1933 Arctic Expedition on the Icebreaking Steamer A. Sibiryakov: Personal Diary of the Microbiologist B. L. Isachenko

Abstract

In 1933, a scientific expedition to the northern Kara Sea on the icebreaking steamer A. Sibiryakov was conducted, organized by the All-Union Arctic Institute. Among the expedition participants was the founder of Russian marine and geological microbiology, Academician B. L. Isachenko (also spelled Issatschenko), who kept a personal diary during the expedition. This article analyzes this valuable historical source that contains the descriptions of various events that occurred during the expedition and Isachenko’s opinion on these events as well as his reflections on the optimal forms of organizing Arctic expeditions. The diary also sheds light on the inner world of the scientist who found himself in the extreme working conditions. The results he obtained during the expedition lead to the conclusions about the global human impact and future immense burden on the Arctic ecosystem.