.

Due to decline ofthe Bering sea icecoverage southernrookery of walruses inthe Bering region(Koryak uplands coast�line) have disappear�ed. These animalspreferring to stay onice now have to lie on the coast even near settlements(rookery near Vankarem and Ryrkaipiy). As a videofilming of Vankarem rookery showed (made by Kavrybrothers) there is not enough comfortable and calmplaces on the coast for nursing females withyoungsters. All pinnipeds have increased amount ofectoparasites and hair loss. As A.Ottoy reported(February, 2007) in the end of 1980s Lorino huntersobserved 3–5 bold seals for a season, in present – upto 20–30 of such animals.

Up until 1980s there were no "smelling" whalesamong caught gray whales and in 1990–2000s hunterskill up to 5 of these animals during a whaling season.

The polar bears have also a tragic fate. They haveto come out to continental coast and search for foodin settlements because the decline of ice area in theChukchee Sea resulted in a sharp decrease of ringedseal number, the main food of this animal.

In general modern state of animal and plant worldin the Bering Straight region can be characterized asunstable, with evident negative trends for marinemammals, pinnipeds in particular, because all themare represented here by ice (pagophile) species.

Hungry bears come out to settlement approaching the houses. Photo by I.V.Slugin

Biota state and changes occurring here have adirect impact on nature use of local people – fishing,hunting, foraging. Changed ice conditions of the seacoast strongly complicate both sailing on boats andtransportation on ice with bags when thin ice doesnot sustain the load and there is a risk for hunter todie in ice�cold water. Besides, hunting for mainspecies of marine mammals – walrus and ringed sealbecame very difficult: due to lack of shore ice marinemammals are forced to go further away from thecoast that is risky for youngsters to die in deepwaters.

The special attention must be given to changesin medico�biological situation on the peninsula due

to increase of warmperiod and total rise ofannual temperatures.However, this issueneeds more detailedprofile research that isundoubtedly veryurgent for the RussianNorth. Taking intoaccount that totalincidence rate forindigenous people ishigher than average inRussia a possiblegrowth of infectiousdiseases due to

introduction of pathologic organisms that are typicalfor warmer regions is an additional risk for Arcticpeople health.

Global climate changes brought more uncertaintyto life of aborigines when it is harder to apply theexisting knowledge of interaction with environment.This makes difficult to solve everyday life issues andcomplicates planning of main parameters of traditionalactivities – hunting terms, transportation, sailing at sea,conservation of food, etc.

Increased frequency of unfavourable weatherevents – wind and snow storms, hurricanes, earlythawing of ice on rivers and sea – creates conditionsof high risk of living even for locals because the existingknowledge and skills of life in high latitudes are notalways corresponding to changing conditions of naturalenvironment.

Dr.L.S.BOGOSLOVSKAYA, (D.S.LikhachevRussian Research Institute of Cultural and Natural

Heritage) (Heritage Institute, Moscow);Dr.E.N.ANDREEVA,

(Institute of System Research of RAS, Moscow)

IPY 07/088

ACTIVITIES IN THE ARCTIC

Complex expedition in the Barents, Kara, Laptevand East�Siberian seas ("BARKALAV�2008") wascarried out by AARI in August–September 2008 inframes of International Polar Year (IPY). Investigationsare included in the TSTP subprogramme "Marineresearch in the Arctic, Russian seas, continental shelfand in the World Ocean. Models and technologies ofsea forecasts and calculations".

Complex marine research in the seas of Siberianshelf is included in the IPY 2007/08 plan to reachobjectives in several areas including "State of popula�tions and reaction on climate and anthropogenicchanges of ecosystems in Polar regions" for the IPYproject "Study of Arctic benthos and pelagic biota".

On the second stage of the expedition from 1 to 20of September, 2008 complex research includedexecuting of the Russian�German programme "TheLaptev Sea system". The programme includes theproject "Global climate change in the seas of EurasianArctic shelf: frontal zones and ice clearings of theLaptev Sea" that is also included in the IPY projects list.

Benthos sampling to study the structure of bottombiocenoses was carried out in parallel to oceano�graphic works at the polygon NW to the Lena river deltawith 5 mile gaps between stations.

Total number of stations was 60. This region is inspatial agreement with winter stationing of the Lenacoastal flaw lead.

Goal of observations at the oceanographic polygonwas to study the detailed thermohaline and hydro�chemical structure of sea water in the area and detailedbiocenoses structure as well as to collect new data onspecies distribution, population density and biomass,structure of bottom organism populations in shelfzones, in areas of coastal flaw lead in particular.

For the first time in history of Arctic seas researchdetailed benthos investigations were repeated (includ�ing "BARKALAV�2007" expedition) in the area of theLena ice clearing during summer�autumn that made itpossible to obtain a unique material on dynamics,spatial distribution and variability of various parametersof bottom biocenoses as well as on influence of variousabiotic factors on biocenoses structure and function�ing. Preliminary sorting and fixing of bottom sampleswas made on board the vessel.

Benthos samples from bottom grab were taken at allstations of the polygon in the Laptev Sea using a clamshellVan Veen grab sampler with grab area of 0.08 m2

(20×40 cm) and a Van Veen grab sampler with grab areaof 0,025 m2 (17×15 cm). Samples were washed througha sieve with 1mm cell size. Bottom organisms were fixedby 70 % spirit for future treatment in Tiksi.

