Northern Route Research Articles

Estimation of ship flue gas emissions in dynamic operational conditions with ANN

While ship emissions are incomparably less in comparison to land units, the threat of the world’s population and certain regions are in a serious danger due to 70% of these emissions occur in areas up to 400 km from the coast and on certain maritime routes. The formation of ship emissions strongly depends on the dynamically varying travel conditions and it is important to identify the emissions in order to guide the rule-makers to take the necessary measures correctly. In this study, an emission estimation modelling based on dynamic variables, such as voyage duration, engine revolutions per minute, speed, displacement, weather condition, sea conditions and average draught, has been realized by using artificial neural networks (ANN). The difference between the results of ANN and traditional estimation methods was found to be 1.57%. Then, in order to determine the optimum route, the ANN model was implemented for June and January in the Northern and Southern routes of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and it was concluded that harder sea and weather conditions produced more emissions. Finally, fuel consumptions, fuel costs and social costs of the emissions for different routes were calculated.

Journey From Central Asia To Mecca In The 19th Century: Roads And Conditions (Based On Muntahab Ut-Tawarikh)

It is known that in the XVI-early XX centuries there were three main routes from Central Asia to Mecca - the northern route through the territory of the Russian Empire, the southern route through India and the central route through Iran. It is through these routes that a number of works dedicated to the memories of the pilgrimage by some pilgrims who have made the pilgrimage have come down to us. They contain very valuable information about the history of the pilgrimages of the peoples of Central Asia, the ways of pilgrimage and the conditions in them.

Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Anaplasma and Borrelia Species in Ticks Collected from Migratory Birds at Heuksan, Hong, and Nan Islands, Republic of Korea.

The extended distribution and potential introduction of exotic ticks and associated tick-borne pathogens along the northern and southern routes of migratory birds pose zoonotic tick-borne disease risks to wild and domestic animals and incidentally to humans. A knowledge of bird migratory patterns, species of attached ticks, and associated pathogens during their migrations to and from their feeding and nesting grounds is central to understanding associated tick-borne disease risks. Tick-borne disease surveillance was conducted from 2010 to 2011 and 2016 at Hong-do (do = island), Heuksan-do, and Nan-do, major stopovers for migratory birds in Republic of Korea (ROK), as part of the Migratory Birds Research Center bird-banding program for studying bird migration patterns in the ROK. A total of 877 ticks belonging to three genera and nine species were collected, Ixodes turdus (576, 65.7%), Haemaphysalis flava (134, 15.3%), H. longicornis (91, 10.4%), I. nipponensis (56, 6.4%), H. formosensis (7, 0.8%), H. ornithophila (6, 0.7%), H. phasiana (5, 0.6%), H. concinna (1, 0.1%), and Amblyomma testudinarium (1, 0.1%) were collected from 274 birds belonging to 20 genera and 41 species. A total of 15/380 pools (3.95%) were positive for Borrelia species (14 pools of I. turdus and 1 pool of H. flava), while only 1/380 pools (0.26%) was positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (1 pool of I. nipponensis). Our findings support the role of migratory birds as possible vectors for the introduction of tick-borne pathogens, which requires continuous monitoring for the potential introduction of ticks and their associated tick-borne pathogens.

CASPIAN REGION: GEOPOLITICAL ARENA. CLASH OF INTERESTS AND ENERGY SECURITY

The Caspian region is one of the most important regions of the world with its rich hydrocarbon resources, which in turn draws attention from different countries. The purpose of this paper is to underscore the geopolitical importance of the Caspian basin and the impact of its energy resources on the energy security of non-regional countries. The realization of the “Contract of the century” has been specified in the paper. Russian hegemony has been evaluated and the characteristic features of Northern route have been introduced. The authors attempted to delineate the US’ strategy in the Caspian region and to judge the security of the Western route stretching from the Caspian Sea. The status of the Caspian Sea has been clarified based on the most recent information. Threats to the security of the transit routes have been identified and measures have been offered to prevent possible incidents. A formula was suggested for the mathematical evaluation of possible terrorist attacks on the pipelines in the foreseeable future.

