Russian Arctic Research Articles

Экологические проблемы Арктической зоны России на примере Ямало-Ненецкого автономного округа

The authors analyze the ecological state of three environments (media) of the Russian Arctic zone on the example of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area: soil, water and atmosphere. The the Autonomous Area economy is based on the oil and gas production, which has an increasing negative impact on the region ecology. Environmental pollution due to accidents and fires on oil pipelines, the formation of unauthorized landfills near settlements, contamination of rivers and reservoirs, air pollution, year–round navigation in the Gulf of Ob contribute to the overall change in the region microclimate, which leads to degradation of pastures, changes in deer migration routes and disruption of the traditional way of life of the indigenous population — Nenets-reindeer herders. In order to restore pastures and preserve the traditional way of life of reindeer herders, the authors propose building roads and railways on stilts or isolating reindeer herds from transport infrastructure with the help of eco-bridges so that it does not become an obstacle to seasonal migration of reindeer along traditional routes.

THE STATE OF THE ARCTIC PROBLEMS OF THE NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG AND PROSPECTS OF THEIR SOLUTION

The article analyses the first stage of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug’s (NAO) implementation of the 7 tasks set out in the Strategy for Developing the Russian Arctic Zone and Ensuring National Security until 2035. Particular attention is paid to the study of the development of the project for the construction of the deep-water seaport of Indiga and the Sosnogorsk – Indiga railway, transport infrastructure development, including the reconstruction of the seaport and airports. The article analyses the activities on dredging on the Pechora River, construction of a highway, the development of oil and gas condensate mineral resource centers, based on the NAO fields, including the development of new ones. The problem of geological study and development of mineral resource base of solid minerals is considered. The article examines the population dynamics, the experience of Arctic residents, and their tax benefits. The author separately considers the construction of an agroindustrial park and the implementation of export-oriented projects involving deep processing of venison, as well as the issues of developing a tourism cluster in the region. It is concluded that, with the exception of the completion of the Naryan-Mar – Usinsk highway and the intensive development of tourism, the rest of the Arctic projects are at the initial stage, their development hampered by the lack or complete absence of funding.

Will Mining Mammoth Tusks in the Russian Arctic Help Preserve African Elephants?

Will Mining Mammoth Tusks in the Russian Arctic Help Preserve African Elephants?

Prosecutor’s Supervision over the Implementation of Legislation in the field Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation

In the article, the author examines the Arctic territories supervised by the prosecutor’s office, where prosecutors supervise the implementation of laws in the development of the Russian Arctic. Highlights the main elements of prosecutorial supervision: subject, objects, subjects and powers of prosecutors. Analyzes the results of the work of regional prosecutors’ offices to supervise the implementation of laws, the supervised territory of which is entirely included in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The author proposes in supervisory activities to take into account the main goals, objectives and priority areas of activity defined by the Fundamentals of State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Arctic for the period until 2035, as well as the Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and Ensuring National Security for the period until 2035. In order to improve prosecutorial supervision, the author proposes to create a new structural unit in the Main Directorate for Supervision of the Execution of Federal Legislation of the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation — a department for supervision of the implementation of federal legislation in the Arctic regions and two specialized prosecutor’s offices (environmental and transport) with deployment in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, as well as the publication of departmental orders of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation.

The effect of urbanisation on wintertime soil respiration in the Russian Arctic

The effect of urbanisation on wintertime soil respiration in the Russian Arctic

Оценки положения Северного магнитного полюса в 2021 году

Based on measurements of magnetic declinations with standard shipboard instruments in three marine expeditions in the Russian Arctic, estimates of the Earth`s North Magnetic Pole position in 2021 were obtained. It is located in the Russian sector of the Arctic. Experiments on determining the North Magnetic Pole in 2021 were carried out on board the research vessels “Professor Molchanov” and the scientific expedition one “Mikhail Somov” supported by the hydrographic ship of “Horizon”. The calculations used a comparison of measurements along the quasi-closed route with magnetic declination data using the International Geomagnetic Analytical Field IGRF13 (International Geomagnetic Reference Field) model with the choice of the minimum discrepancy, a simple inverse matching problem for smooth functions was solved. The results obtained confirm the possibility of regular operational assessment of the Earth`s magnetic poles position. The technology of assessing the magnetic deviation of ships is considered

