scholarly journals Overview of strong winds on the coasts of the Russian Arctic seas

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 14-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna A. Shestakova ◽  
Irina A. Repina
Keyword(s):  
The Arctic ◽  
Joint Analysis ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
Novaya Zemlya ◽  
Wrangel Island ◽  
Hurricane Wind ◽  
Wind Climatology ◽  
Strong Winds

Joint analysis of ground-based standard observations, spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar observations and the Arctic System Reanalysis (ASR) v.2 allow us to identify areas with storm and hurricane wind in the Russian Arctic in detail. We analyzed statistics and genesis of strong winds in each region, with the special emphasis on orographic winds. For those regions where wind amplification occurs due to downslope windstorms (Novaya Zemlya, Svalbard, Tiksi, Pevek, Wrangel Island), a statistical analysis of the intensity and frequency of windstorms was carried out according to observations. Reanalysis ASR v.2 demonstrates significantly better strong wind climatology in comparison with another high-resolution Climate Forecast System Reanalysis. ASR v.2 still underestimates speed of strong winds, however it reproduces rather well most of mesoscale local winds, including Novaya Zemlya bora, Spitsbergen foehn, bora on Wrangel Island and some other.

scholarly journals Assessment of initial seismic impacts on the northern part of the Barents Sea shelf (Novaya Zemlya region) for the purpose of seismic microzoning in the areas of prospective hydrocarbon mining

2019 ◽  
pp. 38-47
Author(s):  
I. G. Mindel ◽  
B. A. Trifonov ◽  
M. D. Kaurkin ◽  
V. V. Nesynov
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Arctic Shelf ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Seismic Microzoning ◽  
Novaya Zemlya ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
National Task ◽  
Seismic Impacts

In recent years, in connection with the national task of developing the Arctic territories of Russia and the perspective increase in the hydrocarbon mining on the Arctic shelf, more attention is being paid to the study of seismicity in the Barents Sea shelf. The development of the Russian Arctic shelf with the prospect of increasing hydrocarbon mining is a strategically important issue. Research by B.A. Assinovskaya (1990, 1994) and Ya.V. Konechnaya (2015) allowed the authors to estimate the seismic effects for the northern part of the Barents Sea shelf (Novaya Zemlya region). The paper presents the assessment results of the initial seismic impacts that can be used to solve seismic microzoning problems in the areas of oil and gas infrastructure during the economic development of the Arctic territory.

The contributions of Karl Ernst von Baer to the investigation of the physical geography of the Arctic in the 1830s–40s

Polar Record ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 38 (205) ◽  
pp. 121-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erki Tammiksaar
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Physical Geography ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Geographical Society ◽  
Novaya Zemlya ◽  
Arctic Exploration ◽  
The Russian Empire ◽  
Siberian Permafrost

AbstractAlthough more widely known as the founder of modern embryology, Karl Ernst von Baer played a special role in the investigation of the physical geography of the Russian Empire in the nineteenth century. Baer not only conducted his own scientific research in the Arctic, he was also a key supporter and organiser of other Russian expeditions to the far north. Baer carried out the first investigations of the physical geography, flora, and fauna of Novaya Zemlya, and it was due to his work that the first precise data on the climate of the Russian Arctic appeared in the scientific literature in Europe. He can also be considered the founder of geocryology, as he not only wrote the first theoretical survey on Siberian permafrost, but was the initiator and organiser of the first expedition, under the leadership of Alexander Theodor von Middendorff, that was launched with the task of studying that phenomenon in Siberia. Baer was instrumental in the restoration of the tradition of Russian Arctic exploration, which had died out at the end of the eighteenth century; it was at his initiative that the Russian Geographical Society — which later became the leader in Russian Arctic exploration — was founded in 1845.