Development of a Correlated Fe‐Mn Crust Stratigraphy Using Pb and Nd Isotopes and Its Application to Paleoceanographic Reconstruction in the Atlantic

AbstractEight ferromanganese crust samples spanning the complete depth range of Tropic Seamount in the northeast Atlantic were analyzed for Pb and Nd isotopes to reconstruct water mass origin and mixing over the last 75 Ma. Pb isotopes were determined by laser ablation multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS), which enables the rapid production of large, high spatial resolution data sets. This makes it possible to precisely correlate stratigraphy between different samples, compare contemporaneous layers, and create a composite record given the abundance of hiatuses in crusts. Pb and Nd isotope data show the influence of various oceanic and continental end‐members in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. This reflects its evolution from a restricted, isolated basins in the Late Cretaceous with influxes from the Tethys Ocean, to an increasingly well‐mixed, large‐scale basin, with a dominant Southern Ocean signature until the Miocene. Less radiogenic Nd isotope signatures suggest Labrador Sea Water influenced the northeast Atlantic basin as early as 17–15 Ma, flowing through a northern route such as the Charlie‐Gibbs Fracture Zone. Pb and Nd isotopes highlight the increasing influence of Saharan eolian dust input about 7 Ma, imparting a less radiogenic excursion to the binary mixing between North Atlantic water masses and riverine discharge from West and Central Africa. This highlights the influence of eolian dust input on the open ocean Pb and Nd budget and supports an early stage of North African aridification in the Late Miocene. This signature is overprinted about 3 Ma to the present by a strong North Atlantic Deep Water signature following the onset of Northern Hemisphere glaciation.

Projections of Arctic sea ice conditions and shipping routes in the twenty-first century using CMIP6 forcing scenarios

The accelerated decline in Arctic sea ice in recent decades suggests the possibility of future trans-Arctic shipping routes linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, with significant implications for the global economy. We present a projection of Arctic sea ice conditions and shipping activities during the 21st century based on 16 CMIP6 models calibrated to remove spatial biases. The multimodel ensemble mean shows that the Arctic is likely to be ice-free in September by 2076 and 2055 under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, respectively, whereas the extent of sea ice is >2 × 106 km2 throughout the 21st century under the SSP1-2.6 scenario. The Arctic sea ice in September thins over time, leading to a reduction in the area with an ice thickness >120 cm (i.e. the threshold over which sea ice is inaccessible to Type A vessels) by 34–100% by the late 21st century (2086–2100) under the three scenarios. Given the declines in the extent and thickness of sea ice, the most commonly traversed route along the North West Passage tends to migrate from the southern to the northern route during the 21st century. The optimum route along the Northern Sea Route shifts northward with time, with the Transpolar Sea Route becoming available. Quantitatively, the maritime accessibility to Type A vessels via the Transpolar Sea Route increases from ∼6.7, 4.2 and 2.1% in 2021–2035 to 14.7, 29.2 and 67.5% in 2086–2100 under the SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, respectively. The season for trans-Arctic shipping extends from 5 to ∼7.5 (9) months by the late 21st century under the SSP1-2.6 (SSP2-4.5) scenario and the Arctic becomes navigable all year round under the SSP5-8.5 scenario. These findings may aid in developing strategic planning by governments for the Arctic and providing strategic advice for the global maritime industry.

Vicariance in a generalist fish parasite driven by climate and salinity tolerance of hosts.