Specificity of all complex of environmental condi�tions determines a distinctiveness of bottom fauna.Structure and quantitative characteristics of bottombiocenoses in this region have significant differencesboth from biocenoses of the Laptev Sea shore ice areaand biocenoses of drifting ice zone.

It was found that bottom fauna is characterized byrelatively high values of population density, biomassand number of species. Due to active convection deepand bottom water layers become saturated with oxygenthat favours bottom fauna development. Averageoxygen content in the bottom layer during the wholeperiod of observations was 8.5 mg/l (9.1 mg/l on thesurface). High concentration of dissolved oxygen insummer is largely due to low water temperatures andactive mechanical mixing.

Bottom biocenoses of the Lena ice clearing exist inconditions of predominance of the surface Arctic watermass; their composition is dominated by widely spreadboreal�arctic zoobenthos species.

In the area of investigated polygon at least 5significant biocenoses were found. The most importantwere the leionucula bivalve mollusk biocenoses andтридонты and портландии biocenoses occupyinglarge areas of the bottom.

First one – numbering in average 62 species ofmacrobenthos – was found at depths from 23.5 to 27 mon silty ground and on sandy silt. Population density ofbenthos organisms was 42465 sp./m2 including 4900macrobenthos organisms; biomass was 128.8 g/m2

accordingly, including 105.1 g/m2 of macrobenthos.In epifauna composition crustacean�amphipods

(15 species), gastropods (13), pearlweeds (5), sponges(3), mysids (2), cumaceans, hydroids and barnacles were

BIOCENOTIC RESEARCH AT THE LAPTEV SEA POLYGON IN 2008

Installation of a bottom oceanographic station "Lena" in the Laptev Sea.Photo by E.N.Gusev

IPY 07/08 9

ACTIVITIES IN THE ARCTIC

found. Echinoderms were represented by holothurias andstarfish. The maximum biomass in epifauna wasregistered for saduria isopods – 3.0 g/m2 in average.

Nektobenthos was represented by mysids, isopodsand large amphipods – gammaruses actively movingin bottom waters.

Infauna and all biocenoses composition is dominat�ed by leionucula bivalve mollusk (in biomass) (15.8 g/m2

with population density of 80.4 sp./m2); subdominantis another mollusk – portlandia with 7.6 biomass.Another typical biocenoses for the Lena ice clearing isone of тридонты and портландии found on silty andsilty�sand grounds at depths of 19.5–26 m. Biocenosesnumbers 24 species of macrobenthos in average.According to population density and species number(17) attached and low mobility animals are dominatinghere inhabiting ground surface (epifauna): isopods withpopulation density of 110 sp./m2; the same density isobserved for sponges. In total there are 7 species ofinfauna in this biocenoses.

In general population density of organisms in biocenosesis 5430 sp./m2 with biomass of 90.02 g/m2. Total biomass ofmacrobenthos organisms – 90.6 g/m2 that makes 98.73 %of total benthos biomass in the biocenoses, populationdensity – 1520 sp./m2 or 29.69 % of total populationdensity of all benthos organisms in the biocenoses.

Sampling of zoobenthos and zooplankton. Photo by E.N.Gusev Treatment of bottom fauna samples. Photo by E.N.Gusev

In most cases bottom biocenoses of the region arecharacterized by domination of several main groups ofanimals – mollusks, brittle stars, amphipods,polychaetes. Maximum population density andbiomass were registered in areas with depths of 23.19–24.0 m and temperatures from –1.574 to –1.575 °С ina salinity range of 31,674–32,613‰.

The largest amount of benthos species wasobserved in the polygon area at –1,5 °C temperatureand 29 ‰ salinity.

Bottom biocenoses in areas with large depths (over40–50 m) have different benthos fauna composition.In the northern part of the Laptev Sea shelf (startingfrom depths over 30 m) biocenoses domination istransferred to echinoderms – офиоктен Ophiuroideathat is associated with specific features of food(trophic) conditions. Estuary�Arctic species are almostabsent here and bivalve mollusk occurrence is sharplydecreasing, biomasses of almost all benthos groups(excluding echinoderms and gastropods) decreasesignificantly. In many respects it is caused by thechange of physical conditions of environment andsharp decline of light regime at the bottom underdrifting ice mass, worsening of oxygen conditions,absence of vertical convection.

A.Yu.GUKOV (Ust�Lena State Reserve, Tiksi)

IPY 07/0810

ACTIVITIES IN THE ANTARCTIC

Russian�German partnership in studying dynamicsof the Antarctic glacier has a long history. It began withthe participation of three East German meteorologistsin the 3rd Complex Antarctic Expedition (CAE) in 1959–1961, wintering in the Mirny observatory. The mainresearch results were measurements of ozone contentand carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, radiationbalance, temperature gradient, wind velocity anddirection in the near surface atmosphere layer up to 8m. The shown works were aimed at studying the climateat the Mirny and Drygalsky Island Observatories.

The first geodesic research by the GDR scientistswas conducted during the 7th Soviet Antarctic Expedi�tion (SAE 1961–1963) at Mirny Observatory. Twoscientists from the Technical University of Dresden(TUD), Dittrich and Schwartz established, over a winter,a boundary along the 100 kilometre profile from thestation deep into the continent along the route of thesnowcat trail, Mirny�Vostok. The research results werethe first altitude measurements of the day surface andmovement velocity of glacier in the region. These wereused as a basis for further study of the dynamics ofthis section of the Eastern�Antarctic glacier.

