Arctic Settlements Research Articles

ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫЕ ТЕХНОЛОГИИ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ ТРАНСПОРТНЫМИ СИСТЕМАМИ В АРКТИЧЕСКОЙ ЗОНЕ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ ДЛЯ ОБЕСПЕЧЕНИЯ ПРОДОВОЛЬСТВЕННОЙ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ

The article examines the process of managing transport systems in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation using the example of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Due to the fact that most of the cargo volumes are delivered during the period of winter roads, motor transport is identified as the main participant in the region’s transport system. The key problems in the current cargo delivery system are reflected. The purpose of the study is to effectively manage the process of delivering goods to Arctic settlements with a complex transport and logistics scheme. Innovative solutions are presented regarding the implementation of an information and analytical system, which will improve the efficiency of northern delivery by reducing the likelihood of missed deadlines, reducing costs by optimizing the process, as well as improving the quality of management decisions made by improving the quality of information received in real time. The development of a transport and logistics system for the delivery of goods for the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation will become increasingly socially oriented as part of improving the quality of life of the local population and reducing their outflow from their places of residence.

Доступная Арктика

The article considers the project of development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and the Arctic Ocean coast, the creation of servicing and supporting infrastructure of the Northern Sea Route. The authors present data from a pre-project study of the territory and show the need for its logistical enrichment in order to increase the efficiency of mineral extraction and multiply the volume of transported cargo. To realise these ideas, the authors propose new types of Arctic bases and settlements based on the geometry of geodesic domes, which have a number of technical advantages and aesthetic expression. The authors propose to base the settlement concept on the principles of modularity, interchangeability of individual modules and their component parts, maximum weight reduction and simplified transport. We propose to install wind energy-ecological and a number of other engineering systems to increase the autonomy of Arctic settlements.

Перспективы создания сети рыбоводных предприятий в российской Арктике

Fostering aquaculture aligns with key priorities for Arctic development in Russia, encompassing ecosystem sustainability, job creation, Northern import reduction, enhanced nutritional value of local products, support for small businesses, and advancement of high-tech industries. This study aims to determine the best configuration for a new network of Arctic fish farms in the Russian Arctic. To comprehend the potential of Arctic fish farming, the study starts from identifying feasible farm locations based on an analysis of demand in key Arctic settlements. Criteria-based assessments identified Pevek, Sabetta, Dudinka, Tiksi, Tazovsky, Yamburg, Kharasavey, and Khatanga as potential locations. A comparative economic analysis evaluates logistic options for networks featuring three to eight fish farms in conditions of limited infrastructure. The study determines the attending vessel location (Novosibirsk) and the genetic breeding center location (Pevek). Transportation schemes for feed, fry, and breeding material are developed in accordance with production process requirements. The study proposes the Arctic char as the focus of commercial cultivation at the simulated facility. Economic and mathematical modeling is employed to forecast the effects of creating networks in two configurations at the business, regional, and national levels. The findings reveal that a network of three facilities is more profitable for investors, while a network of eight facilities yields greater social significance with higher fiscal, social, and ecological effects. The quantitative estimates provided serve as a foundation for investment decisions in the development of fish farming in the Russian Arctic.

Резильентность арктических поселений: опыт моделирования

Modern challenges turn up the heat on scientific and practical interest in finding new approaches to solving the problems of the Arctic macro-region’s resilience to rising shocks. In this regard, the article analyzes the resili-ence (viability) of socio-economic systems of the Arctic settlements of Yakutia over eight years of “Arctic” trans-formations (the period 2011–2019). To this end, a system of models was built to comprehensively assess, de-scribe and identify the degree and properties of the Russian Arctic’s resilience to economic shocks under the influence of various factors on the example of individual districts of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Statistical methods were used to analyze the relationships between phenomena and processes. The study obtained very unexpected results that allow us to draw ambiguous conclusions at this stage of modeling. The study found that the identified group of key influences did not have a significant impact on the population increment of the mac-ro region. This raises the question: how effective is the ongoing “active” state policy and how effective are the measures of its impact? The results of calculations at this stage indicate the opposite: the policy of state non-interference and support for habitual habitat in the Arctic can contribute to increasing the resilience of Arctic settlements much more than the active activity of the state in this region. The conducted research can be useful in the formation of information and analytical solutions in the management process for authorities and busi-nesses.

