Drifting ice station

Ivan Papanin on the North Pole-1 drifting ice station.

Soviet and Russian manned drifting ice stations are research stations built on the ice of the high latitudes of the Arctic Ocean. They are important contributors to exploration of the Arctic. The stations are named North Pole (NP; Russian: Северный полюс, translit. Severny polyus, СП), followed by an ordinal number: "North Pole-1,"... etc.

Overview

"NP" drift stations carry out the program of complex year-round research in the fields of oceanology, ice studies, meteorology, aerology, geophysics, hydrochemistry, hydrophysics, and marine biology. On average, an "NP" station is the host for 600 to 650 ocean depth measurements, 3500 to 3900 complex meteorology measurements, 1200 to 1300 temperature measurements and sea water probes for chemical analysis, 600 to 650 research balloon launches. Magnetic, ionosphere, ice and other observations are also carried out there. Regular measurements of the ice flow coordinates provide the data on the direction and speed of its drift.

The modern "NP" drifting ice station resembles a small settlement with housing for polar explorers and special buildings for the scientific equipment. Usually an "NP" station begins operations in April and continues for two or three years until the ice floe reaches the Greenland Sea. Polar explorers are substituted yearly. Since 1937 some 800 people were drifting at "NP" stations.

There are two groups of "NP" stations:

All "NP" stations are organized by the Russian (former Soviet) Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI).

History

An idea to use the drift ice for the exploration of nature in the high latitudes of the Arctic Ocean belongs to Fridtjof Nansen, who fulfilled it on Fram between 1893 and 1896. The first stations to use drift ice as means of scientific exploration of the Arctic originated in the Soviet Union in 1937, when the first such station in the world, North Pole-1, started operations.[1]

North Pole-1 was established on May 21, 1937 some 20 km from the North Pole by the expedition into the high latitudes Sever-1, led by Otto Schmidt. "NP-1" operated for 9 months, during which the ice floe travelled 2,850 kilometres. On February 19, 1938, Soviet ice breakers Taimyr and Murman took off four polar explorers from the station, who immediately became famous in the USSR and were awarded titles Hero of the Soviet Union: hydrobiologist Pyotr Shirshov, geophysicist Yevgeny Fyodorov, radioman Ernst Krenkel and their leader Ivan Papanin.

Since 1954 Soviet "NP" stations worked continuously, with one to three such stations operating simultaneously each year. The total distance drifted between 1937 and 1973 was over 80,000 kilometres. North Pole-22 is particularly notable for its record drift, lasting nine years. On June 28, 1972 the ice floe with North Pole-19 passed over the North Pole for the first time ever.

During such long-term observations by "NP" stations, a lot of important discoveries in physical geography were made, valuable conclusions on regularities and the connection between processes in the polar region of the Earth's hydrosphere and atmosphere were obtained. Some of the most important discoveries were finding the deep-water Lomonosov Ridge,[2] which crosses the Arctic Ocean, other large features of the ocean bottom's relief, the discovery of two systems of the drift (circular and "wash-out"), the fact of cyclones' active penetration into the Central Arctic.

The last Soviet "NP" station, North Pole-31, was closed in July 1991.

In the post-Soviet era, Russian exploration of the Arctic by drifting ice stations was suspended for twelve years. The year 2003 was notable for Russia's return into the Arctic. As of 2006, three "NP" stations had carried out scientific measurements and research since then: "NP-32" through "NP-34". The latter was closed on May 25, 2006.

"NP-35" started operations on September 21, 2007 at the point 81°26′N 103°30′E / 81.433°N 103.500°E / 81.433; 103.500 (North Pole-35 (start)), when flags of Russia and Saint Petersburg were raised there. 22 scientists, led by A.A.Visnevsky are working on the ice floe. Establishment of the station was the third stage of the Arktika 2007 expedition. An appropriate ice floe was searched for from Akademik Fedorov research vessel, accompanied by nuclear icebreaker Russia, using MI-8 helicopters, for a week, until an ice floe with an area of 16 square kilometres was found.[3] The ice has since shrunk significantly, however, and the station is now being abandoned ahead of schedule.[4]