In recent years, scientific cooperation between ourcountries has significantly strengthened. Starting in2001, scientists from the Institute of Planetary GeodesyTechnical University Dresden in close cooperation withFSUE "Aerogeodesy" and RAE continued studying thegeodynamic and neotectonic processes in the EasternAntarctic and Western Antarctic cratons. Usingobservation from automatic navigation systems on theRussian stations and bases Mirny, Progress,Molodezhnaya, Russkaya and Leningradskaya in theSchirmacher Oasis and on QueenMaud Land, precise measurementswere taken of the relative displace�ment of these sections of dry land.This is the basis for further geo�dynamic reconstructions. Repeatmeasurements in 2006–2008 at the100 km profile in the region of MirnyObservatory 45 years later made itpossible to establish more preciselythe geodynamic regime of the ice floein this region.

The next, not insignificant, area ofRussian�German work was, togetherwith FSURDE "PMGE", FSUE"Aerogeodesy" and RAE, the study in2001 of the glacial�hydrologicalregime of the subglacial lake Vostok(Eastern Antarctica) as part of nationaland international IPY projects on

INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL AND GEODESIC RESEARCHIN THE CENTRAL EASTERN ANTARCTIC DURING IPY

studying subglacial lakes (in particular SALE UNITED).In this region wide large scale work is being carried outon studying glacier structure, dynamics, mass balanceand to discover specifics of tidal processes in the lake,by using land radar location profiling and precisegeodesic measurements. These works are done on aunique piece of equipment with a special developedland mobile geophysical laboratory (LMGL) "Vityaz"from Ishimbai Mechanical Plant.

The basic mobile laboratory is the land radarcomplex based on the unique new generation digitalice location RLS�60�06 which replaced its earliermodification RLS�60�98. It has the following technicalcharacteristics: resting frequency 60 MHz; pulsepower 80 KWt; repetition rate of sounding pulses4000 Hz, 1000 Hz; sounding pulse duration0.3 microseconds, 1 microsecond; receiving channelband 3 MHz, 1 MHz; receiver sensitivity 116 db/W;sampling frequency echo signal for 25 ns; echo signalamplitude quantum step 0.24 mW; electric powersupply 24 W; energy input 0.8 kWt.

Work of the 53rd RAE field season ended a cycle ofnational research in this region: complex seismic radarresearch was completed in the charted area of the rockbasin lake and edges. At this time, all together318 seismic (SRM) soundings have been made and5190 linear metres of radar routes completed. Furthergeophysical work in this region will be targeted atdetermining the region's geological structure andevolution.

Over the last few field seasons, conducted as partof IPY, the boundary of the subglacial Lake Vostokwas specified using radar investigations. An

Mobile land geophysical laboratory "Vityaz". Photo provided by RAE

IPY 07/08 11

ACTIVITIES IN THE ANTARCTIC

important discovery was the numerous subglacialreservoirs around the main lake, which indirectlypoints to an increase in geothermal flow from thedepths of our planet. This also means that this region(first of all Vostok Basin, to which the lake isassociated) is an active tectonic zone. RecentRussian seismological, biological and glacial researchalso gives evidence of this.

An important milestone in Antarctic research wasthe resumption of the practice of conducting geo�physical work as part of scientific snowcat trips. Overthe last few years there began, and generally complet�ed, land radar profiling in the zone between VostokStation and Mirny Observatory. Also as part of IPY jointradar and geodesic investigations were conducted.During the mentioned works, subglacial reservoirswere discovered in the region of the Russian stations

STUDY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR ESTABLISHING SNOW/ICE AERODROME ATVOSTOK STATION (CENTRAL ANTARCTICA) AVAILABLE FOR HANDLING HEAVY

WHEEL AIRCRAFTS (IL�76 TD TYPE)

Topicality of the above�mentioned issue relates tohuge interest in Central Antarctica explorations, shownon the part of international scientific community,especially after the discovery of relic Lake Vostok.Furthermore, numerous scientific groups, not limitedto Russian�funded projects, operate from VostokStation located in Central Antarctica. The growingcargo turnover and increasing staff sets one thinkingof opportunities for using the already existing snow/ice aerodrome for landing heavy wheel aircrafts, suchas IL�76 TD. At present, the station disposes of arunway handling ski�planes only. Canadian�manufactured ski�wheel plane with load�lifting capacityof 1500 kg is used for urgent deliveries and

transportations, whereas general cargoes and fuels aredelivered by sledge�caterpillar traverse trains of heavytowing vehicles. Not only would the ability to handleheavy wheel aircrafts at Vostok Station ensure rapiddeliveries and transportations without severe limita�tions, but it would also leave the station independentfrom usability of well�worn fleet of heavy tractors.Currently, for the total continent of Antarctica, RussianAntarctic Expedition only disposes of one singleaerodrome (near Russian Antarctic NovolazarevskayaStation), that is capable of handling heavy wheelaircrafts. Construction of another snow/ice aerodromenear Vostok Station is challenged by low snowtemperatures in Central Antarctic, which do not allow

for construction methods applied atcoastline stations.

Expedition works investigating theopportunities for construction ofsnow/ice aerodrome at Vostok Stationwere conducted during two seasonsof RAE 52 and 53.

Mechanic firming of snow surfacewas selected as the main method ofsnow treatment, as it appeared mostconvenient and cost�effective.

The work purpose consisted instudying changes in physical andmechanical properties of the snowsurface of already establishedrunway at Vostok Station undervarious types of mechanicaltreatment. The study included plate�bearing tests taken in several parts ofthe runway and covering the whole

Runway at Vostok Station

Komsomolskaya and Pionerskaya, and observationswere made to study glacier dynamics in the region.From RAE season 54, it is planned to carry outscientific research in the zone of a new routeProgress�Vostok.

