Aleksandr Stepanovich Kuchin: the Russian who went south with Amundsen

Polar Record ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 22 (139) ◽  
pp. 401-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Barr
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
South Pole ◽  
Bering Strait ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
Northern Sea Route ◽  
Océanographic Survey ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Southern Atlantic Ocean

AbstractAleksandr Stepanovich Kuchin (1888–1912) was already an experienced mariner and oceanographer when Amundsen invited him to join the Fram expedition of 1910–12. Expecting a voyage through the Barents Sea, Kuchin found himself on an expedition to the Antarctic. While Amundsen's sledging parties sought the South Pole, Kuchin remained with the ship, completing an excellent oceanographic survey of the southern Atlantic Ocean. Returning to Russia in 1912 he was recruited, by the geologist and explorer V. A. Rusinov to join a scientific expedition to Svalbard. As deputy leader of the party and captain of Gerkules, the expedition ship, Kuchin played an important role in the Svalbard survey. Then once again found himself heading in an unexpected direction: on completing the Svalbard work, Rusanov decided to attempt the Northern Sea Route to the Bering Strait. Gerkules disappeared and was never seen again; her loss, presumably in the Kara Sea, brought to an untimely end the career of a promising young polar explorer.

Arctic Freshwater in CMIP6: Declining Sea Ice, Increasing Ocean Storage and Export

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Zanowski ◽  
Alexandra Jahn ◽  
Marika Holland
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Historical Period ◽  
Freshwater Flux ◽  
Bering Strait ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
Late 21St Century ◽  
Freshwater Export

<p>Recently, the Arctic has undergone substantial changes in sea ice cover and the hydrologic cycle, both of which strongly impact the freshwater storage in, and export from, the Arctic Ocean. Here we analyze Arctic freshwater storage and fluxes in 7 climate models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) and assess their agreement over the historical period (1980-2000) and in two future emissions scenarios, SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5. In the historical simulation, few models agree closely with observations over 1980-2000. In both future scenarios the models show an increase in liquid (ocean) freshwater storage in conjunction with a reduction in solid storage and fluxes through the major Arctic gateways (Bering Strait, Fram Strait, Davis Strait, and the Barents Sea Opening) that is typically larger for SSP5-8.5 than SSP1-2.6. The liquid fluxes through the gateways exhibit a more complex pattern, with models exhibiting a change in sign of the freshwater flux through the Barents Sea Opening and little change in the flux through the Bering Strait in addition to increased export from the remaining straits by the end of the 21st century. A decomposition of the liquid fluxes into their salinity and volume contributions shows that the Barents Sea flux changes are driven by salinity changes, while the Bering Strait flux changes are driven by compensating salinity and volume changes. In the straits west of Greenland (Nares, Barrow, and Davis straits), the models disagree on whether there will be a decrease, increase, or steady liquid freshwater export in the early to mid 21st century, although they mostly show increased liquid freshwater export in the late 21st century. The underlying cause of this is a difference in the magnitude and timing of a simulated decrease in the volume flux through these straits. Although the models broadly agree on the sign of late 21st century storage and flux changes, substantial differences exist between the magnitude of these changes and the models’ Arctic mean states, which shows no fundamental improvement in the models compared to CMIP5.</p>

scholarly journals Climate change impacts on sea–air fluxes of CO<sub>2</sub> in three Arctic seas: a sensitivity study using Earth observation

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 8109-8128 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. Land ◽  
J. D. Shutler ◽  
R. D. Cowling ◽  
D. K. Woolf ◽  
P. Walker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Earth Observation ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
Sink Strength ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
Co2 Sink ◽  
Positive Effect

Abstract. We applied coincident Earth observation data collected during 2008 and 2009 from multiple sensors (RA2, AATSR and MERIS, mounted on the European Space Agency satellite Envisat) to characterise environmental conditions and integrated sea–air fluxes of CO2 in three Arctic seas (Greenland, Barents, Kara). We assessed net CO2 sink sensitivity due to changes in temperature, salinity and sea ice duration arising from future climate scenarios. During the study period the Greenland and Barents seas were net sinks for atmospheric CO2, with integrated sea–air fluxes of −36 ± 14 and −11 ± 5 Tg C yr−1, respectively, and the Kara Sea was a weak net CO2 source with an integrated sea–air flux of +2.2 ± 1.4 Tg C yr−1. The combined integrated CO2 sea–air flux from all three was −45 ± 18 Tg C yr−1. In a sensitivity analysis we varied temperature, salinity and sea ice duration. Variations in temperature and salinity led to modification of the transfer velocity, solubility and partial pressure of CO2 taking into account the resultant variations in alkalinity and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Our results showed that warming had a strong positive effect on the annual integrated sea–air flux of CO2 (i.e. reducing the sink), freshening had a strong negative effect and reduced sea ice duration had a small but measurable positive effect. In the climate change scenario examined, the effects of warming in just over a decade of climate change up to 2020 outweighed the combined effects of freshening and reduced sea ice duration. Collectively these effects gave an integrated sea–air flux change of +4.0 Tg C in the Greenland Sea, +6.0 Tg C in the Barents Sea and +1.7 Tg C in the Kara Sea, reducing the Greenland and Barents sinks by 11% and 53%, respectively, and increasing the weak Kara Sea source by 81%. Overall, the regional integrated flux changed by +11.7 Tg C, which is a 26% reduction in the regional sink. In terms of CO2 sink strength, we conclude that the Barents Sea is the most susceptible of the three regions to the climate changes examined. Our results imply that the region will cease to be a net CO2 sink in the 2050s.