Past stations

Station name Head of the first shift Drift dates Drift coordinates Distance (km)
Began Ended Start Finish
North Pole-1I.D.PapaninMay 21, 1937February 19, 193889°25′N 78°40′W / 89.417°N 78.667°W / 89.417; -78.667 (North Pole-1 (start))70°40′N 19°16′W / 70.667°N 19.267°W / 70.667; -19.267 (North Pole-1 (finish))2,850
North Pole-2M.M.SomovApril 2, 1950April 11, 195176°03′N 166°36′W / 76.050°N 166.600°W / 76.050; -166.600 (North Pole-2 (start))81°44′N 163°48′W / 81.733°N 163.800°W / 81.733; -163.800 (North Pole-2 (finish))2,600
North Pole-3A.F.TrioshnikovApril 4, 1954April 20, 195585°58′N 175°00′W / 85.967°N 175.000°W / 85.967; -175.000 (North Pole-3 (start))86°00′N 24°00′W / 86.000°N 24.000°W / 86.000; -24.000 (North Pole-3 (finish))1,865
North Pole-4E.I.TolstikovApril 8, 1954April 19, 195775°48′N 178°25′W / 75.800°N 178.417°W / 75.800; -178.417 (North Pole-4 (start))85°52′N 00°00′W / 85.867°N -0.000°E / 85.867; -0.000 (North Pole-4 (finish))6,970
North Pole-5N.A.VolkovApril 21, 1955October 8, 195682°10′N 156°51′E / 82.167°N 156.850°E / 82.167; 156.850 (North Pole-5 (start))84°18′N 63°20′E / 84.300°N 63.333°E / 84.300; 63.333 (North Pole-5 (finish))3,630
North Pole-6K.A.SychevApril 19, 1956September 14, 195974°24′N 177°04′W / 74.400°N 177.067°W / 74.400; -177.067 (North Pole-6 (start))82°06′N 03°56′E / 82.100°N 3.933°E / 82.100; 3.933 (North Pole-6 (finish))8,650
North Pole-7V.A.VedernikovApril 23, 1957April 11, 195982°06′N 164°11′W / 82.100°N 164.183°W / 82.100; -164.183 (North Pole-7 (start))85°14′N 33°03′W / 85.233°N 33.050°W / 85.233; -33.050 (North Pole-7 (finish))3,520
North Pole-8V.M.RogachyovApril 27, 1959March 19, 196276°11′N 164°24′W / 76.183°N 164.400°W / 76.183; -164.400 (North Pole-8 (start))83°15′N 132°30′W / 83.250°N 132.500°W / 83.250; -132.500 (North Pole-8 (finish))6,090
North Pole-9V.A.ShamontyevApril 26, 1960March 28, 196177°23′N 163°00′E / 77.383°N 163.000°E / 77.383; 163.000 (North Pole-9 (start))86°36′N 76°00′W / 86.600°N 76.000°W / 86.600; -76.000 (North Pole-9 (finish))2,660
North Pole-10N.A.KornilovOctober 17, 1961April 29, 196475°27′N 177°10′E / 75.450°N 177.167°E / 75.450; 177.167 (North Pole-10 (start))88°32′N 90°30′E / 88.533°N 90.500°E / 88.533; 90.500 (North Pole-10 (finish))3,960
North Pole-11N.N.BryazginApril 16, 1962April 20, 196377°10′N 165°58′W / 77.167°N 165.967°W / 77.167; -165.967 (North Pole-11 (start))81°10′N 139°34′W / 81.167°N 139.567°W / 81.167; -139.567 (North Pole-11 (finish))2,400
North Pole-12L.N.BelyakovApril 30, 1963April 25, 196576°50′N 165°34′W / 76.833°N 165.567°W / 76.833; -165.567 (North Pole-12 (start))81°06′N 145°47′W / 81.100°N 145.783°W / 81.100; -145.783 (North Pole-12 (finish))1,595
North Pole-13A.Ya. BuzuyevApril 22, 1964April 20, 196773°55′N 161°19′W / 73.917°N 161.317°W / 73.917; -161.317 (North Pole-13 (start))87°55′N 03°32′E / 87.917°N 3.533°E / 87.917; 3.533 (North Pole-13 (finish))3,545
North Pole-14Yu. B.KonstantinovMay 1, 1965February 12, 196672°42′N 175°25′W / 72.700°N 175.417°W / 72.700; -175.417 (North Pole-14 (start))76°59′N 154°49′E / 76.983°N 154.817°E / 76.983; 154.817 (North Pole-14 (finish))1,040
North Pole-15V.V.PanovApril 15, 1966March 25, 196878°49′N 168°08′E / 78.817°N 168.133°E / 78.817; 168.133 (North Pole-15 (start))85°45′N 10°30′W / 85.750°N 10.500°W / 85.750; -10.500 (North Pole-15 (finish))2,330
North Pole-16Yu. B.KonstantinovApril 10, 1968March 22, 197275°31′N 172°00′W / 75.517°N 172.000°W / 75.517; -172.000 (North Pole-16 (start))86°00′N 85°27′W / 86.000°N 85.450°W / 86.000; -85.450 (North Pole-16 (finish))5,850
North Pole-17N.I.BlinovApril 18, 1968October 16, 196980°30′N 165°26′E / 80.500°N 165.433°E / 80.500; 165.433 (North Pole-17 (start))86°48′N 25°20′E / 86.800°N 25.333°E / 86.800; 25.333 (North Pole-17 (finish))1,750