The work was conducted as part of 2 subprograms"Antarctica" Federal Target Program "World Ocean"with financial support from the Russian Fund forFundamental Research (RFBR grants №07�05�00401аin PMGE, № 06�05�64967а in AARI and № 08�05�00316а in IG RAS).

S.V.POPOV (FSURDE "PMGE", Russia),A.RICHTER (TUD, Germany)

V.N.MASOLOV (FSURDE "PMGE", Russia)V.V.LUKIN (RAE, Russia)

P.DITTRICH (TUD, Germany)A.Y.MATVEEV (FSUE "Aerogeodesy", Russia)

IPY 07/0812

ACTIVITIES IN THE ANTARCTIC

range of its physical and mechanical properties. Asthe first step, there was conducted a study of currentcondition of the runway. Its total area was covered bymeasurements of the snow hardness, uniaxialcompression strength and density in differenthorizons and up to 1 m depth, with textural andstructural analysis also applied. Surface hardness wastaken with standard cone penetrometer of 12 mmbase diameter, having 30° angle and the crushingenergy of 8.5 J. Then, the obtained figure wasaveraged across the total area, as well as the horizons,and found to comprise 0.44 MPa. Uniaxialcompression strength was taken with hydraulic pressand, being also averaged across the runway space,comprised 0.41 MPa (hereafter, wherever snowsurface strength is mentioned, uniaxial compressionstrength is meant). Average snow surface density ofthe runway comprised 500 kg/m3, with the averagesnow grain size measuring 0.2 mm. At the depth from40 to 60 cm, there was found deep hoarfrost layer ofsome 5 cm thick. The layer grain size achieved 2 mm,with the layer hardness never surpassing 0.1 MPa.

One may safely conclude, that in its currentcondition, the runway surface quality does not allowfor handling heavy wheel planes IL�76 type, since if itwere the case, the surface hardness should surpass atleast 1.0 MPa.

Penetrometrically, several areas of the currentrunway were chosen for plate�bearing tests. The areaswere selected as to cover the whole range of physicaland mechanical characteristics of snow surfaces, withminimum surface hardness comprising 0.2 MPa andmaximum hardness measuring 0.8 MPa. Metal sheets10 mm thick and spacing 650 and 1500 cm3 respecti�vely were used as plates.

Sledged cistern filled with fuel, totally weighingover 30 tons, was used as hydraulic jack pusher tomove the plates. Each of the selected areas weresubject to at least 5 plate�bearing tests, with variouspressures applied to the snow surface, and pressurerange varying from 0.1 MPa to 1.6 MPa. After eachtest, the scale of plastic deformation got measured,

together with shifts in physical and mechanicalcharacteristics of snow surface within the pressed area.

Additionally, plate�to�plate impact was measured todetermine changes in the surface hardness. First, thesnow was pressed with larger plate, then after 3 days,the area was treated with smaller plate. Thus, we wereable to estimate the bearing strength of the pressedsnow surface on the scale comparable with the size ofshassi�wheel prints. The plate not only just helped toimitate pressure, but also to measure the strength ofpressed snow.

All plate�tests were conducted in the daytime, with theaverage temperature of snow surface comprising –27 °C,with volatilities of up to 3 °C. Snow temperature at 1 mdepth kept almost stable and comprised some –40 °С.

The complete range of physical and mechanicalmeasurements was applied to determinecharacteristics of the runway surface before and afterthe plate�test on all of the tested areas. In plate testing,the deformation speed never surpassed 0.02 m/s,whereas higher deformation speed might causedestruction of the snow surface instead of densifica�tion. Maximum snow strength equaling 3 MPa wasachieved on applying Р = 1.6 MPa, with the layer densityreaching 660 kg/cm3. On such application of pressure,the average grain size shrank 1.5 times.

Maximum strength of the plate�pressed snowsurface reached 3 MPa, which allows to conclude thepossibility of mechanical densification of the surfaceof snow runway already operating at Vostok Station,so that it would achieve the strength needed for landingheavy wheel planes IL�76 TD type.

The pressure necessary to densify the existingrunway should not fail to surpass 0.75 MPa, with theinterval between pressure treatments being as shortas possible to prevent snow grains from congealing.

In plate�testing, the deformation speed should notexceed 0.02 m/s. It is necessary to account for theobtained data when designing the special densifyingdevices.

S.P.POLYAKOV (AARI)Photo provided by author

Episode of plate�testing Outcome of plate testing on snow surface

IPY 07/08 13

Future academic E.K.Fyodorov conductedgeomagnetic field observations at the first driftingstation North Pole�1. Not only were the 3 main fieldcomponents measured but also their temporalvariations. A compact series of magnetic vario�meters (Eschenhagen systems) were made andinstalled in a nonmagnetic light proof case with anilluminator and photographic recorder.

M.E.Ostrekin used very similar magneticvariation equipment (fig. 1) during the aerialexpedition on the USSR H�169 aircraft in the Polarregion in the relatively inaccessible spring of 1941[1].

