Page 43 - Журнал Sozvezdye Review - «СОЗВЕЗДИЕ» #40

The Arctic and Antarctic Research Insti-
tute (AARI) is one of the world’s leading re-
search centers in the field of comprehensive
Arctic and Antarctic studies. A provider of
full-cycle research in high latitudes, AARI
serves the interests of the Russian Federation,
delivering research orders also to commer-
cial companies. AARI’s departments engage
in fundamental and applied research in cli-
mate, atmospheric processes, near space, ma-
rine environment and ice cover. AARI acts as
a state-run operator of the Arctic and Antarc-
North Pole departed on her maiden voyage tic research. Throughout its history, AARI has
from St. Petersburg to Murmansk on September 1, organized as many as 1,100 expeditions to the
marked by the flag raising ceremony. In his speech, Arctic and Antarctica.
Roshydromet’s leader Igor Shumakov said:
“The North Pole is the world’s only platform of
its kind. The Russian scientists will, for the first sider the cost of escort operations and the ultimate
time ever, be able to conduct long-term research carriage cost, for one and the same route can be
and observations in the Arctic Ocean’s high-latitude passed by a ship with higher or lower energy con-
seas in safe and comfortable conditions. The North sumption.”
Pole will start providing us with accurate, complete The first expedition being carried by this plat-
data already soon, which is of great importance for form is named “North Pole – 41”. It started in mid-
our further climate studies, ice observations, laying September and is heading towards the New Siberian
of routes within the Northern Sea Route and fore- Islands via the Novaya Zemlya and the Severnaya
casting hydrometeorological hazards. Her onboard Zemlya archipelago. Aerial surveys will be conduct-
equipment and facilities will enable scientists to ful- ed in October to identify the ice field most suit-
fill all research tasks on their agenda.” able for setting up of the polar station and the camp
around it. Some of the studies will be performed on
From deep sea to outer space board, for which purpose the platform is installed
with fifteen laboratories. Alexander Makarov:
The platform is suitable for conducting a wide “The aerial survey will involve a helicopter to
range of research activities, including those target- conduct visual observations to identify most suit-
ing to increase the navigational safety within the able ice fields. Then, a survey team will be landed
Northern Sea Route. Alexander Makarov, Director on the chosen ice fields to measure their thickness
at Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute: and age and do extra investigations. Based on the
“Now, nearly ten years after our drifting polar data obtained, the best suitable ice field will be cho-
stations stopped operating due to global warming, sen. Next thing to do is station the North Pole near
we are resuming their research program. The North the ice field within fast ice zone and just let the ice
Pole platform allows for the Arctic environment to build up round it. Or, as option, to let the platform
be explored in multifaceted ways at four thousand make its way deeper into drifting ice. This latter SOZVEZDYE #40
meters deep and through entire thickness of the option would involve the research ship Akademik
ocean to study currents, ice and water properties, all Tryoshnikov and offers higher chances of the plat-
the way to the upper atmosphere and outer space. form getting to the right ice floe, although it would исследования
It is installed with cutting-edge facilities, including certainly take more time and there’s a risk of dam-
the ice pressure sensors, and is in itself a measur- aging the integrity of ice field. Scientists will decide exploration
ing instrument. Given ARRI’s key task of providing which option to follow once on site. It will take the
navigational safety forecasts for the Northern Sea platform 7 to 10 days to freeze into the ice field, and
Route and the fact that the Arctic marine traffic is in the meantime scientists will be setting up a camp
currently on the increase, the tasks of hydromete- around it. The expedition has as its main purpose
orological support gain much greater importance. the comprehensive study of the Arctic’s ‘atmosphere – 41
The advantages are even more evident if you con- ice cover – ocean’ environment.”