Development of a Network of Landing Sites and Heliports: Ensuring Aviation Accessibility of Settlements in the Arctic Regions

While considering the problems of ensuring aviation accessibility of remote settlements in the regions of the Eastern Arctic Area of Russia, the study has concretised the concept of aviation accessibility of a settlement.The analysis of aviation mobility of the population of the Arctic zone of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) was carried out. It has been established that the lack of a sufficient number of landing sites is a limiting factor in performance of regular flights between settlements and the centres of the Arctic regions. Under these conditions, local flights are carried out mainly by MI-8 helicopters which are expensive in operation, with extremely low regularity and not full load.To justify the construction of a network of landing sites in the Arctic region, a methodology has been developed for predicting seasonal distribution of passenger flows within local air transportation. This methodology is based on Ward’s hierarchical clustering method, which allows, considering many criteria, to divide all settlements into clusters, in each of which the demand for air transportation is present during a certain number of months.It is substantiated that construction of a landing site in a settlement is necessary if there is a demand for air transportation for more than five months a year. Using the example of 65 Arctic settlements of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), five clusters were identified. For three of them the need to build landing sites is proved. The zones of gravity of regional airports with a range of 150 km were determined, considering the possibility to get from the settlement to the airport in 3–4 hours. Based on the results of clustering and identification of gravity areas of regional airports, a predictable network of landing sites in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) was built.

Design of effluent storage tanks in Arctic conditions (Tyumen, Tomsk)

Purpose: The development of the Arctic settlements’ infrastructure is associated with the installation of the modern water supply and sanitation systems. Low air temperatures and permafrost soils significantly complicate the construction and operation of tanks designed for effluent collection and storage. Approach: For the effective energy saving, pre-design heat engineering calculations are conducted for effluent storage tanks with PPS thermal insulation. Research findings: Calculation techniques and results are compared, which served as a basis for the construction of calculation diagrams. Practical implications: The obtained dependences allow to rapidly and accurately determine the heat loss when the tank is completely or partially filled with water. Originality/value: This study will considerably facilitate the decision-making process at the design stage of facilities locating in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

The importance of Arctic driftwood for interdisciplinary global change research (Short Communication / Methodological note)

The Arctic is one of the regions most sensitive to global warming, for which climate and environmental proxy archives are largely insufficient. Arctic driftwood provides a unique resource for research into the circumpolar entanglements of terrestrial, coastal and marine factors and processes – past, present, future. Here, first dendrochronological and wood anatomical insights into 639 Arctic driftwood samples are presented. Samples were collected across northern Norway (n =430) and north-western Iceland (n =209) in 2022. The overall potentials and limitations of Arctic driftwood to improve tree-ring chronologies from the boreal forest, and to reconstruct changes in sea ice extent and ocean current dynamics are discussed. Finally, the role driftwood has possibly played for Arctic settlements in the past hundreds of years is examined.

Self-sufficiency of Arctic Settlements Within the Concept of Resilience of Socio-Economic Systems

Self-sufficiency of Arctic Settlements Within the Concept of Resilience of Socio-Economic Systems

Естественный радиационный фон в жилых и общественных зданиях в районах проведения горных работ в Арктике

