Mirny Station Research Articles

Влияние ограничения или отказа от табакокурения на адаптационные возможности организма в условиях антарктической зимовки

The research was conducted by a member of the 60th Russian Antarctic Expedition at the all-yearround Mirny Station. The purpose was to study the effect of changed patterns of tobacco smoking on the adaptive capabilities of polar station staff. Materials and methods. Adaptive capabilities were evaluated using the method of cardio-respiratory synchronism, assessing the index of regulatory and adaptive status (IRAS). It is based on recording the synchronization parameters of controlled high respiratory rate and heart rate. IRAS dynamics was compared in four subjects (three regular smokers and one non-smoker as a control) over the course of one year of wintering. The subjects had comparable anthropometric data, health status and working conditions at the station. They were exposed to a similar amount of adverse environmental factors due to their professional activities and lived according to the station’s standard schedule without any personalized changes in their day regimen. Smoking patterns were determined by independent decisions of each expedition member and by the size of personal stocks of tobacco products prepared for the wintering. Results. In polar expedition members faced with smoking cessation or inability to adequately meet this need, IRAS decrease, being a marker of human adaptive capabilities, allowed us to determine the relationship between pronounced changes in the dynamics of regular tobacco smoking and body’s adaptive capabilities. The authors assume that organizational arrangements (sufficient stocks of nicotine-containing products such as cigarettes and tobacco) at the station as well as educational activities (dissuading expedition members from abrupt non-supervised changes in their smoking patterns during Antarctic wintering and properly explaining the reasons why such actions are undesirable) may contribute to improving the health of expedition members and optimizing their living conditions at the polar station. Completing a smoking cessation programme with medical supervision in advance (while preparing for a polar expedition) as well as upon returning from the station (at the end of the adaptation period) can be recommended.

Влияние интенсивности контактов с внешней средой на уровень адаптационных возможностей полярников в условиях антарктической зимовки

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.

Seabirds of human settlements in Antarctica: A case study of the Mirny Station

Antarctica is free of urbanisation, however, 40 year-round and 32 seasonal Antarctic stations operate there. The effects of such human settlements on Antarctic wildlife are insufficiently studied. The main aim of this study was to determine the organization of the bird population of the Mirny Station. The birds were observed on the coast of the Davis Sea in the Mirny (East Antarctica) from January 8, 2012 to January 7, 2013 and from January 9, 2015 to January 9, 2016. The observations were carried out mainly on the Radio and Komsomolsky nunataks (an area of about 0.5 km). The duration of observations varied from 1 to 8 hours per day. From 1956 to 2016, 13 non-breeding bird species (orders Sphenisciformes, Procellariiformes, Charadriiformes) were recorded in the Mirny. The South polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) and Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) form the basis of the bird population. South polar skuas are most frequently recorded at the station. Less common are Brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi) and Adélie penguins. Adélie penguins, Wilson's storm petrels (Oceanites oceanicus), South polar and Brown skuas are seasonal residents, the other species are visitors. Adélie penguins, Emperor (Aptenodytes forsteri), Macaroni (Eudyptes chrysolophus) and Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica), Wilson's storm petrels, South polar and Brown skuas interacted with the station environment, using it for comfortable behavior, feeding, molting, shelter from bad weather conditions, and possible breeding. South polar and Brown skuas tend to be attracted to the station, while other Antarctic bird species are indifferent to humans. Birds spend part of the annual cycle at the station or visit it with different frequency, but they cannot meet their ecological needs there all year round. The study improves our understanding of the regularities of the phenomenon of urbanization of the avifauna in the polar regions of the planet Earth.