Features of the glacial formations structure and bottom relief forms related to them according to seismoacoustic profiling data and their role in the decision of discussion issues of the quarterly cover formation of the Barents Sea

2021 ◽  
pp. 25-43
Author(s):  
A.E. Rybalko ◽  
◽  
M.Yu. Tokarev ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Barents Sea ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
Novaya Zemlya ◽  
Marine Deposits ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
Pack Ice ◽  
History Of ◽  
Continental Origin ◽  
Loose Sediments

Hot questions in the modern Quaternary geology of the Arctic seas associated with their glaciation are discussed in this article. The questions of the history of the occurrence of the problem of shelf glaciation or “drift” accumulation of boulder-bearing sediments are considered in detail. The results of seismic-acoustic studies and their interpretation with the aim of seismic stratigraphic and genetic partition of the cover of loose sediments of Quaternary age are considered in detail. Arguments are presented in favor of the continental origin of glaciers (Novaya Zemlya, Ostrovnoy and Scandinavian), which in the late Neopleistocene spread to the shelf of the Barents Sea and occupied its surface to depths of 120−150 m. Further development of glaciation was already due to the expansion of the area of shelves glaciers. The facies zoning of glacial-marine deposits is estimated, which is related to the distance from the front of the glaciers. It is concluded that already at the end of the Late Pleistocene, most of the modern Barents Sea was free from glaciers and from the annual cover of pack ice. Data on the absence of the area distribution of frozen sediment strata within the modern Barents Sea shelf are presented.

scholarly journals Technogenic radioactivity of waters in the Central Arctic Basin and adjacent water area

2019 ◽  
Vol 485 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. G. Matishov ◽  
N. E. Kasatkina ◽  
I. S. Usyagina
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Basin ◽  
Water Layer ◽  
Water Area ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
Volumetric Activity ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Barents And Kara Seas ◽  
Polluted Waters

The contemporary radiation situation in the Arctic Basin and Russian Arctic seas is assessed on the basis of data from 2013 to 2017. Statistically significant differences are revealed in the mean volumetric activity of 137Cs in the surface water layer. The tendency toward a west-to-east decrease in seawater pollution is noted. The maximum 137Cs concentrations are characteristic of the Barents and Kara seas. The least polluted waters are reported in the Laptev and East Siberian seas, which are the most remote from the sources of technogenic radionuclides in Europe.

Functioning of phytoplankton in the bays of Novaya Zemlya Archipelago, Kara Sea ​​ (Blagopoluchiya Bay) during summer.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Sergeeva ◽  
Olga Vorobieva
Keyword(s):  
Photosynthetic Activity ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
Cell Counting ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Phytoplankton Production ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Novaya Zemlya Archipelago ◽  
Novaya Zemlya ◽  
Glacier Melting

<p>Pronounced changes in the climate system that lead to a significant reduction in sea ice cover and active glacier melting provoke the great interest in ecosystem studies of archipelago bays in the high Arctic. In addition to increasing the duration of the open water period, the glacier melting increases the fresh water discharge from the archipelagos and thereby affects the coastal ecosystems of the Arctic region. There is practically no information about the ecosystems of the archipelago bays of the seas of the Russian Arctic due to the inaccessibility. Within the framework of the program “Investigation of the Russian Arctic ecosystems” in 2007-2020 held by Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, modern comprehensive studies of ecosystems of Novaya Zemlya bays, including phytoplankton (as primary producer of organic matter) were carried out. The most frequent observations were conducted in Blagopoluchiya Bay (North Island of Novaya Zemlya Archipelago), which has several coastal runoffs of glacial origin flow.</p><p>We found that despite the constant enrichment with allochthonous suspended matter and nutrients with runoff from Novaya Zemlya to the Blagopoluchiya Bay there was no increase in phytoplankton production during the summer open water period (Borisenko et al. Thesis EGU21-9528). On the contrary, the quantitative characteristics of phytoplankton in euphotic layer were extremely low: 0.2-0.7 mkgC/l and 0.03 - 0.15 mkgChl/l. Obviously the inclusion of allochthonous nutrients in local production cycles over the sea part of the bay was difficult.</p><p>To clarify the reasons of such low phytoplankton productivity against the background of the enrichment with nutrients of ​​Blagopoluchiya Bay, multifactorial experiments were carried out on the monoculture of the cosmopolitan diatom <em>Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii</em> Cleve, 1873, which is one of the dominant species in the Novaya Zemlya bays. Algae culture was isolated from the phytoplankton community of the Kara Sea and adapted to a salinity of 31 psu, typical for Novaya Zemlya bays. In addition to routine cell counting under microscope we used PAM-fluorometry to control the growth characteristics of algae that makes it possible to observe the photosynthetic activity of algae.</p><p>It was shown that the functioning of algae is greatly influenced by a significant gradients in salinity. When fresh runoff from Novaya Zemlya is mixed with the seawater of the bay, marine planktonic algae experience significant osmostress and immediately settle down and die off. With a slight dilution (up to 29-30 psu) of sea water by freshwater from the archipelago, the algae functioned well and doubled their biomass for 2-3 days. At the same time, we found that the algae were well adapted to a significant range of illumination: 40-200 µE, which apparently allows them to maintain high level of photosynthetic activity under the changing arctic illumination during the Arctic summer at high latitudes.</p><p>This study was performed within the framework of the state assignment of IO RAS, (topic no. 0149-2019-0008) and supported by the Russian Foundation of Basic Research (projects no. 18–05–60069Arctic and 19-04-00322 А).</p>

