Southern Yakutia Research Articles

Geographical features in the formation of the chemical composition of surface waters in Southern Yakutia.

Geographical features in the formation of the chemical composition of surface waters in Southern Yakutia.

New and interesting lichen records for Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). III

Lichen specimens collected in 2008, 2015 and 2016 in Central (Olekminsky district), Eastern (Oimyakon district) and Southern (Aldan, Neryungri districts) Yakutia were studied. As a result 16 lichen species are recorded for Yakutia for the first time, among them 8 species are new to Eastern Siberia and one species — Ramonia himelbrantii — new to Asia. At present the list of lichens of Yakutia numbers about 820 species.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PARENTERAL VIRAL HEPATITIS AMONG REINDEER HERDERS IN SOUTH YAKUTIA

Researches of parenteral viral hepatitis prevalence in Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) showed high frequency of hepatitis B and C infection markers. High level of HBsAg carriage among indigenous nationalities representatives living in isolated ethnic group had been revealed (12,9%). HBsAg and anti-HBc detection frequencies is 12,9% and 76,0% respectively in comparison with 5,8% and 14,6% among newcomer population (p<0,001). In spreading of HBV-infection leading role belong to natural ways which prevalence in majority of age groups. This fact causes necessity of prevention measures correction. Among newcomer population, we can note high level of HCV infection. Results of parenteral viral hepatitis epidemiological distinguishes evaluation among indigenous nationalities in Southern Yakutia shows to necessity of medical care system improvement and special medical programs. To reason that measures we have to perform complex screening researches to parenteral viral hepatitis infection markers.

Late Mesozoic rifting at the flanks of the Dzhagda segment of the Mongolia-Okhotsk collisional orogen: global and regional aspects

The role of rifting in the formation of the recent structure of the Mongolia-Okhotsk orogen is extremely high, but it is still underestimated with regard to flanks of the Dzhagda segment of this orogen. Current researches refer to a combination of physical and chemical processes in the depth of the lithosphere, as well as interactions between the Izanagi, Eurasian and Pacific plates as explanations of repeated rifting events in East Asia. Upwelling of the asthenosphere due to significant differences in the lithosphere thickness (150–200 km under cratons, and only 100 km under orogenic belts) was viewed as a cause of rifting. It was assumed that rifting was controlled by mantle plumes, volcanism and heat regime. Structures bordering the Mongolia-Okhotsk orogen from north and south were considered as superimposed or marginal troughs. Recent studies have revealed numerous riftogenic Late Mesozoic structures in the Central Asian orogenic belt, which resulted from the collision of the Siberian and North Chinese cratons. New geological survey and geochemical data on volcanites confirmed the riftogenic origin of the Zeya-Uda (or Uda) and Nora-Selemdzha troughs bordering the Mongolia-Okhotsk orogen from north and south, respectively (Fig. 1, and 2). Geology and geophysics of those troughs has been described. It is noted that riftogenic volcanites formed later in the east than those in the west. The Late Mesozoic rifting is widely manifested in North Eastern Asia across the area exceeding two million square kilometers, from Lake Baikal to the Sikhote-Alin region (west to east) and from the Southern Yakutia basins to North China (north to south). It is evidenced by intra-continental rifts of various trends, volcanic provinces and extension structures along large strike-slip faults [ Ren et al., 2002 ]. The Uda and Nora-Selemdzha marginal troughs located along the Dzhagda segment of the Mongolia-Okhotsk orogen give evidence that compression was replaced by extension in the study area. Rifting structures may be due to physical and chemical processes, the development of plumes [ Yarmolyuk et al., 2000 ], as well as the interaction between the Pacific and Eurasian lithospheric plates. Volcanic activity took place earlier in the west and then propagated to the east due to the shifting of the subduction zone in this direction. This paper analyzes regional and global geological events on the basis of new drilling data and the geochronological dating of volcanites. It describes the Late Mesozoic stage of rifting at the flanks of the Dzhagda segment of the Mongolia-Okhotsk collisional orogen.