Interannual Variability and Trend of the Bering Strait Throughflow Gleaned from Satellite Altimeters

Abstract Beginning with the TOPEX/Poseidon altimetry mission in 1992, along-track satellite sea surface height (SSH) estimates have been taken every 6-7 km at 10-day intervals at a cluster of satellite tracks across the Bering Strait near 66°N where the satellite tracks turn. Year-to-year geostrophic SSH estimates of the Bering Strait flow show that the flow in the warmer months is almost entirely confined to a 50m depth channel rather than the whole cross-sectional area, and that the peak-to-peak transport change is comparable to the approximate 0.8 Sverdrup mean. Energy flux calculations using the high-resolution SSH across Bering Strait, as well as an analysis of historical coastal Russian sea levels and wind stress along the Russian Arctic shelf and Bering Sea shelves, suggest that the interannual Bering Strait transport in the warmer water months can be described using wind-forced Arrested Topographic Waves (ATWs) driven by along-shelf wind stress on both the Russian Arctic and Bering Sea shelves. Most of the Bering Strait transport is barotropic in the 50m-depth channel, but analysis of SSH and in situ Alaskan coastal sea level shows that interannual transport variations in the narrow baroclinic Alaskan Coastal Current are not negligible. In disagreement with previous transport estimates, the satellite SSH analysis and almost all of the in situ current measurements do not indicate a significant long-term trend in barotropic Bering Strait northward transport in the warmer water late-summer/fall months.

A Methodology for Forecasting the KPIs of a Region’s Development: Case of the Russian Arctic

A Methodology for Forecasting the KPIs of a Region’s Development: Case of the Russian Arctic

Investment attractiveness of the Russian Arctic through the prism of international cooperation and development of transport corridors

The Russian Arctic has numerous resources, infrastructure facilities that are important for international relations, and therefore is potentially very attractive to investors. Nevertheless, there are a number of objective reasons hindering its development, which require international cooperation, investment and updating of the regulatory framework for the process of foreign investments inflow into the region, with an emphasis on its specifics. The purpose of the article is to study the attractiveness and investment potential of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF) in the new geopolitical realities, to identify the most promising areas of foreign investments. It is concluded that the Arctic can offer resources and opportunities for development and cooperation. It is open for investment, and the Russian government is trying to implement as many projects as possible, including those in which the BRICS countries participate, that will contribute to the development of this region. One of the key areas of foreign investments application is the zone of development of the transport and logistics potential of the Arctic through transport corridors, which will simultaneously lead to infrastructural connectivity of the entire Eurasian continent and will promote cooperation in the Eurasian arena of the CIS countries.

Cross-cultural visual anthropology: Beyond repatriation, exploring indigenous and non-indigenous exchanges

Collaboration is critical concept in Arctic anthropology, in which indigenous people participate not just as research subjects but as collaborative partners in advancing scientific knowledge. The trans-disciplinary approach develops new conceptual, theoretical, and methodological innovations that transcend discipline-specific boundaries. Such innovations facilitate engagement between indigenous and non-indigenous stakeholders in addressing real-world challenges. This paper documents several Siberian ethnography exhibitions organized by the authors and evaluates their anthropological and social significance. Historically, anthropological discourse has championed using visual materials as tools for cultural interventions aimed at societal transformation. Building upon this foundation, this study explores the challenges of both the Russian Arctic and Asian contexts. The article guides the readers to reconsider conventional anthropological perspectives and methods of collaborating both with the indigenous and non-indigenous partners. By outlining the authors experiences in involving local stakeholders across different countries in these exhibitions, they illuminate the impact of the exhibitions on diverse cultural contexts. As cross-cultural visual anthropology endeavors, the exhibits redefine the meaning of ethnographical snapshots as scientific knowledge and go beyond repatriating indigenous cultures or sharing research outcomes with the broader society. The cross-cultural exhibition is becoming a novel research modality and a tool for fostering social interactions.

