The research expedition vessel “Akademik Treshnikov” returned to St. Petersburg from Antarctica on July 5. The wintering crew of the 67th and the seasonal crew of the 68th Russian Antarctic Expedition arrived on board. All the scientific and production tasks planned by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) have been completed in full.
The priority scientific tasks of the expeditions were the study of global climate change, oceanological work in the marginal seas of Antarctica, and geological and geophysical research. The work was carried out at all Russian stations in Antarctica.
“The most prominent events of the season took place in connection with the ‘Vostok’ station. In order to ensure the construction of a new wintering complex in the center of Antarctica, a new ‘Zenit’ snow and ice airfield for heavy Il-76 aircraft was put into operation in the fall. Three of the five modules of the new station were assembled at the ‘Progress’ station in a short time. Now, during the wintering period, interior work continues there. Also at "Vostok" this year, ancient ice with an age of 1.2 million years was lifted – this is an achievement of the glacio-drilling team of the employees from the Laboratory of Climate Change and the Environment of AARI and the specialists from St. Petersburg Mining University. Along with this, our polar explorers are successfully implementing all the announced research projects, continue cooperation with foreign colleagues based on the principles of support and mutual assistance, help preserve the fragile ecosystem of this unique region of the planet," said Aleksandr Klepikov, head of the Russian Antarctic Expedition.
The polar explorers carried out year-round observations under the integrated program for monitoring the Antarctic environment. Studies of the atmosphere, monitoring of the global albedo (the ability to reflect the Sun's rays) of the Earth, observations of the effects of the interplanetary magnetic field and solar radiation on human life were carried out. Mandatory items of the program are monitoring of temperature anomalies and circulation of the atmosphere, sea and continental ice, seismological monitoring, and other studies.
Work has been carried out to modernize the infrastructure of Russian Antarctic stations. A new seasonal modular office/residential complex was installed at the “Mirny” station. Residential complexes were repaired at the stations "Progress" and "Novolazarevskaya". Also, a dam was built on the watershed at “Novolazarevskaya” to replenish water reserves in Lake Verkhnee, and water pumping was organized. New fuel tanks have been installed at the technical site of the station.
Монтаж модулей нового комплекса на станции "Восток". Фото: ААНИИ / vk.com/arcticandantarctic
A new semi-automatic weather station was put into operation at the “Bellingshausen” station, a new diesel generator was installed, the garage-hangar for watercraft was repaired, the premises of the eco-complex were reorganized. 14 Russian TV channels have become available at the “Novolazarevskaya” station. In July, six domestic TV channels began broadcasting on the “Bellingshausen” station.
In February 2023, the assembly of three of the five modules of the new wintering complex at the “Vostok” station was completed. The builders mounted the frame, installed and insulated the outer skin, which allowed the interior work to continue during the Antarctic winter. It is planned to install and launch heating and ventilation systems by the end of the year. Next season, the construction of a modern research center will be completed at the Russian intracontinental station in Antarctica.
The new wintering complex of the “Vostok” station is designed for year-round living and work of polar explorers at extremely low temperatures. The area where the station is located is considered the South Pole of Cold. It was here that the lowest temperature on the Earth's surface was recorded on July 21, 1983: -89.2 °C.
Leonid Mikhelson, chairman of the Management Board of “NOVATEK” PAO, presented the project of the wintering complex at the “Vostok” station at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Geographical Society in April 2019.