Applicability of hydraulic mining at gold placers in Southern Yakutia

Applicability of hydraulic mining at gold placers in Southern Yakutia

Variations of the concentrations of major ions and nutrients in surface water of Southern Yakutia at the industrial development of the territory

The article presents the results obtained in studying variations of the concentrations of ion composition, and nutrients in the surface waters of Southern Yakutia in the construction zone of the Amur–Yakutsk Railway Main Line, as well as in streams in the territory of the Neryungri Coal and Aldan Gold-Mining regions. In 2007–2012, the concentrations of major ions in the 15 examined watercourses varied mostly under the effect of natural conditions, while variations of the concentrations of major ions and nutrients in surface waters of the coal- and gold-mining regions, estimated for the past 30–40 years, were significant as the result of anthropogenic and technogenic impact. Variations of all examined chemical characteristics of water in the examined rivers did not go beyond their MACs introduced by SanPin.

Systematic evaluation of environmental and economic effectiveness of the best available technologies: Regional dimension

The paper considers the effects of changes in legislation regulating the nature protection activities of enterprises based on best available technologies (BATs). A hierarchical classification of the most important factors that determine the level of eco-economic effectiveness of BATs is proposed. The interaction of these factors is shown, and the type of metrics used at this level is presented. The effectiveness of BATs is analyzed from the standpoint of how regional natural factors impact the technology, with case studies from the coal, oil, and gas industries as vital areas of nature protection activity. Studies on the replacement of existing technologies with BATs are summarized in order to reduce damage to natural complexes of Siberian coal-mining regions using preventive damage assessment methodologies. It is concluded that the specifics of the regional natural background indisputably affect the amount of this reduction and BAT effectiveness. It is found that the greatest environmental effect is possible for the coal mines of southern Yakutia, the Far East, and the Kuznetsk Basin. It is shown that achievement of design BAT effectiveness in the coal, oil, and gas industries largely depends on the availability and proper use of basic elements of the eco-economic management system, especially environmental impact assessment and monitoring. Recommendations on the use of sustainable development indicators to measure the impact of natural factors on the BAT effectiveness are given.

Long-term variability of the spring taryn-aufeises

Long-term variability of large taryn-aufeises was studied for several decades in different regions of the USA (Alaska) and Russia (Chukotka, Kolyma, Southern Yakutia, Transbaikalia, and Eastern Sayan). Differences between volumes of individual ice massifs and the recorded maximal values change from 2–3 to 95–100%, and they do not depend on sizes of ice fields and their geographical locations. No statistically significant dependence of the aufeis volumes on the atmospheric precipitation amount and the air temperature was revealed in the most of the above areas. However, a general tendency for decreasing of the annual maxima of the ice reserves due to the climate warming was noticed. The long-term variations of the aufeises show existence of cycles of increase and decrease in their maximum sizes with their durations of 3, 7 and 11 years with the 25–30% amplitude of variations relative to the mean long-term values. In the Arctic areas, some of the giant aufeises do not melt completely during the summer and remain for a next winter. The volume of pereletoks (shortterm permafrost) varies within the range of 5–25%, averaging 16% of the spring ice reserves. In the southern geocryological zone, a clearly pronounced dependence of activity of the aufeis processes on the snow thickness was found: when the snow depth increased from 70 to 100 cm, volumes of aufeises decreased by a factor of three, and the aufeises disappeared completely under the thickness larger 120 cm. It should be noted that the processes producing the aufeis-forming sources of subsurface water, and the factors of their layered-ice accumulation remain almost unexplored.

Characterization of detritus profiles in some ecosystems of southern Sakhalin

The typology of the detritus profiles for the main forest types in the southern part of Sakhalin is developed for the first time. It is shown that their mean thickness varies from 4 to 8 cm and regularly decreases with increasing proportion of deciduous plants in the ground cover. It is found that this parameter agrees closely with the habitat conditions and the highest diversity of detritus profiles is observed under semihydromorphic conditions typical of alder stands. For the first time, it is proposed to assess the environmental favorability for humus formation using the Shannon index, the coefficient that relates the diversity level of the detritus profiles to the thickness of the humus horizon and enables the composition of ecological series. It is shown that the most favorable conditions for humus accumulation are created in the series birch forest–mixed coniferous forest–mixed deciduous forest. The applicability of the classification developed on the basis of studies in the forests of Primorye and Southern Yakutia to the forest ecosystems of Southern Sakhalin is confirmed.