Natural background radiation (NBR) largely contributes to the human inhalation of radionuclides originating from the decay of U-238, U-235 and Th-232 isotopes. This problem is of particular importance for public health in the areas with high seismicity induced by mining operations. The purpose of this article was to assess the impact of mining activities on NBR in the residential and public buildings located in the immediate vicinity of the apatite-nepheline ore mining operations in the Arctic. Materials and methods. The measurements were taken in residential and public buildings of Kirovsk (Murmansk Region) adjacent to open-pit and underground mines. The following were measured: total radioactivity dose of samples of raw ores and their concentrates, their spectral characteristics, as well as the aerosol concentration of radon decay products, and volumetric radon concentration in the basements of residential and public buildings located within 3 km from the mining area. Results. The radioactivity of open-pit ore was significantly (7.3 times) higher than that from underground mines (107,300 ± 9823 and 14,615 ± 1980 Bq/kg, respectively). However, the radioactivity of the final product (apatite concentrate) did not depend on the extraction technique (59,792 ± 865 and 61,827 ± 1022 Bq/kg, respectively). Indoor air concentrations of radon in the basements of buildings located up to 3 km from the mines, increased linearly by an average of 0.15 Bq/m3 for each ton of explosives used in ore breaking. The levels of radon and its decay products in residential and public buildings in areas adjacent to the mining operations did not exceed 100 Bq/m3. Thus, mining and blasting operations in the stress-strain state of ore-bearing rocks might have an important impact on the intensity of radionuclide emissions and changes in NBR inside residential and public buildings located in Arctic settlements adjacent to the areas of apatite-nepheline ore mining.

Predicted sea-ice loss will terminate Iceland's driftwood supply by 2060 CE

Driftwood supply was a pivotal factor for the Norse expansion in medieval times and still exhibits an essential resource for Arctic settlements. The physical causes and societal consequences of long-term changes in the distribution of Arctic driftwood are, however, poorly understood. Here, we use dendrochronology to reconstruct the age and origin of 289 driftwood samples that were collected at remote shorelines in northeast Iceland. Based on 240 reference tree-ring width chronologies from the boreal forest zone, and an overall provenance success of 73%, we show that most of the driftwood is pine and larch from the Yenisei catchment in central Siberia. Our study reveals an abrupt decline in the amount of driftwood reaching Iceland since the 1980s, which is corroborated by the experience of local farmers and fishers. Despite the direct and indirect effects of changes in both, logging activity across Siberia as well as Arctic Ocean currents, the predicted amount of sea-ice loss under anthropogenic global warming is likely to terminate Iceland's driftwood supply by 2060 CE.

Оценка социально-экономической ситуации в арктических муниципальных районах Архангельской области на основе целевой модели

The relevance of this study is due to the need to develop a fairly understandable and in some sense universal tool for assessing the socio-economic situation in municipalities (districts and settlements) with pronounced territorial specifics, with clearly insufficient statistical and information support. The authors, with references to the results of their own research and to the work of their colleagues, present a detailed analysis of the key problems characteristic of the territories of the Russian Arctic, compare them with a set of main external factors of influence in relation to municipalities. Using the SEER expert proce-dure scheme and the hierarchy analysis method, according to the two-level model proposed by the au-thors, complex point estimates of the socio-economic situation in the Arctic settlements and municipal districts of the Arkhangelsk Oblast are calculated. The paper notes that the factors that are directly related to transport accessibility have the greatest impact on the development targets of Arctic municipalities. Therefore, the transport and logistics component should be fundamental in all strategic, program and planning documents aimed at achieving the goals of socio-economic development of the Arctic municipalities — districts and settlements. The obtained estimates are proposed to be used in the development of management decisions that could become the basis of a comprehensive interdepartmental inter-municipal program for the socio-economic development of Arctic municipalities.

Влияние факторов внешней среды на риск сердечно-сосудистых заболеваний населения Арктики

Arctic territories are one of the priorities in the comprehensive geopolitical and geoeconomic development of the Russian Federation. In this regard, such issues as a new Arctic healthcare model, stabilization of the demographic processes, health protection, and increasing life expectancy of the indigenous and newcomer population are growing in importance. The Arctic is an area of special strategic interest to Russia not only because of the prospects for natural resource development, but also due to the rapid global climate change. The implementation of large-scale competitive projects requires an influx of labour force, leading to a predictable increase in the population of the Arctic settlements. Indigenous peoples living on the Arctic territories of the Russian Federation comprise a special population group, which needs state support due to the vulnerability of its traditional way of life and its original habitat. The state policy of sustainable development is being implemented with regard to them. This article presents a review of the literature analysing the impact of etiopathogenetic mechanisms of unfavourable climatic and geophysical factors on the human cardiovascular system in the Arctic. It has been shown that a significant proportion of the risks of cardiovascular events in the Arctic is linked to environmental pollution (as a result of active human economic activity) and to adverse climatic conditions. Improving the technologies of Arctic healthcare from the standpoint of 4P medicine (aimed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease) and understanding the mechanisms of the adverse effects of natural climatic and anthropogenic factors will significantly enhance the quality of medical care and preserve the health of the indigenous and newcomer population of the Russian Arctic.