Seabirds in Conditions of Local Chronic Oil Pollution, Davis Sea, Antarctica

Oil spills are rare in Antarctica. They threaten flying birds and penguins. This is the first report on the interactions of seabirds with oil in the area of the Mirny Station (East Antarctica). The purpose of the study is to determine the total number of seabird species interacting with oil in and around the Mirny Station, to assess the extent of pollution and to identify the most important sites of interactions. Oil pollution is found on the ground, on the continental ice and, on the seawater surface, both directly in the Mirny and beyond. Five species of seabirds were in contact with oil. Oil pollution threats have been identified for breeding and molting Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) and vagrant Macaroni Penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus). Less affected by oil pollution during the breeding season were tube-nosed bird species and skuas. The most important places of interaction of seabirds with oil are at Cape Mabus, on the islands of Zykov, Tokarev, and Stroiteley. Evidence of long-term oil pollution of the environment is indicative of the chronic nature of the impacts on the coastal ecosystem.

Content of Trace Elements in Soils of Eastern Antarctica: Variability Across Landscapes.

Although Antarctica is considered one of the most pristine areas on Earth, an accelerating human presence in this remote continent, such as scientific operations and functioning of numerous scientific stations, logistics, and tourism activities, has increased the risks of environmental impacts in recent decades. During the 63rd Russian Antarctic expedition, 42 samples from topsoil horizons were collected from Larsemann Hills, Mirny station, and Fulmar Island, Eastern Antarctica. The purpose of this work was to analyze the accumulation levels 8 trace elements and to assess possible environmental risks associated with contamination of Antarctic soils. Various human activities have been found to be responsible for increase of metal levels in studied Antarctic environments. Our study also revealed a specific role of ornithogenic factor and moss cover in distribution of contaminants in severe conditions of Eastern Antarctica soils. Ornithogenic soils were characterized by higher rates of accumulation of some trace metals and metalloids (especially zinc and copper) compared with other investigated "pristine" sites without significantly visible traces of guano inputs. In general term, obtained geoaccumulation index for trace elements in all samples were under or slightly above the 0 level, indicating low to moderate pollution of the studied soils. Results of principal component analysis revealed the necessity for further detailed research on interactions of trace metals with soil organic matter for better understanding of their biogeochemistry in the Antarctic environment. Although most of contaminated sites were found in anthropogenically affected areas, accumulation of some elements in guano-derived and moss materials were associated with higher values for soil pollution indices in natural soils, as well.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Mercury and Arsenic Content in Soils of Larsemann Hills, Pravda Coast and Fulmar Island, Eastern Antarctica.

This study is aimed at investigation of various potential contaminants (arsenic, mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) content in soils of different landscapes of Eastern Antarctica ice-free areas. Our data not only showed that intensive human impact might result in significant direct contamination of surrounding landforms, but also revealed a specific role of ornithogenic transport in distribution of contaminants. Analysis revealed that the contents of investigated elements were 0.100-8.055mgkg-1 (arsenic), 0.025-0.027mgkg-1 (mercury) in Larsemann Hills and 0.100-1.213mgkg-1 (arsenic), 0.023-0.593mgkg-1 (mercury) in vicinities of Mirny station and Fulmar Island. Accumulation of some elements in guano-derived and moss materials lead to higher values of other soil pollution indices at natural sites. Results of our study revealed the predominance of light molecular weight PAHs (fluorene and acenaphthylene) in studied soils. Results of our study are not completely in agreement with the idea of an practically uncontaminated Antarctic ecosystem which was previously reported for Eastern Antarctica ice-free areas. Various human activities carried out at local scale have been found to be responsible for increase of metal levels in studied Antarctic environments.

Macroplastic in Seabirds at Mirny, Antarctica

Plastic debris makes up the majority of marine debris around the world, and pollution is a serious threat to marine wildlife. Threats represent two types of biological interactions with plastic: entanglement and ingestion. This paper describes interactions of seabirds with plastic in Mirny and draw the attention of researchers to the existing problem. In 2012/2013 and 2015/2016, year-round observations of the author were carried out at Mirny station and Haswell Islands (area of about 12 km2), east Antarctica. One case of entanglement of a molting adult Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) in a fishing line was been identified; in addition to one case of an adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) mistakenly ingesting plastic braided rope and subsequently feeding it as part of a food lump to the chick, and two cases of macroplastics found in pellets of south polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki). Registrations of entanglement and ingestion of macroplastic by seabirds in Mirny are rare. They signal to us about problem that needs to be included in the monitoring for the health of terrestrial biota of the Haswell archipelago.