scholarly journals Climate change impacts on sea-air fluxes of CO<sub>2</sub> in three Arctic seas: a sensitivity study using earth observation

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 12377-12432 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. Land ◽  
J. D. Shutler ◽  
R. D. Cowling ◽  
D. K. Woolf ◽  
P. Walker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Earth Observation ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
Sink Strength ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
Co2 Sink ◽  
Positive Effect

Abstract. During 2008 and 2009 we applied coincident Earth observation data collected from multiple sensors (RA2, AATSR and MERIS, mounted on the European Space Agency satellite Envisat) to characterise environmental conditions and net sea-air fluxes of CO2 in three Arctic seas (Greenland, Barents, Kara) to assess net CO2 sink sensitivity due to changes in temperature, salinity and sea ice duration arising from future climate scenarios. During the study period the Greenland and Barents Seas were net sinks for atmospheric CO2, with sea-air fluxes of −34±13 and −13±6 Tg C yr−1, respectively and the Kara Sea was a weak net CO2 source with a sea-air flux of +1.5±1.1 Tg C yr−1. The combined net CO2 sea-air flux from all three was −45±18 Tg C yr−1. In a sensitivity analysis we varied temperature, salinity and sea ice duration. Variations in temperature and salinity led to modification of the transfer velocity, solubility and partial pressure of CO2 taking into account the resultant variations in alkalinity and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Our results showed that warming had a strong positive effect on the annual net sea-air flux of CO2 (i.e. reducing the sink), freshening had a strong negative effect and reduced sea ice duration had a small but measurable positive effect. In the climate change scenario examined, the effects of warming in just over a decade of climate change up to 2020 outweighed the combined effects of freshening and reduced sea ice duration. Collectively these effects gave a net sea-air flux change of +3.5 Tg C in the Greenland Sea, +5.5 Tg C in the Barents Sea and +1.4 Tg C in the Kara Sea, reducing the Greenland and Barents sinks by 10% and 50% respectively, and increasing the weak Kara Sea source by 64%. Overall, the regional flux changed by +10.4 Tg C, reducing the regional sink by 23%. In terms of CO2 sink strength we conclude that the Barents Sea is the most susceptible of the three regions to the climate changes examined. Our results imply that the region will cease to be a net CO2 sink by 2060.

Redescription of Admete sadko Gorbunov, 1946 (Gastropoda: Cancellariidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4508 (3) ◽  
pp. 427
Author(s):  
IVAN O. NEKHAEV
Keyword(s):  
Barents Sea ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Bering Strait ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
The Family

Five species of the family Cancellariidae are currently known from Arctic seas: Admete contabulata Friele, 1879, A. clivicola Høisæter, 2011, A. solida (Aurivillius, 1885), A. viridula (Fabricius, 1780) and Iphinopsis inflata (Friele, 1879) (Golikov et al. 2001; Kantor & Sysoev 2006; Høisæter 2011). Admete contabulata, A. clivicola and Iphinopsis inflata are only known from the Atlantic part of the Arctic, i.e. Norwegian and southwestern Barents seas (Høisæter 2011; Nekhaev 2014). Admete solida has been rarely reported since its first description from the Bering Strait (Sysoev & Kantor 2002), however Nekhaev & Krol (2017) recently reported a specimen from the eastern region of the Barents Sea that is similar in morphology to the holotype of this species. Admete viridula is the only representative of Admete reported from Siberian seas (Golikov et al. 2001; Lyubin 2003; Kantor & Sysoev, 2006). 

A 3D gravity and thermal model for the Barents Sea and Kara Sea

2016 ◽  
Vol 684 ◽  
pp. 131-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Klitzke ◽  
Judith Sippel ◽  
Jan Inge Faleide ◽  
Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Model ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
3D Gravity

scholarly journals Conditions of formation and forecast of natural reservoirs in clinoform complex of the Lower Cretaceous of the Barents-Kara shelf

Georesursy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-79
Author(s):  
Alina V. Mordasova ◽  
Antonina V. Stoupakova ◽  
Anna A. Suslova ◽  
Daria K. Ershova ◽  
Svetlana A. Sidorenko
Keyword(s):  
Detailed Analysis ◽  
Lower Cretaceous ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
Distribution Area ◽  
Geological Model ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
Gas Potential ◽  
Cretaceous Deposits