Technical viability of mobile solar photovoltaic systems for indigenous nomadic communities in northern latitudes

This study assesses the viability of photovoltaic (PV) technology in northern latitudes as a part of energy supply system for remote nomadic camps of indigenous communities involved in reindeer husbandry. Two boundary locations were analyzed: southern Yakutia, Russia, 56°41′N; and the northernmost area in Norway, Finnmark, 68°51′N. Sixteen scenarios were simulated based on energy consumption, light sources and electric load schedules. The results show that PV-based systems are beneficial under a variety of economic conditions and fuel prices when compared to systems solely fuel-based. Incandescent lights, which are currently common for such settlements, should be replaced with LED lighting to enable easier PV system portability by reindeer sled. For areas with significant numbers of minimal solar flux days partial load scheduling is necessary for economically viable systems. The simulations showed that the specific weight of the system (excluding support structure) measured as the system total weight to the number of camp residents ratio can be reduced by a factor of two for optimized loads to 5.8 kg/person for a low energy-intensive camps and 11.0 kg/person for a high energy intensive camps.

Migration of natural radionuclides in surface waters in the El’kon uranium mining district, southern Yakutia

The paper presents data on the specifics of migration of natural radionuclides with surface waters in anthropogenically contaminated mountain taiga landscapes in the El’kon uranium mining district in southern Yakutia. The radionuclides most intensely leached by the waters of surface watercourses from dumps produced in the course of exploration operations are proved to be 238U and 222Rn. The enrichment of the surface waters in organic matter during the high-water period enhances the migration capability of 238U. Based on the concentrations of these elements analyzed in the waters, bottom sediments, and eluvial soils, estimates are made for the extent of aquatic scatter of natural radionuclides from the contamination sources.

Biological characteristic of Phoxinus phoxinus L. in Chulman and Ungra rivers (Southern Yakutia)

The results of a study of common minnow populations in the Ungra River (conservation zone) and the Chulman River (town of Neryungri) in Southern Yakutia are presented. The main biological characteristics of the fish are given. Minnows have proven to be highly adaptive: their lifespan could exceed 10 years in the technogenic zone of the Chulman River in the absence of predators and competition for food. The common minnow was a host to 36 species of parasites, 11 of which were typical for this fish and 9 are detected for the first time in Yakutia.

Prediction of the biological productivity in Far East reservoirs.

Hydrotechnical construction in the rivers of the Far East inevitably requires decisionmaking on imple� mentation of necessary measures for protection and sustainable use of biological resources. The aim of the study is to make predictions on the biological produc� tivity of the Far East reservoirs based on determination of quantitative relations between key biotic and abiotic components of the aquatic ecosystem generalized in the form of the massbalance model. We consider res� ervoirs on the Zeya and Bureya rivers and their tribu� taries Shilka, Bolshaya Ussurka (a tributary of the Ussuri River) and Timpton (a tributary of the Aldan River) rivers (Table 1). The filling of Zeya Reservoir occurred from 1975 to 1985, and the filling of the Bureya Reservoir started in 2005. For flood control in the Amur region, specialists of the Lenhydroproject developed projects of the con� struction of hydropower stations which can regulate the runoff from Zeya and Bureya rivers (6, 8, 9). It is planned to construct the Lower Zeya hydropower sta� tion 300 km downstream of the Zeya hydropower sta� tion. The project has been developed for a floodcon� trol dam construction on the Gilyuy River, which inflows the Zeya Reservoir. The construction of the Selemdzha hydropower station is projected in the Selemdzha River, the largest tributary of the Zeya River, which inflows downstream the Zeya hydro� power station. The construction of the Lower Bureya Reservoir is projected 85 km upstream the Bureya River mouth. The construction of the Urgal Reservoir is projected in the Niman River, a right tributary of the Bureya River, 60-70 km downstream the transient region of the Bureya Reservoir. The constructions of the Shilka hydropower station in the Shilka River and of the Dalnerechensk cascade of hydropower stations (Dalnerechinsk and Vostretsovsk hydropower stations) on the Bolshaya Ussurka River (a tributary of the Ussuri River) are planned for flood protection of the cities of Blagoveshchensk and Khabarovsk. The projects of the Kankun hydropower station in the Timpton River (Southern Yakutia) are at their final stage. Brief geographical and morphometric charac� teristics of the abovementioned reservoirs obtained by

Прогнозно-поисковая модель нового типа золотого оруденения Центрально-Алданского рудного района (Южная Якутия)

Прогнозно-поисковая модель нового типа золотого оруденения Центрально-Алданского рудного района (Южная Якутия)

Problems of public-private partnership in implementation of strategic projects of the North