Epidemiological significance of microbiote monitoring of arctic settlements along the Northern Sea Route

Monitoring of polar ecosystems is one of the most important areas of research in the use of Arctic territories in economic activities. An important place in such work is occupied by biomedical research aimed at identifying the risks of the occurrence of foci of infectious diseases in the areas of polar settlements.The purpose: to develop an algorithm for microbiological monitoring in the Arctic region.Materials and methods: classical bacteriological, mycological research, molecular-genetic, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric analysis, phenotypic methods for determining antibiotic resistance, methods of mathematical data processing.Results and their discussion. The paper considers the scientific and methodological principles and the main stages of microbiota monitoring in the areas of polar settlements. The results of the study of samples from several territories along the Northern Sea Route are presented. The main habitats where potentially dangerous microorganisms should be detected are indicated. The role of anthropogenic invasion in the formation of Arctic microbiocenoses is noted. The trends of increasing the number and diversity of pathogenic microorganisms, both in the natural biocenoses of the Arctic and in the areas of polar settlements, are discussed. The necessity of microbiological monitoring as an integral part of epidemiological monitoring in the areas of Arctic settlements along the Northern Sea Route is substantiated.

Changing Svalbard: Tracing interrelated socio-economic and environmental change in remote Arctic settlements

Abstract The archipelago of Svalbard is a good example of an Arctic locale undergoing rapid changes on multiple levels. This contribution is a joint effort of three anthropologists with up-to-date ethnographic data from Svalbard (mostly Longyearbyen and Barentsburg) to frame and interpret interconnected changes. The processes impacting Svalbard are related to issues such as geopolitical interests, and increasing pressure by the Norwegian government to exercise presence and control over the territory. Our interpretations are based on a bottom-up approach, drawing on experiences living in the field. We identify three great ruptures in recent years – the avalanche of 2015, the gradual phasing out of mining enterprises and the COVID-19 pandemic – and show how they further impact, accelerate or highlight preexisting vulnerabilities in terms of socio-economic development, and environmental and climate change. We discuss the shift from coal mining to the industries of tourism, education, and research and development, and the resulting changed social and demographic structure of the settlements. Another facet is the complexity of environmental drivers of change and how they relate to the socio-economic ones. This article serves as an introductory text to the collection of articles published in Polar Record in 2021/2022 with the overarching theme “changing Svalbard”. Issues discussed range from socio-economic change and its implications for local populations including identity of place, through tourism (value creation, mediation, human–environment relations, environmental dilemmas, balancing contradictory trends), to security and risk perception, and environmental and climate change issues.

Changing Svalbard: Tracing interrelated socio-economic and environmental change in remote Arctic settlements – CORRIGENDUM

Changing Svalbard: Tracing interrelated socio-economic and environmental change in remote Arctic settlements – CORRIGENDUM

Permafrost Regions In Transition: Introduction

Russian permafrost regions are unparalleled in extent, history of development, population presence, and the scale of economic activities. This special issue, «Permafrost Regions in Transition», provides a timely opportunity to (a) examine major issues associated with changing permafrost conditions in natural environments and areas of economic development; (b) present insights into new methods of permafrost investigations; and (c) describe new opportunities and risks threatening sustainable development of Arctic populations and industrial centers in Russia. The issue begins with papers focused on methods of permafrost research, followed by papers focused on examining changes in permafrost under natural conditions, and in Arctic settlements. The last two papers examine potential impacts of permafrost degradation on the Russian economy and potential health implications.