Unique Leningradsky and Rusanovsky gascondensate fields in the Barrem-Cenomanian layer are discovered in the Kara Sea. Non-industrial accumulations of oil and gas have been discovered in the Lower Cretaceous sediments of the western part of the Barents Sea shelf. However, the structure and oil and gas potential of the Lower Cretaceous sediments of the Barents-Kara shelf remain unexplored. Based on the seismic-stratigraphic and cyclostratigraphic analysis, a regional geological model of the Lower Cretaceous deposits of the Barents-Kara shelf was created, the distribution area and the main stages of the accumulation of clinoforms were identified. As a result of a detailed analysis of the morphology of clinoform bodies, paleogeographic conditions were restored in the Early Cretaceous and a forecast of the distribution of sandy reservoirs was given

scholarly journals A mechanism of spring Barents Sea ice effect on the extreme summer droughts in northeastern China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
YiBo Du ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Siwen Zhao ◽  
Zhiheng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
Northeastern China ◽  
Arctic Sea Ice ◽  
Extreme Drought ◽  
Negative Phase ◽  
Vapor Flux ◽  
The Barents Sea

Abstract The frequency of extreme drought events in northeastern China (NEC) has increased since the 2000s, and such a decadal anomalous trend may lead to significant stress on agriculture and economic development. The correlation between Arctic sea ice loss in spring and extreme summer droughts over NEC was investigated. The results show that the loss of sea ice over the Barents Sea in spring is associated with extreme droughts and positive height anomalies over NEC in summer. The physical processes include two pathways. First, Arctic ice loss from the Barents Sea to the Kara Sea results in reducing baroclinicity over the ice loss region but increasing baroclinicity over the ice melting region, which is favorable to the wave ridge over northern Europe and negative-phase Summer North Atlantic Oscillation (SNAO). One wave train originates from negative-phase SNAO over North Atlantic–Europe and spreads to central Europe, central Asia, and NEC. Second, another wave motion flux originates from the Barents–Kara Sea propagating eastward, and then disperses southward to NEC. Both wave trains lead to anomalous anticyclonic circulation and westward subtropical high, which favors descending motion and less water vapor flux, thereby contributing to extreme drought.

Dynamic control of the dominant modes of interannual variability of snowfall frequency in China

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-48
Author(s):  
Bo Sun ◽  
Huijun Wang ◽  
Biwen Wu ◽  
Min Xu ◽  
Botao Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Barents Sea ◽  
Wave Activity ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
Vapor Transport ◽  
Water Vapor Transport ◽  
Positive Phase ◽  
Synoptic Scale ◽  
Asian Continent ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
Leading Mode

AbstractThis study investigates 16 the first two leading modes of the interannual variability of frequency of snowfall events (FSE) over China in the winter during 1986–2018. The positive phase of the first leading mode (EOF1) is mainly characterized by positive FSE anomalies in northeastern-northwestern China and negative FSE anomalies in the three-river-source region. In contrast, the positive phase of the second leading mode (EOF2) is mainly characterized by positive FSE anomalies in central eastern China (CEC). The EOF1 is affected by the synoptic-scale wave activity over the mid-latitudes of the East Asian continent, where active synoptic-scale wave activity over the mid-latitudes may cause increased FSE over northeastern-northwestern China, and vice versa. In a winter of a negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation, an anomalous deep cold low may occur over Siberia, which may induce increased meridional air temperature gradient, increased atmospheric baroclinicity, and hence increased FSE over the mid-latitudes of the East Asian continent. The EOF2 is affected by the interaction between anomalous northerly cold advection and anomalous southerly water vapor transport over CEC. The positive phase of EOF2 is associated with negative sea ice anomalies in the Barents Sea-Kara sea region and negative sea surface temperature anomalies in the central-eastern tropical Pacific. Reduced sea ice in the Barents Sea-Kara Sea during January–February may cause increased northerly cold advection over CEC, while a La Niña-like condition during January may induce southerly water vapor transport anomalies over CEC.

scholarly journals The ringed seal (Phoca hispida) in the western Russian Arctic

1998 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanislav E Belikov ◽  
Andrei N Boltunov
Keyword(s):  
Barents Sea ◽  
White Sea ◽  
Ringed Seal ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
The White Sea ◽  
Phoca Hispida ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
Fast Ice

This paper presents a review of available published and unpublished material on the ringed seal (Phoca hispida) in the western part of the Russian Arctic, including the White, Barents and Kara seas. The purpose of the review is to discuss the status of ringed seal stocks in relation to their primary habitat, the history of sealing, and a recent harvest of the species in the region. The known primary breeding habitats for this species are in the White Sea, the south-western part of the Barents Sea, and in the coastal waters of the Kara Sea, which are seasonally covered by shore-fast ice. The main sealing sites are situated in the same areas. Female ringed seals become mature by the age of 6, and males by the age of 7. In March-April a female gives birth to one pup in a breeding lair constructed in the shore-fast ice. The most important prey species for ringed seals in the western sector of the Russian Arctic are pelagic fish and crustaceans. The maximum annual sealing level for the region was registered in the first 70 years of the 20th century: the White Sea maximum (8,912 animals) was registered in 1912; the Barents Sea maximum (13,517 animals) was registered in 1962; the Kara Sea maximum (13,200 animals) was registered in 1933. Since the 1970s, the number of seals harvested has decreased considerably. There are no data available for the number of seals harvested annually by local residents for their subsistence.

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