In the phase of its economic growth in 2002–2008, Russia returned to the development and implementation of strategic complex megaprojects aimed at creating a new infrastructural and industrial base in the Russian Federation and the development of natural resources, located in the North, including the Arctic shelf areas, which are currently in demand on world markets. This increases the significance of coordinating the government economic and social policies in the North, making them consistent with the long-term geoeconomic strategy of developing the North as a part of the economic space of Russia and global Arctic. Megaprojects in the North pursue geopolitical, macroeconomic, and socioeconomic goals, but priority is given to market objectives, i.e., high economic efficiency for both state-owned and private companies. The article describes the characteristics and properties of strategic megaprojects of the Russian North, discusses the state management of their implementation, and the role of the government in the mitigation of geopolitical and management risks for corporations and regions participating in the megaproject. It is shown that public-private partnership (PPP) is a strategic direction for the implementation of complex northern megaprojects. The fundamental problem in choosing the PPP form is the adequacy of the megaproject complexity to the structure of its participants’ production and financial assets. An analysis of organizational and economic risks, which are inherent in northern megaprojects implemented on the basis of PPP principles, such as “Complex Development of Southern Yakutia,” “Complex Development of the Lower Angara Area,” “Complex Development of the Transbaikal Area,” and “Ural Industrial-Ural Polar,” is presented. It is shown that the government and business faced with the problem of inefficient coordination of management decisions made by businesses and federal subjects by federal executive authorities. This problem can raise doubts about the effectiveness of large businesses’ participation in a megaproject and therefore undermine the implementation of that megaproject in general. The authors propose to evaluate the PPP effectiveness by assessing the degree of consistency in the long-term geopolitical, economic, and social interests of participants in the development, i.e., federal and regional executive authorities responsible for addressing specific cross-sectoral and interregional issues and corporations implementing strategic projects in the North. The government’s role consists in maintaining a comprehensive interaction between companies ensuring balanced development and in the mitigation of geopolitical, innovation, and production (development) risks in the North. A methodical approach is proposed to the development of organizational patterns for the interaction between the government and business on the basis of PPP principles; federal-level coordination problems are substantiated, the objects of PPP are identified, and the forms of agreements between investing companies and the government are determined. The necessity is proved to create a federal coordinator at the predesign stage of megaprojects. The federal coordinator communicates with regional corporations regarding issues of strategic project implementation, which will significantly accelerate the managerial decision-making process. By way of example, the case of the megaproject for developing the East-Siberian Oil and Gas Complex (ESOGC) is considered and recommendations are worked out for stating coordination problems for the ESOGC, defining the subject of agreements and contracts between companies and the government for the implementation of projects, taking into account time and the achievement of acceptable efficiency levels of investments in private projects.

Seismogeodynamics of the Aldan-Stanovoi block

New geological-structural, seismological, seismotectonic, land geodetic, and GPS data were summirized to study the general geodynamic position of the Aldan-Stanovoi block, its recent structural-tectonic patterns, and the tendencies in the structural formation of active faults in the heterogeneous field of tectonic stresses determined by the interaction between the Eurasian and Amur lithospheric plates in southern East Siberia (Transbaikal region), southern Yakutia, and the Amur region.

Basic principles of coal classification by useful quality

The authors introduce the fossil coal classification in terms of useful quality of coal, by using the facet method and the qualimetry principles, in terms of the power-generating coal from the Kuznetsk Coal Basin and coking coal from Southern Yakutia. The new-proposed classification completes the existing classifications on the topic, and describes the full range of coal quality indexes according to a consumer and their significance in the final product quality evaluation.

Radon migration in landscapes of the Elkon uranium ore region, Southern Yakutia

Radon migration in landscapes of the Elkon uranium ore region, Southern Yakutia

Phytoplankton of the Amga River and chemical composition of the water: Contemporary state

This is the first study of phytoplankton of the full length of the Amga, a large river crossing Central and Southern Yakutia. The study has revealed characteristics of phytoplankton assemblages and formation of the hydrochemical regime of the river. We conducted a complex assessment of the water quality based on physicochemical indices, saprobic algae, and phytoplankton biomass. The results can serve as reference data for monitoring the river status during the operation of the East Siberia-Pacific Ocean oil pipeline.

Forecasting the hydrochemical state of the water in the projected reservoirs of the hydroelectric stations in Southern Yakutia

A preliminary forecast of the hydrochemical state of the water in the future reservoirs of the hydroelectric stations in Southern Yakutia is provided. The expected content is calculated for a number of organic and biogenic substances, the sources of which are provided by the river runoff, woody vegetation and soils. A forecast is made of the content of dissolved oxygen and of the water mineralization in the future reservoirs.