Acanthocephalans are parasites with complex lifecycles that are important components of aquatic systems and are often model species for parasite-mediated host manipulation. Genetic characterization has recently resurrected Pomphorhynchus tereticollis as a distinct species from Pomphorhynchus laevis, with potential implications for fisheries management and host manipulation research. Morphological and molecular examinations of parasites from 7 English rivers across 9 fish species revealed that P. tereticollis was the only Pomphorhynchus parasite present in Britain, rather than P. laevis as previously recorded. Molecular analyses included two non-overlapping regions of the mitochondrial gene - cytochrome oxidase and generated 62 sequences for the shorter fragment (295 bp) and 74 for the larger fragment (583 bp). These were combined with 61 and 13 sequences respectively, from Genbank. A phylogenetic analysis using the two genetic regions and all the DNA sequences available for P. tereticollis identified two distinct genetic lineages in Britain. One lineage, possibly associated with cold water tolerant fish, potentially spread to the northern parts of Britain from the Baltic region via a northern route across the estuarine area of what is now the North Sea during the last Glaciation. The other lineage, associated with temperate freshwater fish, may have arrived later via the Rhine/Thames fluvial connection during the last glaciation or early Holocene when sea levels were low. These results raise important questions on this generalist parasite and its variously environmentally adapted hosts, and especially in relation to the consequences for parasite vicariance.

Prospects and Scenarios for the Development of the Global and Domestic Market of Maritime Freight Transport Along the Northeast Passage

The presented study considers the prospects and scenarios for the development of domestic and international maritime freight transport along the NEP and examines the major directions for the efficient maintenance of the northern maritime shipping route. Aim . The study aims to make a projection and identify potential scenarios for the development of the Northeast Passage based on an analysis of the global and national maritime freight transport market. Tasks. The author analyzes projected scenarios for the development of the NEP, shows the efficiency of maintenance of the northern maritime shipping route, and identifies the most promising directions and stages of development of the global and domestic market of maritime freight transport along the Northeast Passage. Methods . This study uses general scientific methods of cognition (analysis, synthesis, comparison, material modeling, etc.) to identify and systematize development scenarios required for the efficient maintenance of the northern maritime shipping route. Results . The formation of an efficient northern maritime shipping route gives Russia economic and political advantages necessary to strengthen the country's position in the Arctic. By turning the NEP into a permanent international transport artery, Russia could significantly strengthen its position in the system of international maritime trade and navigation. Conclusions . Having considered the main scenarios for the development of the NEP, the author concludes that the use of the NEP as an alternative route is the most promising option. The development of the NEP and organization of regular traffic remains the government's prerogative, providing an opportunity for cost-effective international transport (including container transport).

SOMmelier-Intuitive Visualization of the Topology of Grapevine Genome Landscapes Using Artificial Neural Networks.

Background: Whole-genome studies of vine cultivars have brought novel knowledge about the diversity, geographical relatedness, historical origin and dissemination, phenotype associations and genetic markers. Method: We applied SOM (self-organizing maps) portrayal, a neural network-based machine learning method, to re-analyze the genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) data of nearly eight hundred grapevine cultivars. The method generates genome-specific data landscapes. Their topology reflects the geographical distribution of cultivars, indicates paths of cultivar dissemination in history and genome-phenotype associations about grape utilization. Results: The landscape of vine genomes resembles the geographic map of the Mediterranean world, reflecting two major dissemination paths from South Caucasus along a northern route via Balkan towards Western Europe and along a southern route via Palestine and Maghreb towards Iberian Peninsula. The Mediterranean and Black Sea, as well as the Pyrenees, constitute barriers for genetic exchange. On the coarsest level of stratification, cultivars divide into three major groups: Western Europe and Italian grapes, Iberian grapes and vine cultivars from Near East and Maghreb regions. Genetic landmarks were associated with agronomic traits, referring to their utilization as table and wine grapes. Pseudotime analysis describes the dissemination of grapevines in an East to West direction in different waves of cultivation. Conclusion: In analogy to the tasks of the wine waiter in gastronomy, the sommelier, our ‘SOMmelier’-approach supports understanding the diversity of grapevine genomes in the context of their geographic and historical background, using SOM portrayal. It offers an option to supplement vine cultivar passports by genome fingerprint portraits.