scholarly journals Marine Plastic Debris Pollution in the Western Sector of the Russian Arctic

2021 ◽  
pp. 246-252
Author(s):  
Konstantin S. ZAIKOV ◽  
◽  
Nikita A. SOBOLEV ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Barents Sea ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
Marine Animals ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Commercial Activities ◽  
Other World ◽  
Living Organisms

The article discusses the pollution of marine environment with plastic waste, in particular, the accumulation of microplastics in the oceans, which is one of the most serious environmental problems both in the world and in the Russian Arctic. Alongside with other world oceans, the Arctic Ocean and the Barents Sea have become places of plastic accumulation, causing great harm to the fragile ecosystem of the Arctic region. Researchers have found microplastics not only in Arctic waters, but also in the ice of the Arctic seas. Plastic debris is carried by ocean currents from more densely populated areas of the planet. Local sources, such as fishing and other commercial activities, as well as waste water, are one more reason. Microplastics adversely affect living organisms in the ocean. In particular, plastic can cause physical harm and disrupt body formation of marine animals, as well as cause death by suffocation or ingestion of plastic. At the same time, plastics can accumulate persistent organic pollutants on their surface, which can poison marine animals, damaging the entire food chain.

Navigation in the Russian Arctic: Sea Ice Caused Difficulties and Accidents

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nataliya Marchenko
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Arctic Sea Ice ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
The North ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
Arctic Sea ◽  
Ice Conditions

The 5 Russian Arctic Seas have common features, but differ significantly from each other in the sea ice regime and navigation specifics. Navigation in the Arctic is a big challenge, especially during the winter season. However, it is necessary, due to limited natural resources elsewhere on Earth that may be easier for exploitation. Therefore sea ice is an important issue for future development. We foresee that the Arctic may become ice free in summer as a result of global warming and even light yachts will be able to pass through the Eastern Passage. There have been several such examples in the last years. But sea ice is an inherent feature of Arctic Seas in winter, it is permanently immanent for the Central Arctic Basin. That is why it is important to get appropriate knowledge about sea ice properties and operations in ice conditions. Four seas, the Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, and Chukchi have been examined in the book “Russian Arctic Seas. Navigation Condition and Accidents”, Marchenko, 2012 [1]. The book is devoted to the eastern sector of the Arctic, with a description of the seas and accidents caused by heavy ice conditions. The traditional physical-geographical characteristics, information about the navigation conditions and the main sea routes and reports on accidents that occurred in the 20th century have reviewed. An additional investigation has been performed for more recent accidents and for the Barents Sea. Considerable attention has been paid to problems associated with sea ice caused by the present development of the Arctic. Sea ice can significantly affect shipping, drilling, and the construction and operation of platforms and handling terminals. Sea ice is present in the main part of the east Arctic Sea most of the year. The Barents Sea, which is strongly influenced and warmed by the North Atlantic Current, has a natural environment that is dramatically different from those of the other Arctic seas. The main difficulties with the Barents Sea are produced by icing and storms and in the north icebergs. The ice jet is the most dangerous phenomenon in the main straits along the Northern Sea Route and in Chukchi Seas. The accidents in the Arctic Sea have been classified, described and connected with weather and ice conditions. Behaviour of the crew is taken into consideration. The following types of the ice-induced accidents are distinguished: forced drift, forced overwintering, shipwreck, and serious damage to the hull in which the crew, sometimes with the help of other crews, could still save the ship. The main reasons for shipwrecks and damages are hits of ice floes (often in rather calm ice conditions), ice nipping (compression) and drift. Such investigation is important for safety in the Arctic.

