Arctic Ocean 2007 AARI activities

Expeditionary activity in the Arctic in 2007-2008 is devoted to the realization of

the national programs and participation in the joint projects under IPY 2007/2008.

Structurally such activity is sectioned as following: organization and implementation of

the annual arctic cruises of the research vessel «Akademik Fedorov» (or any RV) during

optimal environmental climatic terms; establishing and maintenance of the ice drifting

research stations «North Pole»; implementation of marine shipborne expeditionary

research in the seas of the Russian Arctic and in the first place in the seas of the

Siberian shelf; implementation of the oceanographic survey by air oceanographic

teams; episodic works on the high-latitude glaciological research stations on the domes

of the arctic archipelagoes; spacing the net of the automatic hydrometeorological

stations and buoys in the Arctic basin on the drifting ice and islands.

Planned Russian activities in the Arctic Ocean in 2007 can be divided onto 3 main

phases:

First – Spring Phase (March-April) – mainly airborne includes: work of airborne

oceanographic team using the coastal base on Sredniy Island (Severnaya Zemlya

archipelago) and ice camp «Barneo». Within these works 4 hydrographic sections have

to be accomplished from Sredniy Island: the first one through the Voronin Trough, the

second one from Arkticheskiy cape towards the North Pole, the third one from

Arkticheskiy Cape across the shelf break of the Laptev Sea and the fourth one from

Berg Cape across the shelf break to the Laptev sea. Along with this glaciological work is

suggested to be accomplished on Severnaya Zemlya glaciers.

One helicopter profile is planed to be done from “Barneo” ice camp along the North

Pole towards Arkticheskiy Cape (along Arkticheskiy cape meridian). “Barneo” ice camp

is also considered as the base camp to develop the group consisting of 2-4 ice camps

around the North Pole, which during one to two months will carry out integrated

research in the near the Pole area.

Simultaneously with the airborne activities from the drifting ice it is planned to

implement two shipborne expeditions: the one using RV «Mikhail Somov » and

helicopter (which will be placed on the ship) in the north-eastern part of the

Barents sea, the second one using the nuclear icebreaker and helicopters in the area of

coupling of Lomonosov ridge and Laptev Sea shelf, which together with

hydrometeorological and chemical research will accomplish geological-geophysical

works. At the same time the question of drifting ice camp placing in the northern part

of the Laptev Sea is envisaged.

- “Mikchail Somov” research activities area(March - April)

- Research onboard nuclear powered IB(March - )April

- the area of researches the glaciers and icebergs

- short term spring ice camp

- “Barneo” ice camp location (15 March - May)

- helicopter oceanographic survey

The Arctic Ocean 2007 Russia activities (Spring)

The second – Summer Phase (July-September), assumes the implementation

of two-three shipborne expeditions. The first and most extensive is planned to be

carried out aboard RV «Akademik Fedorov», in the duration of which during July-

September the integrated environmental research is planned to be carried out,

including oceanographic and ice study, chemical and geological-geophysical activities,

investigation of pollution and gas composition of the water-ice-atmosphere system,

biota study. From the board of the vessel using the 2 helicopters it is supposed to

disembark the scientific groups and accomplish the research of tundra and glaciers in

the area of arctic archipelagoes. On the first stage the deep sea research is planned

using underwater manned vehicle «Mir» near the North Pole, on the Gakkel and

Lomonosov ridges.

During this cruise it is planned to accomplish: 13 profiles across the continental slope of

the seas of the Russian Siberian shelf (oceanographic stations are planned to be

realized both from the vessel, and from drifting ice using the helicopters, to deploy 8

moorings with profile recorder (MMP) near Arktiheskiy cape; during this period drifting

research ice camp (in case its deployment in Spring Phase) must be recovered, and

new ice drifting research station «North Pole -35» is to be organized.

During this cruise it is planned to set a number of drifting buoys on ice, including the 6

oceanographic ITP (3-AARI). During high-latitude cruise of RV «Akademik Fedorov» it

is schemed to realize works of marine and airborne teams on research and observation,

specified by IPY projects 2007/2008.

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- the area of activity the research vessel“M. Somov” in Barents and Kara seas

-

the rv “Ak.Fedorov” oceanography transections;construction (September);

ITP deployments

area of NP-35 ice camp floe search and - the area of activity the helicopterexpedition in tundra and on glaciers

- the area of “Mir” diving locations(15 July - 5 August)

- “Ak. Fedorov” and “Keldysh” meeting location (05.08.07)- “Ak. Fedorov” ship track (July - September)

15.07.07

- helicopter oceanographic survey

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- “Ak Fedorov ” oceanography sections

The Arctic Ocean 2007 Russia activities (Summer)

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The Third Phase, is autumn-winter, where it is planned on the basis of the ice

drifting research station “North Pole -35” to realize the complex observations on the

following disciplines: meteorology, solar radiation, atmosphere sounding,

oceanography, hydrobiology and cryobiology, gas composition of atmosphere and

ocean, interaction in the ocean-atmosphere system, ozone investigation , etc.