A research on the Turkish shipyards in the Arctic: Opportunities and challenges

The Arctic region has been experiencing an extensive transformation and several economic opportunities have emerged due to the shrinking sea ice. While the Arctic Ocean has become more convenient for navigation, both Arctic and non-Arctic states have updated their Arctic policies according to recent developments. There has been a substantial increase in the number of studies studying three main Arctic sea routes: Northwest Passage (NWP), Northeast Passage (NEP), and Trans-Polar Sea Route (TSR). Albeit the existence of contradictory results, the interest in Arctic shipping presents a growing trend. The Turkish shipyards increasingly participate in tenders as well. While Çelik Tekne Shipyard stands out as the first Turkish shipyard to win the shipbuilding tender in accordance with polar conditions, a significant increase has been observed in the number of shipyards within the Arctic shipping tenders since 2018. In addition to Atlas and Akdeniz Shipyards, producing ice-class vehicles in accordance with the requirements of the Polar Code, it is possible to multiply examples from Beşiktaş Shipyard, which built ice class fuel ships, Sanmar Shipyard, which won the icebreaker tugboat tender, and Sefine and Kuzey Star Shipyards, which participated in the icebreaker tenders. Besides, the participation of Turkish shipyards as sole contractors in the Russian Arctic as of 2021 indicates their determination to become active actors in the Arctic shipping industry. Accordingly, this paper discusses the opportunities and challenges of Arctic shipping based on the Turkish case.

О проблемах системы управления горнопромышленными отходами в Арктической зоне Российской Федерации

Mining waste products cause serious damage to the human health and unique ecosystems of the Russian Arctic. The article examines the current state of the mining waste management system and the possibilities how to increase the investment potential of mining waste recycling. The issue of involving mining waste products into the economic circulation is a complex task and its solution requires improving the state mining waste management system, including correcting the existing and adopting the new laws, implementing various target programmes, using tax preferences as well as economic stimulation measures.

Distribution of 137Cs specific activity in river sediments of the Barents Sea basin (Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russian Arctic).

This article focuses on the study of the distribution of 137Cs in the bottom sediments of Arctic rivers of the Barents Sea basin (using the example of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russian Arctic). This research is relevant due to the poorly studied region and the significant number of radiation-hazardous facilities in the Arctic zone of Russia, both those currently in operation and those that are "nuclear heritage sites". The study of 137Cs specific activity in bottom sediments was carried out in the period from 2020 to 2023 in the rivers Chizha, Nes, Vizhas, Oma, Pechora (river delta), as well as the rivers Kolva and Usa (first and second order tributaries, respectively, of the Pechora River). A total of 199 samples were collected. In addition to 137Cs specific activity, the samples were analysed for sediment particle size distribution, organic matter content, carbonate content and ash content. The 137Cs specific activity mainly ranged from the minimum detectable specific activity to 5.4 ± 0.8Bq·kg-1. In the Nes River basin (Kaninskaya tundra), the 137Cs content in bottom sediments reached 36.0 ± 3.2Bq·kg-1 (in the case of lake sediments) and 22.9 ± 3.7Bq·kg-1 (in the case of river sediments), values that are higher than those of the North-West of Russia. Considering the large area of the study area (Kaninskaya tundra, Pechora river delta, southern part of Bolshezemelskaya tundra) and the similarity of physical and chemical parameters of the studied rivers, it is possible to assume the existence of a zone of increased radionuclide content in the Nes river basin. This may be due to the runoff from the Nes River catchment area, its hydrological features, and the accumulation of 137Cs in the small fractions of bottom sediments. The results confirm the conclusions of previous soil studies in the Nes river basin. The main sources of elevated 137Cs content are global atmospheric deposition and the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident.

ПРОБЛЕМЫ СОВЕРШЕНСТВОВАНИЯ ЗАКОНОДАТЕЛЬСТВА В СФЕРЕ СОЦИАЛЬНОЙ ЗАЩИЩЕННОСТИ ПОЖАРНЫХ И СПАСАТЕЛЕЙ, РАБОТАЮЩИХ (ПРОХОДЯЩИХ СЛУЖБУ) В АРКТИЧЕСКОЙ ЗОНЕ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ

The article discusses topical issues of legal regulation of social protection of firefighters and rescuers of EMERCOM of Russia performing tasks in the Russian Arctic. It is noted that the legal concept «Arctic zone of the Russian Federation» has no legal significance for the regulation of the provision of guarantees and compensation. The study systematized the «northern» legal incentives provided for by law, conducted their comparative legal analysis for various categories of rescuers and firefighters. It has been established that the differentiation of measures of additional social protection of these categories is not always due to the difference in the functions and tasks of individual structures of EMERCOM of Russia. Some areas of improvement of the applicable legislation are outlined.