Soviet drifting stations started work once moreafter the end of the Second World War andD.A.Nizyaev and B.E.Brunelli specially developedand prepared systems of small field magneticvariation stations (fig. 2). The stations wereprepared in the experimental workshop of the ArcticResearch Institute and Leningrad University. Thesedevices contained three variometers (D, H and Z –small scale copies of Eschenhagen variometers), athermograph, magnetic deflectors for setting thefield and sensitivity and also an optical system withillumination and windows with a clock mechanismpulling the photographic film, all in a light proof case.The case had a turn table which was fixed on a tripodbase, set on a level relative to the horizon, so that itcould be orientated according to the azimuth. Therewas a separate control unit for marking time(contact clock), giving operating level, a milliampmeter with resistor and polarityswitches for determining thescale interval of analogvariation recording. More thanten such stations wereprepared.

Despite the progress whichthese devices undoubtedlybrought to geomagneticresearch in polar latitudes, theyhad a number of drawbacks.Copied from observatory instru�ments, variometers, in whichmagnetic plasma systems float�ed on quartz fibres, vibrated dueto ice floe jolts and movementsimpairing the recording quality.

Records of the verticalcomponents strongly dependedon humidity and airtemperature. The Z�systemconsisted of a magnet with apolished mirror surface, reflect�ing the illuminator's light. The

DRIFT MAGNETOMETERS

magnet was fixed on the quartz prism, whichaccumulated on agate pillows under the influence ofmagnetic field variations. With humidity andtemperature changes the system becameunbalanced and friction arose on the prism'soscillation points. Trust in the recordings of thevertical components was not high. This resulted in ainteresting event. At SP�6 Station, magnetologistL.N.Zhigalov discovered that recordings of Z�components became over time unusually quiet andthen an almost straight line, although in the horizont�al components the whole range of variations werepresent.

Fig. 1. Field magnetic recorder, working during the expedition on the airplaneSSSR�H�169. Photo by M.E.Ostrekin

Fig. 2. AARII magnetic variation station, which helpedto obtain the main volume of geomagnetic variation observations

at "North Pole" drifting stations. Photo by V.S.Shneer

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

IPY 07/0814

Cleaning or dehumidifyingthe variometer made no changeto the character of the record�ings. Only when the ice floe hadleft the deep water basin andneared shallow water did highfrequencies reappear and therecording took on its usualappearance. Fig. 3 clearlyshows that the character of Z�variations depends on oceandepth.

As this occurred more thanonce, L.N.Zhigalov suspectedthat the problem was due not tothe equipment but to the natureof these variations.

Nevertheless, for a timethese unusually quiet Z�varia�tion recordings were removedfrom processing in the AARIIlaboratory inspection as theywere related to equipment problems. The physics ofthis phenomenon was only thoroughly studied withthe appearance of the magnetotelluric theory [3].

By this time variometers had been developed inIZMIRAN without the previously describedshortcomings. These variometers were quartzframes with quartz fibres on the ends with magneticsystems fixed on them. Such devices appearing asmonads (a single whole quartz device) were

extremely stable mechanicallyand thermically. The main role increating such variometers wasplayed by IZMIRAN scientistsV.P.Shelting, V.N.Bobrov andN.D.Kulikov. Replacement ofthe old variometers with newones immediately improved thequality of the variation record�ing on drifting stations.

At some SP stations, andon the seasonal Sever expedi�tions V.N.Bobrov's new geo�magnetic�variation systemswere used (f ig. 5). Thedeficiencies in these deviceswas the short recording timeon the film (one day), whichmeant changing the film everyday, and the absence of aturntable.

During the 1950's regulargeophysical research began in the Arctic Oceanusing drifting scientific research stations. As a rule,geomagnetic observations were included in thescientific research. The main goal of theseobservations was to investigate and diagnose thePolar ionosphere, study Solar�Earth connections,the effect of solar wind current systems in theionosphere and various electromagnetic phenomenain the Earth's magnetosphere.

Fig. 3. Magnetograms with recordings of verticalcomponents at SP�6 drifting station. а) sea depth –

114 m; b) sea depth – 1870 m; с) sea depth – 2130m. On the continental observatory at this time sharp

variations in the Z�component and short periodvariations were observed [2]

Fig. 4. Drifting magnetic observatory on SP�6. Magnetic variation stations and control units were placed in KAPSH tents. In the background – absoluteobservation pavilion. Photo by V.S.Shneer

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

IPY 07/08 15

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The results of theseobservations were used toaccount for variationdisturbances in the magneticsurvey results (aero�marine andland), as well as to forecast thedistribution of short radio waveson Polar radio paths. Soviet,American and Canadianresearchers actively conductedgeophysical observations onpolar drifting stations duringthe International GeophysicalYear. Fig. 4 shows the magneticobservatory on SP�6.

In addition to recording geomagnetic variations,absolute observations of the magnetic field were partof the set of magnetic observations. At the beginningof the Geophysical Year a number of equipmentbuilding companies designed new types of absoluteinstruments, which were provided to magneticobservatories. Devices appeared based on newphysical principles, with greater sensitivity andstability (proton and quantum magnetometers). Thedeficiency of these devices was that they onlyallowed measurements of the magnitude of the fullgeomagnetic vector (later ring systems weredeveloped for measuring vector components).These devices did not need correlating with observa�tory devices as they were "absolute". Currently, therehave been developed magnetic�variation stationswith digital recording systems, which make itpossible to widen indefinitely the range of themeasurable field. This had not been possible to dowith analog recording devices.

Most absolute observations on drifting ice weredone using traditional field magnetometers, such as"magnetic theodolites", "Z�weights" and QuartzHorizontal magnetometers (QHM). The main task ofthe absolute observations on drifting stations wasto control base value records of variation stations.Therefore, at least one series of absolute observa�tions was usually done during the recording of onemagnetogram.