scholarly journals High-Resolution Simulation of Polar Lows over Norwegian and Barents Seas Using the COSMO-CLM and ICON Models for the 2019–2020 Cold Season

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Anastasia Revokatova ◽  
Michail Nikitin ◽  
Gdaliy Rivin ◽  
Inna Rozinkina ◽  
Andrei Nikitin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Models ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Limited Area ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
Polar Lows ◽  
Meteorological Observations ◽  
Strong Winds

The lack of meteorological observations at high latitudes and the small size and relatively short lifetime of polar lows (PLs) constitute a problem in the simulation and prediction of these phenomena by numerical models. On the other hand, PLs, which are rapidly developing, can lead to such extreme weather events as stormy waves, strong winds, the icing of ships, and snowfalls with low visibility, which can influence communication along the Arctic seas. This article is devoted to studying the possibility of the numerical simulation and prediction of polar lows by different model configurations and resolutions. The results of the numerical experiments for the Norwegian and Barents seas with grid spacings of 6.5 and 2 km using the ICON-Ru configurations of the ICON (ICOsahedral Nonhydrostatic) model and with a grid spacing of 6.5 km using the COSMO-CLM (Climate Limited-area Modeling) configuration of the COSMO (COnsortium for Small-scale MOdelling) model are presented for the cold season of 2019–2020. All the used model configurations demonstrated the possibility of the realistic simulation of polar lows. The ICON model showed slightly more accurate results for the analyzed cases. The best results showed runs with lead times of less than a day.

Seasonal variability of tides in the Russian Arctic seas

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhail Kulikov ◽  
Igor Medvedev
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Seasonal Variability ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
Tidal Forces ◽  
Small Series ◽  
Tidal Characteristics

<p>In this research, the sea level variability in the Russian Arctic seas caused by the Moon and the Sun tidal forces is considered. For a long time, it was thought that the tides can be easily calculated based on a small series of observations made in summer, but as shown in a few recent publications, describing tides in the different parts of the Arctic Ocean, tidal characteristics change significantly during the year. The main attention is paid to their seasonal variability in the seas of the Russian Arctic. The most interesting results have been obtained for the east sector of the Russian Arctic seas, where the tides were poorly known, and the long-term data from the tide gauges have been processed for the first time. We have used the long-term hourly sea-level data from several stations in the White, Kara, Laptev and Chukchi seas. The temporary coverage for the White Sea stations includes rather continuous sea-level records from 2004 to 2014 yrs. The maximum length of records made from 1981 to 2005 at the stations of the east sector of the Arctic was found at the Tiksi station. In this work we also analysed unique data obtained from the bottom pressure loggers installed on the Laptev-sea shelf in the period 2018-2020. The results of this study allow us to conclude that the classical harmonic analysis applied to the precomputation of tides does not provide an accurate estimate of the tidal characteristics in individual water areas in the Arctic. Accounting of the seasonal variability in the tidal characteristics will make it possible to clarify tidal maps important for navigation and coastal construction in the Arctic Region.</p>

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