Resilience of Arctic Communities: Socio-Economic Aspect

The study investigates factors that directly or indirectly affect the development of settlements in the North-East of the Russian Arctic. The study highlights the specific features of the Arctic settlements of the Northeast, as well as factors that will be considered in the development of a methodology for assessing the resilience of Arctic communities to economic shocks. The main focus is on the investigation of demographic processes in the Northeast Arctic, since it is human capital that determines the resilience of settlements to economic shocks. According to the results of the analysis, it was found that the key trend is the migration outflow, and the factors constraining it are the growth of wages, the presence of a minimum improvement of housing, in particular, heating and guarantees of social support. Therewith, such a factor as the presence of traditional trades and occupations does not contribute to a decrease in the migration outflow. This study was performed to further develop the concept of resilience and form a methodology for assessing the resilience of the economic and social system of an Arctic settlement to economic shocks. In the future, this methodology makes provision for the construction of a model with factors and indicators that determine the resilience of the socio-economic system of the Arctic settlement in the North-East of Russia (as exemplified by the Bulunsky district of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)) to economic shocks.

Wastewater Treatment in Remote Arctic Settlements

The article deals with improving the sewage systems of small remote settlements in the Arctic climate to prevent industrial pollution of the environment. Preliminary monitoring of the wastewater temperature and quality was carried out. From the laboratory results of the experimental modelling, such as the coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, oxidation, and wastewater chemical precipitation, we developed a substitute for the traditional biological stage of sewage treatment with physicochemical methods. A real sewage water sample, taken for this study from a septic tank in a remote northern village, can be considered as a distinctive feature of the experiment. The best results obtained according to the scheme with the chemical precipitation of nitrogen compounds are demonstrated. In this case, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) index was reduced by 96.6%, the ammonium ions concentration by 99.5%, and the suspended solids concentration by 99.9%. A technological scheme for low-productivity wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in northern settlements is proposed. A comparison of the proposed scheme and the traditional schemes in terms of efficiency and cost was carried out. Further study and implementation of recommended methods of sewage treatment at existing and newly designed stations is expected to improve the effective operation of these treatment plants in arctic conditions.

ВЛИЯНИЕ СПЕЦИФИЧЕСКОГО РЕЖИМА СНЕЖНЫХ ОТЛОЖЕНИЙ НА ВЕЧНОМЁРЗЛЫE ОСНОВАНИЯ В ГОРОДАХ КРИОЛИТОЗОНЫ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ НОРИЛЬСКОГО РЕГИОНА)

With increasing snowfalls and rising winter temperatures in the Arctic regions of Russia (against the background of almost the same summer values), the role of solid precipitation in the formation of the temperature and humidity regimes of seasonally thawed and upper horizons of permafrost grounds becomes extremely important. No regular observations of snow accumulation in built-up areas were conducted in the Arctic settlements. This article presents for the first time the results of snow measurements in urbanized areas of the Norilsk region, and assesses the warming effect of snow cover on the permafrost grounds and foundations. The problems that arise during the mechanical redistribution of snow are identified. In some areas the thickness of the snow cover (near the city of Norilsk) by the end of March can reach 200 cm; in February, the average monthly value for the last 15 years amounts 69 cm, and in the city the height of snow dumps ranges from 2 to 5 m. The warming effect of snow cover on the permafrost layer enhances as the snow height increases from 0 to 2–2.5 m, and then remains unchanged. Large masses of snow existing for many decades in almost the same places (together with the snow drifts of the air from the ventilated subfields) result in the development of degradation tendencies within the permafrost. A slight temperature rise was noted in grounds under 30–40% of the operated objects (as compared with the design values), which causes deformation of the structures.

Regarding the infrastructure modernization of the Arctic settlements using the example of Chokurdakh village

The article discusses the infrastructure development of the Arctic settlements through the example of Chokurdakh village in the Allaikhovsky district of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) which is on the basis of a project approach linked to ongoing and planned projects for the development of territories and sectors of traditional natural resource use. The results of a sociological survey and an analysis of the actual state of infrastructure and social facilities on the basis of which projects on improvement of the living conditions of the population are proposed. It includes creating a favourable economic environment and creating new lines of economic and commercial activity in the Arctic settlements, using local natural and human resources are presented in the article.