Intraspecific Structure of Rhododendron camtschaticum Pall. on the Kamchatka Peninsula: Genetic Aspect

The analysis of variability of three intergenic spacers of chloroplast DNA in 47 samples of Rhododendron camtschaticum on the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Commander Islands was performed. The analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) revealed that about 99% of genetic diversity occurs in interpopulation differences (FST = 0.99, p < 0.001). Two genetic lines have been identified, probably due to the northern and southern migration routes. Samples from central and northern Kamchatka form a separate cluster and demonstrate high homogeneity, which supports the taxonomic independence of the subspecies R. camtschaticum ssp. glandulosum. In samples from the southern part of the peninsula, polymorphism was revealed; together with samples from the Commander Islands, they correspond to R. camtschaticum ssp. camtschaticum.

A consideration of the spatiotemporal distribution of microblade industries on the Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau is one of the last areas populated by modern humans because of its harsh environment. Due to the paucity of reliably dated archaeological sites, the history of the peopling of Tibet is unclear. However, more than 110 microblade sites discovered on the Plateau indicate large-scale migration. This paper reviews microblade assemblages in seven geographical regions in terms of the specific techno-typologies, and divides them into three types. Based upon results obtained from 17 archaeological sites and techno-typological comparisons, we argue that microblade sites on the Plateau fall within three periods, 14-10 ka BP, 8-7 ka BP and 5-3 ka BP. The techno-typology of sites in the first period is still unclear. Assemblages are dominated by flake blank exploitation cores represented by wedge-shaped nuclei during the second period. Conical microblade cores and pottery coexisted during the latest period. A combination of chronology, techno-typology and the locations of microblade sites discovered on and around the Tibetan Plateau supports the conclusion that people bearing microblade technology originating in North China migrated to the Plateau via a northern route.

Island migration and foraging behaviour by anatomically modern humans during the late Pleistocene to Holocene in Wallacea: New evidence from Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Maritime migration and island adaptation by anatomically modern humans (AMH) are among the most significant issues in Southeast Asian anthropology and archaeology, and directly related to their behavioural and technological advancements. A major research hotspot is Wallacean Archipelago located between the past Sunda and Sahul continents during the late Pleistocene. The gaps between the Wallacean islands and both landmasses are very likely the major factor for the relative scarcity of animal species originating from Asia and Oceania and the high diversity of endemic species in Wallacea. They are also considered as a barrier for hominin migration into Wallacean islands and Sahul continent. We report about new archaeological research on the eastern coast of Sulawesi, which could have been the most potential location for the early AMH migration by sea crossings from the Maluku Islands along the northern routes towards Sahul. Based on the new findings, we discuss the evidence and timeline for migrations of early modern humans into the Wallacean islands. This includes an overview of the excavated stone and bone artefacts and faunal remains in the region in the context of changes in human foraging behaviour as well as the technological and cognitive aspects of human adaptation as a response to rapidly changing ecological conditions during the late Pleistocene to Holocene periods.

МЕЖДУНАРОДНАЯ ТОРГОВЛЯ В ЛЕСНОЙ ПРОМЫШЛЕННОСТИ

Russia is the richest country with forest resources. It accounts for 22 % of the world's forest cover and half of the world's coniferous wood reserves. According to forecasts, the demand for commercial wood will increase by about 150 million cubic meters by 2030. There is only one real source – Russia's reserves. Reserves today amount to more than 83 billion cubic meters. For enterprises of the Arkhangelsk region, the main markets for woodworking products are China, the USA, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Egypt. Based on this, the study has formed a logistic export system for three transportation options. In addition, studies have been carried out on the basis of UNCTAD, EUROSTAT and FAO materials, as well as SEARATES technical and economic data. When choosing a logistics system option, an integrated economic assessment of costs by components has been used: material flow, information flow, and logistics intermediaries. The study has examined six potential routes for delivering timber between ports in East Asia (Shanghai) and Europe (Rotterdam). Based on the results of the research, the following conclusions can be drawn. The study has addressed the issue of transportation along the Northern Sea Route (HIAR). Transportation along this route is possible only in the event of global warming and accelerated retreat of the Arctic sea ice. The economic strength for distance savings from Asia to Europe makes the northern route a likely driver of change in transportation networks

The solution for the problem of the transportation of the first Czechoslovak transports to France (second half of 1917 — the beginning of 1918)