Fifty-five years of Russian radio-echo sounding investigations in Antarctica

AbstractRussian (former Soviet) systematic studies of Antarctica by radio-echo sounding (RES) and ground-penetrating radar technique (GPR) were commenced in 1964. Since that time airborne RES surveys have covered about 5.5 × 106km2of the icy continent discovering remarkable geographic objects such as Subglacial Gamburtsev Mountains, and allowed studies of Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, Amery Ice Shelf and Lambert Glacier. Ground-based investigations during the 1990s and 2000s revealed the structure of the Lake Vostok area and surveyed along the Mirny to Vostok and Progress to Vostok traverse routes. GPR studies during the 2010s were to select the site for a new snow-runway at Mirny Station, with the resumption of the aviation after a 25 year hiatus.

A Multiproxy provenance approach to uncovering the assembly of East Gondwana in Antarctica

East Gondwana is generally thought to have assembled through the amalgamation of Indo-Antarctica and Australo-Antarctica along the Ediacaran–Cambrian Kuunga orogen. The location of a boundary between Indo-Antarctica and Australo-Antarctica within this key Gondwana-forming orogen remains controversial because extensive ice cover in East Antarctica precludes traditional characterization of terranes. Here, we integrated Pb-isotope analysis of detrital feldspar grains with U-Pb dating of detrital monazite and zircon grains from offshore sediments to infer the location of the onshore boundary between Indo-Antarctica and Australo-Antarctica. New and compiled data from onshore basement exposures highlight the different age and Pb-isotope signatures of Indo-Antarctica and Australo-Antarctica. Holocene sediments offshore from Mirny Station (Queen Mary Land, East Antarctica) have detrital feldspar Pb-isotope signatures and detrital monazite and zircon U-Pb ages that reflect contributions from both Indo-Antarctica and Australo-Antarctica. The presence of both Indo-Antarctic and Australo-Antarctic crust beneath ice cover near Mirny Station implies proximity to a fundamental terrane boundary within the Kuunga orogen, which could coincide with a geophysical lineament at ∼94°E (Mirny fault). The geophysical expression of this boundary extends into the subglacial interior of East Antarctica, where, prior to more recent rifting, it may have connected with one or more previously inferred Gondwana-forming sutures. The revised geometry of the Kuunga orogen suggests that the assembly of East Gondwana involved dominantly strike-slip motion in the Mirny region coupled with high-angle convergence between Indo-Antarctica and Australo-Antarctica to the west.

Ice sheet dynamics and structure in the area of snow runway at Mirny Station, East Antarctica (based on the data collected during the 2016/17 summer and wintering seasons).

Ice sheet dynamics and structure in the area of snow runway at Mirny Station, East Antarctica (based on the data collected during the 2016/17 summer and wintering seasons).

Динамика и строение ледника в районе посадочной площадки станции Мирный (Восточная Антарктида) по результатам зимовочных работ и полевого сезона 2016/17 года

Динамика и строение ледника в районе посадочной площадки станции Мирный (Восточная Антарктида) по результатам зимовочных работ и полевого сезона 2016/17 года

First data on U-Pb age of mafic dyke in the Mirny Station area (Pravdy Coast, East Antarctica)