As previously mentioned, the main aim of geo�magnetic observations at SP stations was initially toresearch phenomena in the Polar ionosphere andmagnetosphere. However, thanks to the measure�ment of three geomagnetic variation components,attached to absolute measurements of the constantmagnetic field, it is possible to carry out magneticsurveys at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean. The firstperson to draw attention to this was AARII researcherR.M.Galkin [5]. If aeromagnetic surveys using total�field magnetometer can only measure the dimensionsof the total field of the full vector with an accuracy of10–15 nT, then on drifting stations it is possible to

Fig. 5. Quartz digital magnetic variation stationIZMIRAN�4. Photo. S.P.Gaidash

measure all three componentswith an accuracy of 1–5 nT.

This makes it possible toincrease by an order theaccuracy of interpreting theparameters of the magneticlayer!

The discovery by L.N.Zhigalovconcerning the dependence ofgeomagnetic variations on seadepth (as well as on electricalconductivity of bottom rocks)makes it possible to implement"magnetic variation profiling" ofthe ocean bed. In other words,

localisation and study of the nonhomogeneity of theelectrical conductivity of the Earth's crust and theupper mantle and the structure of the nonhomo�genous geoelectric section.

Therefore, the possibility arises of using SPgeomagnetic observation stations for investigatingthe structure of high latitude lithosphere.

It should be noted that it is currently sensiblefor this purpose, to use new magnetic f ieldmeasuring sensing systems based on digitaltechnology. Stations which have such sensors canoperate in the whole range of geomagnetic fieldcomponents without loss of sensitivity. In additionglobal satellite navigation systems can alwayslocate the station if it is working in automaticnonstaffed mode. The satellite telemetry systemmakes it possible to transfer to the user geo�magnetic field data in real time.

The above mentioned, non�standard geo�magnetic variation research methods at SP stationswere tested at the Schmidt Centre forGeoelectromagnetic Research IFE RAS as part of theInternational Polar Year 2007/2008 [6] and showedpromising results.

V.S.SHNEER, I.L.TROFIMOV(GEMRC IPE RAS)

LIST OF REFERENCES1. Экспедиция на самолете "СССР�Н�169" в район "Полюса

недодоступности": Научные материалы. Л.: Изд�во Главсевморпути, 1946.2. Л.Н.Жигалов. О некоторых особенностях вариаций вертикальной

составляющей магнитного поля Земли в Северном Ледовитом океане //Геомагнитные возмущения. № 4.

Изд�во АН СССР, 1960. С. 30–34.3. М.Н.Бердичевский, Б.Е.Брюнелли. Теоретические предпосылки

магнитотеллурического профилирования // Известия АН СССР, сер. геофиз.,№ 7, 1959.

4. В.Н.Бобров. Трехкомпонентная полевая магнитная вариационнаястанция "ИЗМИРАН�4" // Геомагнетизм и Аэрономия, т. 5, № 5, 1965. С. 892–895

5. Akasofu S.�I. Polar and magnetic substorms. Springer Verlag N.Y. 1968.6. Р.М.Галкин. О разделении пространственных и временных вариаций

магнитного поля по наблюдениям на дрейфующих станциях // Геомагнетизм иаэрономия. 1968. Т. 8. № 6. С. 1125–1126.

7. И.Л.Трофимов, В.С.Шнеер, А.А.Халезов. Аномальное магнитное полехребта Ломоносова по данным дрейфующей станции "Северный полюс�19" //Геомагнетизм и аэрономия, 2007. Т. 46, № 2. С. 261–265.

IPY 07/0816

CONFERENCES

On 3–7 October, 2008, in Sochi the scientificconference "Russia's Contribution to IPY" was heldunder guidance of the Organizing Committee forparticipation of the Russian Federation in prepara�tion and holding the events of International PolarYear 2007/08, Russian Academy of Science andFederal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environ�mental Monitoring of the Russian Federation. Morethen 130 scientists from 27 institutes of RAS,Roshydromet, Ministry of Natural Resources andEcology and Ministry of Education and Science tookpart in the conference. 76 reports on different issuesof the Arctic and Antarctic research were presented.During the introduction V.M.Kotlyakov (IGRAS –Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy ofSciences) gave the general description of Russia'scontribution to IPY 2007/08, he told about the workof associated committee of IASC�WMO on IPY anddetailed the planning of final phase of IPY, givingspecial attention to preparation o series of publica�tions and festive events in Paris and Oslo plannedfor 2009 and 2010.

I.E.Frolov (AARI) introduced the preliminaryresults of complex high�latitude research of theArctic Ocean in 2007 and 2008.

2007/08, V.G.Danilov (AARI) made a report on thesystem of scientific events and planning of the finalphase of IPY 2007/08. In general the topics of thereports of the conference participants reflected allthe aspects of implementation of Scientific programof participation of the Russian Federation in Interna�tional Polar Year 2007/08.

The reports were introduced in sessions of 9sections:

1) climate and paleoclimate;2) surface waters of the land and river estuaries

in polar zones: ice conditions and floods;3) high atmosphere and near�Earth space

environment, free and near Earth atmosphere;4) snow cover, glaciation, permanent frost layer

and soils;5) sea environment of polar oceans and seas,

seawater ice;6) structure and history of geological develop�

ment of polar zone lithosphere;7) land and sea ecosystems of the Arctic and

Antarctic;8) information systems. Data management;9) quality of life of the population and economical

development of polar zones; building up of educa�tional and scientific potential in polar research.