The article is concerned with the history of organization and transportation of the first two Czechoslovak echelons from Russia to France. It is aimed at tracing the idea of sending of a part of Czech and Slovak prisoners of war to the Western front. This intention was for the first time expressed by leaders of the Czechoslovak National Council founded in Paris in February 1916. This decision appeared in connection with the shortage of soldiers in the French army and of workers in the war industry of the Third Republic. In this respect, the research touches upon the basic aspects of the negotiations conducted by J. Dürich, M. R. Štefánik and T. G. Masaryk with the Russian governmental and military institutions. The article also dwells on the preparation of departure of these Czechoslovak units by the northern route - via Arkhangelsk and Murmansk and the cooperation between the Branch of the Czechoslovak National Council and the French military missions in Russia in supplying for the volunteers. The article is based on the documents from the collections of the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire, Russian State Historical Archive, Military Central Archive of Czech Republic and published materials.

Spatiotemporal Variation and Chemical Fingerprints of Marine Fine Particles (PM2.5) at the Matsu Islands in Northern Taiwan Strait

This study characterized the PM2.5 in terms of its spatial distribution, chemical composition, and seasonal/diurnal variation on the Matsu Islands in the northern Taiwan Strait. The PQ-200 samplers were employed to conduct simultaneous 24-h seasonal measurements of PM2.5 on four offshore islands, viz., Nankan Island (Site NK), Beigan Island (Site BG), Dongyin Island (Site DY), and Chiukung Island (Site CK) as well as 12-h diurnal measurements for both regular and intensive samplings, and 24-h episodic measurements at one of the locations (Site NK). Additionally, the chemical signatures of PM2.5 collected at six predominant local sources were established via chemical analysis, which coordinated as source profiles for chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model to resolve the source apportionment of PM2.5. Of the four seasons, summer exhibited the lowest average PM2.5 concentration. In winter and spring, the level of PM2.5 significantly rose under the influences of Asian Northeastern Monsoons (ANEMs). Furthermore, the spatial distribution of PM2.5 across the islands showed a tendency to gradually decrease from the west to the east, with the Site NK always displaying the highest value regardless of the season. In general, the chemical composition primarily consisted of water-soluble ions (WSIs) owing to the abundancy of secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA) which accounted for 69.8% of the WSIs and 45.5% of the PM2.5. Crustal elements dominated the metallic components, although the content of trace metals increased in both concentrations and proportion during the ANEMs. Organic carbon (OC) dominated the carbonaceous content of PM2.5 in all seasons, with OC/EC values ranging from 1.64 to 3.78. During the episodes of poor air quality, the majority of incoming air masses followed a northern transport route (N-route) or an anticyclonic outflow route (AO-route) transported from the continent to the islands. The CMB receptor modeling results showed that the major sources of PM2.5 on the Matsu Islands were road dust, industrial boilers, secondary aerosols, vehicular exhausts, and sea salts. Overall, the PM2.5 pollution was originated from both local and remote sources, with 28~68% of the PM2.5 concentrations arising from long-range transport.

Constructing the Arcto-Pacific

This article is devoted to considering and providing grounds for a promising geopolitical construct of the future—the Arcto-Pacific—which may be destined to complement the idea of Greater Eurasia. The author believes that favorable conditions are emerging for tapping the economic potential of the Arctic seas. Global warming allows for using northern routes to an ever greater extent, while booming Asian economies, and China in the first place, are a reason for redirecting transit flows through the Arctic. Until just recently, the Northern Sea Route’s development was relatively slow, as the alternative one through the Suez Canal was more reliable, by and large, in terms of costs and delivery time. The beginning of a Cold War between the United States and China serves as an incentive to opting for a different cargo traffic artery linking China and Europe. In contrast to the southern route, shipping through the Arctic is safer and ever more predictable with every passing year. In combination with the import of natural resources from the Arctic, the possibility of northern transit is becoming a major factor in another Cold War. In a situation like this Russia will have to look out for new partners and new diplomatic solutions in order to retain sovereignty over the Arctic seas.