We firstly report a SHRIMP zircon age on a post-metamorphic mafic dyke from the Mirny Station area in Pravdy Coast which is underlain by ca 1000 Ma metamorphic rocks that experienced thermal and magmatic activities at ca 500 Ma. A concordant age of 507 ± 6 Mа for zircon from post-metamorphic dolerite has been obtained. The analyzed grains display the REE and other trace element concentrations corresponding well to zircons from typical dolerites worldwide (e.g., low Hf, Y), which allows interpretation of the obtained date as dolerite dyke crystallization. Geochemical and Sr–Nd isotopic data on the dyke rocks show that these rocks have high-Ti, P concentrations, are enriched in other HFSE and also REE and have low εNd(500) of −13.2, and high 87Sr/86Sr(i) of 0.71206. These features are consistent with derivation from a strongly enriched subcontinental mantle source. Chemical and isotopic compositions of the dyke rocks correspond to those known from the continental flood basalt provinces, in particular to the Cambrian Antrim extensional Large Igneous Province in Australia. This magmatic event is thought to reflect an extension episode between East Antarctica, Australia, and Greater India.

Строение верхней части ледника в районе планируемой взлетно-посадочной полосы станции Мирный, Восточная Антарктида (по материалам работ 2014/15 года)

Строение верхней части ледника в районе планируемой взлетно-посадочной полосы станции Мирный, Восточная Антарктида (по материалам работ 2014/15 года)

Structure of the upper part of the glacier in the area of the designed snow-runway of Mirny Station, East Antarctica (based on the data compiled in 2014/15 field season).

Structure of the upper part of the glacier in the area of the designed snow-runway of Mirny Station, East Antarctica (based on the data compiled in 2014/15 field season).

Aerial photography of Russian Antarctic stations Mirny and Progress in summer of 2014/15

Aerial photographing performed during the field season of 60th Russian Antarctic Expedition (2014/2015) made possible to construct a photoplan of the Mirny station. Its size is 3,5×3,5 km with resolution of 16 pixels/cm, and it will be used as a basis for designing of new airport. Similar work had been done over the Progress station along the route “Progress – Vostok”, about 35 km long. It was found that any crevasses dangerous for people and transport were absent on this area.

Results of spectral measurements of atmospheric aerosol optical depth with sun photometers in the 58th Russian Antarctic Expedition

We discuss the specific features of the spatiotemporal variations in the atmospheric aerosol optical depth (AOD) measured during the 58th Russian Antarctic Expedition on board RVs “Akademik Fedorov” and “Akademik Tryoshnikov” and at the Mirny station. It is shown that the main feature of the spatiotemporal AOD distribution over ocean in the Southern Hemisphere is the linear latitudinal decrease of AOD from 0.15 at the equator to 0.025 near Antarctica. We indicate that the low AOD level in Antarctica (0.022 ± 0.005) has persisted for the last 17 years.

Lead pollution in Antarctic surface snow revealed along the route of the International Trans-Antarctic Expedition

AbstractThis paper reports the lead concentration and flux (where accumulation rate is available) along the route of the 1990 International Trans-Antarctic Expedition. The lead concentration in Larsen Ice Shelf and Antarctic Peninsula, the western part of the route, was 7.4 ± 4.1 pg g−1. The lead concentration in East Antarctic snow (South Pole to Mirny station) was 2 3 times higher than that in West Antarctica (Larsen Ice Shelf to South Pole). Taking into account the difference in site conditions, the difference between the above value over this area in 1989 and the value of 6.3 ±3.3 pg g−1 at a site within this area in 1980 (Wolff and Peel, 1985) is not significant. Because the relative contribution of soil dust, volcanoes and the oceans to lead concentration in Antarctica is about 0.5 pg g−1 under modern climatic conditions (Boutron and Patterson, 1987), it is believed that the lead in Antarctic surface snow is dominated by pollution input. The lead-concentration increase from west to east over the trans-Antarctic route suggests that remote Antarctica has been impacted by anthropogenic activities. The lowest lead flux (0.064 ng cn-2 a−1) was on the Antarctic Plateau, mainly reflecting the background global pollution. The mean flux of 0.273 ng cnT2 a−1 in the western part of the route (Larsen Ice Shelf to the Ellsworth Mountains) may result from the pollution input from the Southern Hemisphere. In addition to the influence of global and/or hemispheric pollution, local activities (notably the use of leaded gasolene) appear to have affected the region from Pionerskaya to Mirny.

