Current Central Arctic Ocean Russian Research Activities

"ARKTIKA-2007" research expedition on board RV "Akademik Fedorov", "AARI Ice camp" and "North Pole-35" drifting research station

Comprehensive research of the Central Arctic Ocean (AO) are sufficient national contribution of Russia to the joint efforts of the international scientific community on the study of the northern polar area during the International Polar Year 2007-2008. Particularly, in 2007 research in the Central Arctic Basin is provided by the organization on the drifting ice two research bases: "AARI Ice Camp" and Drifting research station "North Pole-35" under support of RV "Akademik Fedorov"

AARI Ice Camp

June 7 2007 in the period of the high Arctic expedition aboard nuclear icebreaker "Rossiya" on the drifting ice to the north of archipelago New Siberian Islands AARI research camp was developed ("AARI Ice camp") with 9 persons as members under the leadership of the experienced polar researcher Visnevskiy A.A. The position of the development of the Camp- 80 57 N, 168 53 E. The personnel of the Camp was placed in the tents considering the summer conditions.

Scientific program of AARI Ice Camp included hydrometeorological research in the summer period in the central Arctic basin. Particularly, essential attention was paid to the oceanographic research emphasizing the characteristics of the Atlantic water masses- as main source of heat to the Arctic.

While developing AARI Ice Camp it was suggested that under favorable conditions such as low drift speed and ice flow safety the Camp will be set there. Neverethelss sufficient drift speed northwards and decreasing of ice flow to 100õ200 m caused to leave this idea and to start "AARI Ice Camp" recovery.

At August 22 at night RV "Akademik Fedorov " approached the "AARI Ice Camp" and started recovery. By 9 am on August 23 at the positions 84,9 N 172,4 E the Russian Flag was drawn down, equipment and members of the Camp was loaded aboard and then the vessel left for Tiksi.

At the Reid of Tiksi at August 28 the partial rotation of the expedition members "ARKTIKA-2007" will occur. Scientific equipment and 45 members of the expedition , including the members of the drifting research station "North Pole-35", scientists from Roshydromet and RAS, foreign scientists from France, Germany, USA and some mass media people will arrive to Tiksi by charter-flight from Saint-Petersburg

During the drift of "AARI Ice Camp" in the Arctic Ocean the sufficient amount of oceanographic, sea ice, meteorological and other investigations was conducted. In total 76 soundings of the ocean was accomplished. Water sampling from various depths using the bathometers and hydrochemical analysis of 47 samples were carried out. Using two acoustic Doppler profilers of currents the continuous number of observations of currents at different depths was obtained. Infrastructure of the closed ice camp and its members will join the members of the drifting research station "North Pole - 35"

Research drifting station "North Pole-35" read more

At the beginning of September 3 RV "Akademik Fedorov" headed the second area to find thei ce floe. On August 3-5 hekicopter sea ice survey was conducted, showing the absence of ice floes until 130 W.

On August 4-5 "Akademik Fedorov" moved eastward to 13 W , getting closer to the nuclear icebreaker "Rossiya". While moving eastward the changes in the sea ice situation appeared - two-year sea ice appeared of 1-2on the scale, first-year ice of 7-9 on the scale, hummocks of 1-2 on the scale destroyed.

On August 5 also the signs of sea ice formation appeared - ïîÿâëåíèå íèëàñîâûõ ôîðìà ëüäà - 1-2 áàëëà. Air temperature lowered until 4 degrees Celsius.

For the week past together with the primary task - finding the ice flow for the "North Pole-35"- scientific observations were running according to the program: 16 oceanographic stations, 7 geological stations, 9 sensings.

Within the surface layer on the oceanographic stations conducted in September 1-2 along the route of the vessel the increase of the water temperature up to 5 degrees was noticed.

On September 6 "Akademik Fedorov" was taken under the support of the nuclear ice breaker "Rossiya".

All the following days up to the present search for the ice floe is being carried out suitable for the drifting station "North Pole-35". All summer time the MI-8 helicopter sea ice survey is conducted. Separate sea ice floes are observed. During the sea ice surveys 20 ice floes were chosen, nevertheless as a result of sea ice pressure those ice floes were broken. None of the chosen ice floes was suitable. As the result the main multi-year sea ice floe was observed right to the boarder of the economic zone of Canada. After the detailed analysis of the situation it was decided that further search in this area of the Arctic Ocean is having no prospects and it was decided to leave the area moving to the rest two regions with the ice floes, supposedly suitable for organization of the drifting station. Chosen by the satellite data positions of the first region are - 87-88 N / 150-120 W, the position of the second region is - 86-89 N / 105-120 E.

Along with the search of the ice floe for the "North Pole-35" the implementation of the scientific program of the expedition is running, including the realization of the International Polar Year program under the Russian cluster "complex research of the central Arctic Ocean". Particularly, ITP is moored on the drifting ice floe, providing the sensing of the ocean down to 750 meters as well as the drifting buoy to measure ice mass balance. Series of the oceanographic stations was conducted with the use of helicopter.

Early September 9 the meeting was held among the coordinators of the expedition and sea ice surveyors.

After the discussion of the situation the members of the meeting achieved the following conclusion:

1. observation of the distant ice floes ( 75 - 80 miles to the north-east ) is not reasonable due to high chance of damage, proximity to the economic zone of Canada ( 20-25 miles ), and as well sea ice drift south-east with the speed 3 km/hour.

2. to move to the area, defined by the sattelite images, reccomended by Frolov

3. to prepare all the necessary documents to investigate the ic floes of the north-eastern area