The conference noted great practical importanceof results received during IPY and the works onprojects included into plan of implementation ofscientific program of Russia's participation in IPY,

SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE "RUSSIA'S CONTRIBUTION TO IPY"

approved by national Organization Committee onJuly 4, 2008. The great contribution to monitoring ofchanges in sea environment of the Arctic wasmentioned.

Considering the issues of polar zones climategreat attention was paid to different aspects of seaArctic climate change assessment, diagnostics andmodeling of climate changes in polar and subpolarareas, defining reasons of changes in polar zones.The special features of hydrological regime of theriver estuaries and sensitivity of river flow to currentand future global warming were discussed. The studyresults of heliogeophysical tropospheric disturbanceinfluence on the Earth climate system as well as theresults of study of small gas and aerosol atmospherecomponents above water area of the oceans andproblems of mutual influence of the atmosphere andgeologocal substrate in polar zones were discussed.

In the reports related to the problem of snowcover, glaciation permanent frost layer and soilsamong others such issues as the peculiarities of lakeVostok (East Antarctic) ice sheet and deep structure,current state and the forecast changes of permanentfrost layer were considered.

In the geological section reports on structure andevolution of tectonic processes, including theinfluence of climate variations on the lithosphereevolution of polar regions, were presented.

A series of reports covered the problem of spreadand accumulation of pollutants in natural environ�ments of arctic area and the studies of anthropogenicstress in polar ecosystems.

Social issues of the Arctic were one of the mainpoints of attention of the conference.For example,the results of zoning of the Russian Federation'sterritory in accordance with natural and climatic livingconditions of the population in the light of possibleclimate changes, assessment of economical impactof climate factors, result of ecological and climatefactors influence o the human body in polar areas ofthe Earth were presented

The participants of the conference listened toreports about national IPY 2007/08 data manage�ment and experience of creating IPY Internet portals.

A number of reports covered the historicalaspect of polar research, especially the results ofarcheological research as well as the educationalactivities during IPY.

One of the most important results of theconference is the incontestable conclusion aboutthe great use of holding IPY as the large�scaleinternational scientific experiment that includes awide range of well�organized and prepared scientificevents for collecting and analyzing data on the stateof the natural environment in key areas of polar zones

IPY 07/08 17

CONFERENCES

of the Earth. Many new scientific results especiallyin oceanography, crypedology, glaciology, geology,biology, sociology and others were received due tothe conference.

The conference turned the attention of theorganizations participating in IPY to the importanceof creating IPY 2007/08 data management, andencouraged all the participants of IPY projects toaccelerate the process of collecting, storing andexchanging the data and promoting the informationabout the data received during IPY 2007/08. Themeeting in Sochi will continue the series of associatescience forums of Roshydromet, RAS other institu�tions, dedicated to IPY. The conference is a good toolfor coordinating Russian multi�disciplinary researchin the Arctic and Antarctic.

Recommendations of the scientific conference"Russia's contribution to IPY"

(October 3–7 2008, Sochi)The conference "Russia's contribution to IPY"

held in Sochi in October 3–7 demonstrated a highlevel of the research works undertaken within theframework of the International Polar Year. The headsand leaders of the projects discussed the funda�mental issues, the results of the Russian researchworks in the Arctic and Antarctic of the national andinternational IPY projects and devised the followingrecommendations:

Conference participants

I.E.Frolov, AARI Director, introduces the preliminary results of complex high�latitude research of the Arctic Ocean in 2007 and 2008

To stress scientific and practical significance ofthe results of the IPY projects, and to single out thereports on the projects of the subprogram"Exploration and research in the Antarctic" of theFederal Target Program (FTP) "World Ocean", theprogram of the RAS Panel "Natural phenomena inthe polar regions of the earth and their possibledevelopment in the next decades", and the programof the DES (Department of Earth Sciences) RAS "Thehistory of the Arctic Ocean basin formation and theregime of the present natural processes in the Arctic(within the IPY)". To highlight a considerablecontribution to the monitoring of the fluctuations inthe Arctic waters, as the diagnostic of the water and

IPY 07/0818

CONFERENCES

ice characteristics of the Arctic basin, made duringthe IPY, correlate with the results of the extendedoceanographic survey carried out by the Soviethigh�latitude air�borne expeditions "Sever"("North") in 1970s and with the results of the icethickness measurement form the board of thenuclear�powered ice�breakers in 1970�80s.

To attract the organization�participants' attentionto the problem of the IPY of 2007/08 data manage�ment, and to solve the problems of collecting,recording and exchanging data as soon as possible.To offer to all the IPY projects participants to deliverthe obtained data to the corresponding centers ofthe IPY and to register it in the IPY�Info system.

To prepare a master copy of the monographdescribing all the results on all the projects of theRAS Panel program "Natural phenomena in the polarregions of the earth and their possible developmentin the next decades" by the end of 2008.

To consider the two projects on polar regionsresearch suitable for presentation at the contest ofthe fundamental programs of the Russian Academyof Sciences. The two programs are the RAS Panelprogram "The environment of the polar regions, itschanges in the past and possible changes in thefuture" and the RAS DES program "Te cryosphereevolution under the climatic change".