The Northern Route for Human dispersal in Central and Northeast Asia: New evidence from the site of Tolbor-16, Mongolia

The fossil record suggests that at least two major human dispersals occurred across the Eurasian steppe during the Late Pleistocene. Neanderthals and Modern Humans moved eastward into Central Asia, a region intermittently occupied by the enigmatic Denisovans. Genetic data indicates that the Denisovans interbred with Neanderthals near the Altai Mountains (South Siberia) but where and when they met H. sapiens is yet to be determined. Here we present archaeological evidence that document the timing and environmental context of a third long-distance population movement in Central Asia, during a temperate climatic event around 45,000 years ago. The early occurrence of the Initial Upper Palaeolithic, a techno-complex whose sudden appearance coincides with the first occurrence of H. sapiens in the Eurasian steppes, establishes an essential archaeological link between the Siberian Altai and Northwestern China . Such connection between regions provides empirical ground to discuss contacts between local and exogenous populations in Central and Northeast Asia during the Late Pleistocene.

The source contributions to the dust over the Tibetan Plateau: A modelling analysis

Atmospheric dust is the main aerosol component over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). The atmospheric dust over the TP influences climate at local and regional scales through its direct effects on solar and longwave radiation. There are various sources of atmospheric dust over the TP, including the semiarid and arid areas in East Asia as a near source and those in the Middle East and Central Asia and North Africa as remote sources. This study estimates the contributions of these sources to the atmospheric dust over the TP based on a five-year simulation (2010–2014) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model Coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem). The contributions of all sources were higher in spring than in the other seasons, with the highest dust loading and concentrations in spring over the TP. The dust in the middle to high troposphere over the TP had diameters varying from 0.04 to 2.5 μm, showing higher dust number concentrations in spring (at 500 hPa) than in other seasons (at 300 hPa). TP was mainly influenced by East Asian source, which dominated the dust loading over the TP with a contribution of 59–78% in all four seasons. As a result, the East Asian source affected the dust concentration at 500 hPa over the TP by contributing 55% in summer, 44% in autumn, and 27–36% in spring and winter with respect to those of the North African and the Middle East and Central Asian sources. The North African and the Middle East and Central Asian sources influenced the TP through a mainly northern route in the middle to upper troposphere from Central Asia to the TP. The dust concentration at 300 hPa over the TP was dominated by dust from the North African and the Middle East and Central Asian sources by a contribution of 31%–58% for North Africa and 36% for the Middle East and Central Asia in the four seasons.

The first hominin fleet.

New research suggests that groups of ~130 modern humans at minimum undertook planned expeditions to colonise Sahul via a northern route. However, the necessity of more evidence to test this model reflects a need for change in the way we investigate the population history of this region.

Heading north: Late Pleistocene environments and human dispersals in central and eastern Asia.

The adaptability of our species, as revealed by the geographic routes and palaeoenvironmental contexts of human dispersal beyond Africa, is a prominent topic in archaeology and palaeoanthropology. Northern and Central Asia have largely been neglected as it has been assumed that the deserts and mountain ranges of these regions acted as ‘barriers’, forcing human populations to arc north into temperate and arctic Siberia. Here, we test this proposition by constructing Least Cost Path models of human dispersal under glacial and interstadial conditions between prominent archaeological sites in Central and East Asia. Incorporating information from palaeoclimatic, palaeolake, and archaeological data, we demonstrate that regions such as the Gobi Desert and the Altai Mountain chains could have periodically acted as corridors and routes for human dispersals and framing biological interactions between hominin populations. Review of the archaeological datasets in these regions indicates the necessity of wide-scale archaeological survey and excavations in many poorly documented parts of Eurasia. We argue that such work is likely to highlight the ‘northern routes’ of human dispersal as variable, yet crucial, foci for understanding the extreme adaptive plasticity characteristic of the emergence of Homo sapiens as a global species, as well as the cultural and biological hybridization of the diverse hominin species present in Asia during the Late Pleistocene.