Current-controlled sedimentation in the north-western Weddell Sea

The sedimentary basins of the north-western Weddell Sea are characterized by a variety of contourite drifts. This study is aimed at their identification, spatial mapping and temporal evolution and based on the integration of a large amount of seismic data collected by different countries including the recent data of the Russian Antarctic Expedition. Most of the drifts in the region being studied are classified as separated, confined, plastered or sheeted. The chain of sediment wave fields is mapped in the western and northern Powell Basin. The earliest contourite drifts started to form in the Early Miocene or, possibly, in the Late Oligocene. The changes in the depositional pattern in the Middle Miocene and then in the Late Pliocene are thought to have resulted from successive intensification of the bottom currents.

Device for fusion drilling with simultaneous or follow-up reaming of wells in ice

The paper deals with a new opening technology for subglacial reservoirs, which ensures environmentally friendly geological exploration. The technology is based on the results of the first openings of the subglacial Lake Vostok in Antarctica (February 2012 and January 2015). The primary goal of further studies of the subglacial Lake Vostok is to take clean samples of lake water and bottom sediments, which requires direct penetration into the lake. There is a number of conditions to be met in order to conduct further studies of the lake using a clean access well at the Vostok drilling complex. The article summarizes the main results including technological and engineering solutions protected by the patent of the Russian Federation. A detailed consideration is given to a new device for fusion drilling with simultaneous reaming of an ice hole. This device combines two technological processes: drilling due to contact melting, and an increase in the diameter of the well due to the creation of a vortex flow of a continuously heated coolant in the bottomhole zone. The thermal method of ice breaking ensures the ecological cleanliness when opening subglacial reservoirs and is a priority method that favorably differs from the existing ones. The device was named a “thermal drill reamer” (TDR). During the seasonal work of the 64th Russian Antarctic Expedition bench tests of the TDR 132/400 were carried out, the results of which confirmed that the device is capable to ensure 132 mm drilling with simultaneous reaming up to 400 mm.

Formation factors of surface inflow to antarctic lakes of the Larsemann Hills oasis

The study aims to identify formation factors of water inflow to the Antarctic lakes of the Larsemann Hills oasis (East Antarctica). The objects of study are 11 lakes of the oasis. The analysis was performed based on the expeditionary data of the Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE): 63rd season (23 December 2017 – 3 February 2018), 64th season (12 January 2019 – 27 February 2019), 65th season (2 November 2019 – 24 March 2020). Data of lakes water level observations, aerial photography of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and route surveys are given, the results of identifying the boundaries of the lakes catchments are presented. The factors that determine the formation of water inflow to the lakes in this region were identified based on the analysis of the materials. The most significant are the meteorological conditions, the presence of perennial snowfields and glacial areas in the catchments, and the presence of lakes that can cause outburst flood. The seasonally thawed layer also has an impact on the formation of the inflow to the lakes. The vegetation cover is not so important for inflow formation in this region due to the physical and geographical conditions. As for anthropogenic activity, it mainly affects the environmental situation of the catchments and water quality, while the anthropogenic influence on the formation of water inflow to the lakes in the oasis is limited to the territories of polar stations. The factors identified should be taken into account in the further study of hydrological processes, the creation of models that describe them, and the organization of field observations.

The Influence of Contact Intensity with the Outside Environment on the Bodyʼs Adaptive Capabilities During Antarctic Wintering

The research was conducted by a member of the 60th Russian Antarctic Expedition at the all-yearround Mirny Station. The aim was to study what influence contact intensity with the outside environment has on adaptive capabilities of polar station staff. The level of adaptive capabilities was evaluated using the method of cardio-respiratory synchronism, assessing the index of regulatory and adaptive status (IRAS). This method had been developed at the Normal Physiology Department of Kuban State Medical University under the supervision of Prof. V.M. Pokrovsky. It is based on recording the synchronization parameters of controlled high respiratory rate and heart rate. We compared IRAS dynamics of two aerologists during one year of wintering. The subjects had similar anthropometric data, health status and working conditions, the same length of Antarctic wintering (6 years) and were in the same age group. Contact intensity with the outside environment was determined by varying periods spent outside the station premises, mostly due to the lay-out of the residential and amenity buildings (canteen, leisure area, medical unit, gym). This period ranged from 2 to 7 hours on different days. The negative IRAS dynamics, being a marker of human adaptive capabilities, allowed us to identify the relationship between the intensity of environmental influence and the level of the body’s adaptive abilities in one of the expedition members who had been exposed to stronger environmental effects. The authors conclude that proper organization of off-duty periods aimed to decrease the influence of the outside environment will contribute to improving the health of the station staff and optimize their living conditions.

On the Discoveries in Oceania made by the First Russian Antarctic Expedition

This article is about the discoveries in Oceania made by the First Russian Antarctic Expedition led by F. Bellingshausen and M. Lazarev (1819-1821). According to the available data, Russian sailors discovered not less than 10 islands and named them after the remarkable Russians.

MONITORING OF THE NELLA FJORD WATER-ICE ECOSYSTEM (PRUDS BAY, EAST ANTARCTIC): SEASON RAE-65

During the seasonal work of the Russian Antarctic expedition (RAE-65), the monitoring of the water-ice ecological system was conducted in the Nella fjord (Prude Bay, East Antarctica). This monitoring is conducted annually since the IPY in 2007 in frames of the project “Assessment of the ecology of the Antarctic sea ice zone” (“Krial”) (Melnikov, 2020). The purpose of the monitoring is the assessment of the role of water-ice biota in global biosphere processes in the Southern Ocean.

Russian geographical names on the map of Аntarctica as a cultural heritage site. To the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica

The article is devoted to the discovery of the Antarctic by Russian navigators, the study, mapping and designation of its shores and adjacent islands. Russian names were given to many new found geographic features. The list of some Russian geographical names is shown on the map of Antarctica. The maps of the Bellingshausen–Lazarev sailing expedition in 1819–1821 are given; the Russian geographical names are highlighted on them. The article is also devoted to the first Russian Antarctic expedition of 1819–1821, the discovery of the Antarctic by Russian navigators F. F. Bellingshausen and M. P. Lazarev on the sloops "Vostok" and "Mirny", the study, mapping and marking of its shores and adjacent Islands. The expedition discovered 29 Islands. The discoverers assigned Russian names to many of new found geographic objects of Antarctica. These names are highlighted in the article. The following maps are presented