In connection with the preparation of the statedocument "The national policy of Russian in theArctic before 2020 and in the future" to built up aworking group including V.M.Kotlyakov, Y.G.Leonov,D.S.Drozdov, I.E.Frolov, A.I.Danilov, V.G.Dmitriev,I.I.Mokhov, M.D.Khutorskoi, A.A.Vinogradova,A.A.Tishkov, E.N.Andreeva to prepare by September,1 an executive summary on "The results of the IPYfor the national doctrine of the Russian Federation",which would contain recommendations on thebalance maintenance in the usage of allthe natural

resources, biodiversity, quality ofthe wildlife environment and livingenvironment of the indigenouspeople and newcomers.

To collect and deliver informa�tion on all the expedition and fieldworks to the IPY ScientificInformation Analytical Center for itto be published in the bulletin "IPYNews of 2007/08" and to beregistered in the IPY�Info system.

To suggest that the heads of theRAS projects and the subprogram"Exploration and research in theAntarctic" of the FTP "WorldOcean" should take part in theinternational scientific conference"The results of the InternationalPolar Year of 2007/08" in June 15–18, 2009 in Salekhard.

V.G.DMITRIEV (AARI)Photos provided by the author

During the break: A.I.Danilov, A.P.Makshtas, V.G.Dmitriev, G.V.AlekseevAt the conference

V.M.Kotlyakov, member of IG RAS, opens the conference

IPY 07/08 19

RETROSPECTIVE

THE HISTORY OF THE LOST POLAR STATION "TAIMYR LAKE"

The polar station "Taimyr Lake" began operations onSeptember 1, 1943, when our country was goingthrough the hardships of the Great Patriotic War. Thestation was opened in order to provide accuratemeteorological data for polar aviation catering to thebattle zone needs, numerous geological expeditionsand vessels on the Northern Sea Route.

Petr Svirnenko, the first station chief, worked at the"Taimyr Lake" station for 8 years without a single leave.Some years the staff of the station only counted twopeople due to the lack of living facilities.

Owing to the twenty�four hour all�year roundoperation of meteo�rological polar sta�tions, vessels carry�ing provisions andarmaments couldnavigate to theremote regions of theFar North without anyserious interruptions.Several generationsof observers workedin the arduousweather conditionsnorth of the ArcticCircle during the termof the station'soperation (1943–1995). In the postwaryears the meteo�rological service wasin great demand withthe pilots of the Khatanga united air group, who workedin the Arctic regions around Taimyr Lake.

The devastation of the highly organized meteo�rological and polar stations network, which occurred inour country in the 1990s, affected the "Taimyr Lake"polar station among many others. In anticipation of theevent Yuri Karbainov, who was then the Director of theState Natural Biosphere Park "Taimyrsky", made anattempt to convert the polar station into the basis forthe natural park cordon in order to preserve the meansfor a number of invaluable long�term meteorologicalobservations, but he received no support. A reasonablesolution would have been to deactivate the station forthe time being and preserve it, so that it could resumeoperations later under better economic circumstancesfor resource development in the Arctic zones of Russia.Yet, there were not enough resources at the time to dothat either.

After a short time a television crew from the "ECOS"studio lead by Oleg Volynkin from Ivanovo was travellingthrough the area in search of the cross�country vehiclebelonging to Nikolai Urvantsev, a pioneering geologist.

They found that the property of the "Taimyr Lake' polarstation had been plundered and burned, and a fractionof the station archive that had survived arson, was beingdestroyed by melt�water. The "ECOS" crew notified thenature park authorities, and Yuri Karbainov, the formerDirector, who knew the value of the perishing archive,immediately sent S.Pankevich, A.Ufimtsev, andY.Bogdanov on a mission to save the remainingdocuments from fire, melt�water and mismanagement.The natural park staff then spent many days drying theretrieved documents. Aleksandr Ufimtsev, anexperienced polar researcher who had worked both in

the Arctic and inAntarctica, set aboutthe laborious task ofsorting the retrieved"Taimyr Lake" recordsin 2008.

S y s t e m a t i cobservation of thechanges in them e t e o r o l o g i c a lconditions aroundTaimyr Lake (thelargest of all lakes inthe Arctic zone ofRussia) is regarded ascrucially important.That is why in 2005the natural parkauthorities undertookthe construction of amonitoring station in

the delta of the Kalamisamo River where it flows into themost southern part of the Baikura�Neru arm of TaimyrLake. The monitoring station, which is currently underconstruction, will perform the functions of a base stationfor the natural park and conduct hydro�meteorologicalobservations. The construction of this station hasreceived support from the General Ecological Founda�tion (GEF) as it is considered one of the basic elementsin the implementation of the project aimed at preservingnatural complexes in natural areas of preferentialprotection.

The new monitoring station's operation will fill the gapin the system of hydro�meteorological observations inthe Taimyr Lake region. The long�standing need for suchobservations was emphasized by such distinguishedArctic researchers as B.Tikhomirov, Y.Syroetchkovsry,V.Makeev, and others.

Honorary resident of the Khatanga region,Doctor of Science (Biology) N.LOVELIUS

Senior research associate, Ph.D, Y.KARBAINOVDirector of the Natural Park "Taimyrsky",

S.PANKEVICH

The Polar station "Taimyr Lake". Closed in 1995Photo from http://www.taimyrsky.ru/Miniatures/TaimyrLakeAlbum.htm

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Layout: N.A.Merkulova.Frontpage – young walrus is escaping crowd and climbing the rocks (photo by S.Kavra);

backcover – the Bering Sea. Cape Chukotsky. Photo from archive of the Nature and Ethnic conservancy area "Beringiya".

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IPY 2007/08 News

N 20 (October) 2008)

ISSN 2071�601X

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