Gill raker and pyloric caeca counts differ between Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and Dolly Varden (S. malma) populations across their ranges.

Meristic characters are often used to differentiate between closely related forms, morphs, and species of fishes, and lend insight into ecology and post-glacial recolonization in taxa with complicated or contentious phylogenies, including the genus Salvelinus. Previous studies of meristics in Salvelinus have focused mostly on individual populations. We collated data from 456 populations/systems across the North American and Russian Arctic and sub-Arctic, and found that counts of pyloric caeca and gill rakers differed consistently between fish visually and/or genetically identified as Arctic char and Dolly Varden across their distributional ranges.

ОПТИМИЗАЦИЯ СИСТЕМЫ ДОСТАВКИ ПЕРСОНАЛА НА ГОРНОРУДНЫЕ КОМПЛЕКСЫ АРКТИЧЕСКИХ ТЕРРИТОРИЙ С ПОМОЩЬЮ ИМИТАЦИОННОГО МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЯ

В исследовании анализируется возможность перевода вахтовых автобусов, используемых для доставки персонала, участвующего в разработке месторождений Арктической зоны, на газомоторное топливо с использованием имитационных моделей. The strategy of spatial development of the country for the period up to 2024, based on the infrastructure of a specific type of transport, provides for the connection of the territories of settlements with modern communications; phased reconstruction and modernization; personnel, technical and technological support for interaction and digital transformation of the Russian transport complex. The development of the Russian Arctic is a priority area, since it has a significant natural resource, socio-economic and transport potential, which must be maximized, taking into account all the features of this region. It is important to develop the northern territories in such a way that the transport infrastructure of the Arctic meets the requirements in the field of comfort and safety of the human environment. This can be achieved through the use of vehicles of increased environmental friendliness and energy efficiency. The study analyzes the possibility of converting shift buses used to deliver personnel involved in the development of fields in the Arctic zone to gas motor fuel using simulation models.

Assessment of the resistance of wild grasses in the northwestern region of the Russian Arctic to chloride salinization

Wild grasses are prevalent across various types of vegetation, playing a significant role in both natural ecosystems and human economic endeavors. The potential of using grasses to restore areas affected by tidal erosion and saline soils has not been fully investigated. A study was conducted to examine the impact of different levels of NaCl salinity (ranging from 20 to 200 mM) on seed germination and early growth of Agrostis capillaris L., Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv., Phalaris arundinacea L., and Phleum pratense L. These plants are commonly found in the Arctic region within the Belomorsky district of the Republic of Karelia. Through research, a direct connection was discovered between the germination of seeds and the growth of seedlings based on the salt levels in the root environment and the type of grass species present. In summary, all species successfully germinated at NaCl concentrations of 20–80 mM. However, germination rates decreased at 100 and 200 mM in most cases. When exposed to NaCl concentrations of 60 mM and higher, the growth of root and shoot in the grasses was slowed down to some extent (depending on the species), but not completely inhibited. Due to the resilience of wild grasses to cold temperatures, it is proposed that they could be used in the phytoremediation of Arctic areas with a salinity level of up to 100 mM (0.6 % salinity). An analysis of the data resulted in a ranking of grass species based on their salt resistance: P. pratense ˃A. capillaris ˃P. arundinacea ˃D. cespitosa.

Impact of gas arising from gas hydrate decomposition on the effective permeability of bottom sediments of the Arctic shelf: a laboratory simulation