The Weddell Sea region: an important precipitation channel to the interior of the Antarctic ice sheet as revealed by glaciochemical investigation of surface snow along the longest trans-Antarctic route

AbstractGlaciochemical analysis of surface snow samples, collected along a profile crossing the Antarctic ice sheet from the Larsen Ice Shelf, Antarctic Peninsula, via the Antarctic Plateau through South Pole, Vostok and Komsomolskaya to Mirny station (at the east margin of East Antarctica), shows that the Weddell Sea region is an important channel for air masses to the high plateau of the Antarctic ice sheet (>2000 m a.s.l.). This opinion is supported by the following. (1) The fluxes of sea-salt ions such as Na+, Mg2 + and CF display a decreasing trend from the west to the east of interior Antarctica. In |eneral, as sea-salt aerosols are injected into the atmosphere over the Antarctic ice sheet from the Weddell Sea, large aerosols tend to decrease. For the inland plateau, few large particles of sea-salt aerosol reach the area, and the sea-salt concentration levels are low (2) The high altitude of the East Antarctic plateau, as well as the polar cold high-pressure system, obstruct the intrusive air masses mainly from the South Indian Ocean sector. (3) For the coastal regions of the East Antarctic ice sheet, the elevation rises to 2000 m over a distance from several to several tens of km. High concentrations of sea salt exist in snow in East Antarctica but are limited to a narrow coastal zone. (4) Fluxes of calcium and non-sea-salt sulfate in snow from the interior plateau do not display an eastward-decreasing trend. Since calcium is mainly derived from crustal sources, and nssSO42- is a secondary aerosol, this again confirms that the eastward-declining tendency of sea-salt ions indicates the transfer direction of precipitation vapor.

Distribution of stable isotopes in surface snow along the route of the 1990 International Trans-Antarctica Expedition

AbstractThis paper presents the distribution of averageδD andδ18O values for the top 1 m of surface snow for a large area of Antarctica. The samples were collected on the 1990 International Trans-Antarctica Expedition which crossed the continent from the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula to Mirny Station. The empirical relationships between the isotopes, temperature and elevation are computed. The slopes ofδD with respect to the surface temperature for the segments west (Patriot Hills-Vostok) and east of Vostok (Komsomolskaya-Mirny) are not significantly different to that observed between Dumont d’Urville and Dome C (Lorius and Merlivat, 1977) which are often used to interpret deep ice-core isotopic profiles. There is, however, a noticeable shift between the two regression lines with, for a given temperature, higher isotopic values west of Vostok. The deuterium excess valuesincrease sharply at 3000 m.a.s.l. on the plateau, confirming the results of Petit and others (1991).

Distribution of stable isotopes in surface snow along the route of the 1990 International Trans-Antarctica Expedition

AbstractThis paper presents the distribution of average δD andδ18O values for the top 1 m of surface snow for a large area of Antarctica. The samples were collected on the 1990 International Trans-Antarctica Expedition which crossed the continent from the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula to Mirny Station. The empirical relationships between the isotopes, temperature and elevation are computed. The slopes of δD with respect to the surface temperature for the segments west (Patriot Hills-Vostok) and east of Vostok (Komsomolskaya-Mirny) are not significantly different to that observed between Dumont d’Urville and Dome C (Lorius and Merlivat, 1977) which are often used to interpret deep ice-core isotopic profiles. There is, however, a noticeable shift between the two regression lines with, for a given temperature, higher isotopic values west of Vostok. The deuterium excess values increase sharply at 3000 m.a.s.l. on the plateau, confirming the results of Petit and others (1991).