Annexe:

Ice drifting research station “North Pole 35” and seasonal ice camps.

In 2007 it is planned:

- to create (in spring 2007, March-April) the drifting research ice camp in the northern

part of the Laptev Sea with evolving the limited spectra of questions for the drifting

stations SP (meteorological complex, oceanography and hydrochemistry complex, ice

research complex, possibly aerologic complex); the work of the ice camp is estimated

for 5-6 months until the moment of its recovery by the RV «Akademik Fedorov » or by

the icebreaker,

- opening of the full scale ice drifting research station “Severniy Polus-35” in August-

September of 2007 with international participation during,

- Participation in the research programs from drifting ice camps which will be created

under IPY.

Airborne oceanographic team

Airborne oceanographic team is carrying out work during spring period 2007 and 2008

from the island bases and archipelagoes, drifting ice camps on the investigation of

water circulation, sampling for various parameters.

As main bases the works around Severnaya Zemlya archipelago are planned, with

profiling in Voronin trough and on the shelf break of the Laptev Sea; works at the ice

camp near the North Pole.

In summer and autumn periods the airborne team carries out the ice survey and

oceanographic survey from the board of the RV «Akademik Fedorov». It carries out

work on spacing the drifting buoys and automatic stations.

Specification of work from RV:

Along the RV rout the profiles are accomplished with 2-3 stations (every 50-10 km) with

200 km towards the vessel.

In the area of search and construction of the ice drifting research station “North

Pole-35” large scale oceanographic polygon is accomplished for obtaining the

integrated information on ocean condition, ice cover and characteristics of ice boundary

layer of atmosphere. The polygon the square with the size 500х500 km in the center of

which RV “Akademik Fedorov” works. The distance between the stations of polygon is

100 km. 16 oceanographic stations are planned to be implemented on the polygon. In

the center of it daily station from aboard RV with the 6 hours frequency of sounding will

be carried out.

The works on the polygon are accomplished by the scientific group consisting of

6-8 members, participating in carrying out the oceanographic stations in the places of

helicopter landing.

Airborne work will be carried out all day around, which must be supported by the

work of two crews of helicopter МI-8.

During the flights the simultaneous ice survey will be carried out to obtain the

detailed information on the ice condition in the area of station location.

On the oceanographic stations the following complex of work will be realized: 1. Oceanographic sounding with STD- to the extreme depths.

2. Water sampling for hydrochemistry and content of pollutants (in the marine

water, snow, ice cover).

3. Measurements of morphometric characteristics of the ice cover directly from

ice.

4. Measurements of morphometric, radiation and thermophysical conditions of

the snow cover: thickness, structure, temperature, salinity, density, thermal

conductivity, albedo, visual relief description (relative area of melt ponds, hummocks,

flat ice).

5. Simultaneous meteorological observations.

6. Sampling for mineralogical and chemical composition of the snow cover (on

the polygons), investigations of organic matter content, including the organic carbon,

lipids and aliphatic in the samples of snow, ice, marine water in the dissolved and

suspended matter and bottom sediments; evaluate the degree of anthropogenic

pollution by the organic compounds.

Marine expedition aboard RV «Akademik Fedorov »

RV «Akademik Fedorov» is carrying out two high latitude 90-days cruises

annually (partly under the guidance of the nuclear ice breaker) to implement high-

latitude research in the Arctic basin and in the northern parts o the arctic seas. Under

these cruises the profiles across the deep sea toughs are carried out, the series of

transversal profiles across the shelf break are performed, drifting station is organized

and its crew is rotating, the series of drifting buoys are set, the base for summer

oceanographic team is developed, carrying out the number of international programs

under IPY, supply functions for the polar stations are provided.

Marine expeditions in the arctic seas

(the question is not yet solved and is considered as presumable)

Marine expeditions in the arctic seas are carried out on the vessels as RV«Ivan

Petrov» or HV «Dmitry Ovtsyn» to carry out the oceanographic research of the

structure and water dynamics, monitoring of seas pollution in the summer period.

Automaic drifting and coastal hydrometeocomplexes

During IPY AARI is planning to place a number of drifting buoys in 2007 with

atmospheric and hydrospheric part and the series of buoys to define the co-ordinates of

the drifting ice. In 2008 two buoys with hydrospheric part and two buoys to define the

ice drift are planned to be placed.

Together with that AARI is participating in the creation and placement of the automatic

meteo stations on Arctic islands.