Relevance. The necessity to investigate the mechanism of gas (methane) flow occurring during decomposition of gas hydrate formations within the layers of bottom sediments. This process is evident through substantial releases of methane bubbles in extensive shallow regions of the Russian Arctic shelf and has the potential to alter the equilibrium of atmospheric methane, a critical greenhouse gas. Aim. To quantitatively investigate, within the context of gas transport in bottom sediments, the impact of free and bound gas within the pores on the nonlinearity of filtration flows. Methods. The model samples with filtration properties similar to those of the bottom rocks of the East Siberian Arctic shelf. During the experiments, a specific amount of gas was injected into the saturated model sample, followed by the measurement of its effective permeability during a slow decrease in pore pressure gradient. The obtained curve was interpreted within the framework of the threshold gradient model. Results. The experiments yielded curves showing the dependency of the threshold gradient magnitude on gas saturation for several samples. It was found that the threshold gradient linearly increases with the growth in gas fraction within the pore space. Already at a gas fraction of approximately 0.02, this value in the experiments reached 0.01 MPa/m, corresponding to the hydrostatic pressure gradient in water. This suggests that even areas with relatively low gas saturation may be impermeable to convective fluid flow. This possibility should be considered when creating models for bubble gas transporting through the rock layers of bottom sediments. Furthermore, the existence of gas-saturated zones with threshold gradients can significantly impact the vertical profile of pore pressure and lead to a reassessment of the depth of gas hydrate stability zones.

“Indigenous peoples, Business and the state: from the experience of legal regulation in the Russian arctic”

This article examines the role of the Commission on Legal Pluralism and one of its founders, Keebet von Benda-Beckmann (1946–2022), to whose memory I dedicate this analysis of the development of legal anthropology in Russia. In the article, I focus mainly on the indigenous peoples of the North of the Russian Federation. Legal pluralism methodology is important for the rights of indigenous peoples in modern Russia from various perspectives. Introduction to the work of the Commission on Legal Pluralism has been an important step in the formation of an interdisciplinary field of legal anthropology in Russia. Keebet von Benda-Beckmann played a major role in this process, and was involved in the 11th International Congress on Customary Law and Legal Pluralism, which was held in Moscow in 1997. Interdisciplinarity has become a defining trend in the study of the legal status of indigenous peoples in legal anthropology, both for the creation of special legislation and for the protection of indigenous rights. There has also been a significant turn in academic discourse from the study of customary law as a traditional law that existed in the past to the study of it as a regulator of the contemporary life of aboriginal and other communities. Field research in recent decades in the Russian Arctic confirms the need to emphasise the role of the state and globalisation when analysing the legal situation of indigenous peoples in the context of legal pluralism. In this article, two cases are analysed. The first is the development of the Russian Federation Standard on Social Responsibility for Business in the Arctic 2020, with which I was directly involved. My task as a legal anthropologist was to prepare a document that combined international law, national legislation, business standards and regulations, and the customary law of indigenous peoples of the North. The second case is related to the analysis of the regional legislation of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) concerning nomadic peoples, and consideration of indigenous customs and traditions in the state legal system. The importance of this perspective for the protection of the rights of these peoples is recognised in the decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation in response to the complaint filed by Gennady Shchukin, a representative of the Dolgan community of Krasnoyarsk Region, relating to the value of customary law in the regulation of hunting. Such judicial practice is rare, but it is of great importance in determining the status of indigenous peoples in the eyes of the state. This article deals with the possibility of taking into account the customary law of small indigenous peoples of the North based on documents adopted before 2022.

Потенциал и возможности освоения угольных запасов арктической части Красноярского края

This study focuses on the development of coal deposits in the western part of the Russian Arctic. Historically, the Arctic economy has relied on its mineral resources. Advancements in science and technology related to Arctic resource development have facilitated production in previously inaccessible and remote territories of the Russian Arctic, including areas on the Arctic shelf. Much of this progress can be attributed to the proactive strategic policies of the government and collaboration with Western partners. However, the current geopolitical landscape has introduced challenges to the implementation of many Arctic projects. New economic trends, including shifts in market orientation and technical obstacles, necessitate the adaptation of Arctic resource projects to the prevailing conditions. Coal projects, especially those aimed at export, are particularly susceptible to these challenges, as highlighted in this study. Therefore, the goal of the study was to identify the key processes associated with the implementation of new coal projects at the present stage. Geographically, the study encompasses the western part of the Russian Arctic, focusing on coal projects potentially interconnected with the development of the Northern Sea Route and its infrastructure. The paper offers an overview of the status of coal deposits in this Arctic region, examining the interplay between regulatory frameworks governing Arctic coal projects, and the consequences and risks of developing the new Syradasai deposit, located in the Arctic part of the Krasnoyarsk region.