North Pole-18N.N.OvchinnikovOctober 9, 1969October 24, 197175°10′N 165°02′W / 75.167°N 165.033°W / 75.167; -165.033 (North Pole-18 (start))86°06′N 153°51′E / 86.100°N 153.850°E / 86.100; 153.850 (North Pole-18 (finish))5,240
North Pole-19A.N.ChilingarovNovember 7, 1969April 16, 197374°54′N 160°13′E / 74.900°N 160.217°E / 74.900; 160.217 (North Pole-19 (start))83°08′N 16°17′E / 83.133°N 16.283°E / 83.133; 16.283 (North Pole19- (finish))6,705
North Pole-20Yu. P.TikhonovApril 22, 1970May 17, 197275°56′N 175°22′E / 75.933°N 175.367°E / 75.933; 175.367 (North Pole-20 (start))81°44′N 166°47′W / 81.733°N 166.783°W / 81.733; -166.783 (North Pole-20 (finish))3,780
North Pole-21G.I.KizinoApril 30, 1972May 17, 197474°06′N 178°15′E / 74.100°N 178.250°E / 74.100; 178.250 (North Pole-21 (start))86°16′N 143°35′E / 86.267°N 143.583°E / 86.267; 143.583 (North Pole-21 (finish))3,605
North Pole-22V.G.MorozSeptember 13, 1973April 8, 198276°16′N 168°31′W / 76.267°N 168.517°W / 76.267; -168.517 (North Pole-22 (start))86°10′N 00°00′W / 86.167°N -0.000°E / 86.167; -0.000 (North Pole-22 (finish))17,069
North Pole-23V.M.PiguzovDecember 5, 1975November 1, 197873°51′N 178°25′W / 73.850°N 178.417°W / 73.850; -178.417 (North Pole-23 (start))87°40′N 22°31′W / 87.667°N 22.517°W / 87.667; -22.517 (North Pole-23 (finish))5,786
North Pole-24I.K.PopovJune 23, 1978November 19, 198076°45′N 163°00′E / 76.750°N 163.000°E / 76.750; 163.000 (North Pole-24 (start))86°03′N 29°40′E / 86.050°N 29.667°E / 86.050; 29.667 (North Pole-24 (finish))5,652
North Pole-25V.S.SidorovMay 16, 1981April 20, 198475°01′N 168°35′E / 75.017°N 168.583°E / 75.017; 168.583 (North Pole-25 (start))85°50′N 122°15′W / 85.833°N 122.250°W / 85.833; -122.250 (North Pole-25 (finish))5,754
North Pole-26V.S.SidorovMay 21, 1983April 9, 198678°30′N 174°46′E / 78.500°N 174.767°E / 78.500; 174.767 (North Pole-26 (start))82°46′N 170°31′W / 82.767°N 170.517°W / 82.767; -170.517 (North Pole-26 (finish))5,380
North Pole-27Yu. P.TikhonovJune 2, 1984May 20, 198778°31′N 160°30′E / 78.517°N 160.500°E / 78.517; 160.500 (North Pole-27 (start))86°28′N 09°02′W / 86.467°N 9.033°W / 86.467; -9.033 (North Pole-27(finish))5,655
North Pole-28A.F.ChernyshovMay 21, 1986January 23, 198980°40′N 168°29′E / 80.667°N 168.483°E / 80.667; 168.483 (North Pole-28 (start))79°40′N 03°09′E / 79.667°N 3.150°E / 79.667; 3.150 (North Pole-28 (finish))7,634
North Pole-29V.V.LukinJune 10, 1987August 19, 198880°22.8′N 112°59′E / 80.3800°N 112.983°E / 80.3800; 112.983 (North Pole-29 (start))84°42.8′N 56°34.3′W / 84.7133°N 56.5717°W / 84.7133; -56.5717 (North Pole-29 (finish))2,686
North Pole-30V.M.PiguzovOctober 9, 1987April 4, 199174°18′N 171°24′W / 74.300°N 171.400°W / 74.300; -171.400 (North Pole-30 (start))82°31′N 126°26′W / 82.517°N 126.433°W / 82.517; -126.433 (North Pole-30 (finish))7,675
North Pole-31V.S.SidorovOctober 22, 1988July 25, 199176°35′N 153°10′W / 76.583°N 153.167°W / 76.583; -153.167 (North Pole-31 (finish))73°33′N 161°04′W / 73.550°N 161.067°W / 73.550; -161.067 (North Pole-31 (finish))5,475
North Pole-32V.S.KoshelevApril 25, 2003March 6, 200487°52.5′N 148°03′E / 87.8750°N 148.050°E / 87.8750; 148.050 (North Pole-32 (start))84°41′N 03°33′W / 84.683°N 3.550°W / 84.683; -3.550 (North Pole-32 (finish))2,418
North Pole-33A.A.VisnevskySeptember 9, 2004October 5, 200585°05′N 156°31′E / 85.083°N 156.517°E / 85.083; 156.517 (North Pole-33 (start))86°14′N 95°54′E / 86.233°N 95.900°E / 86.233; 95.900 (North Pole-33 (finish))3,156
North Pole-34T.V.PetrovskySeptember 19, 2005May 25, 200685°39′N 115°19′E / 85.650°N 115.317°E / 85.650; 115.317 (North Pole-34 (start))87°26′N 07°39′E / 87.433°N 7.650°E / 87.433; 7.650 (North Pole-34 (finish))2,032
North Pole-35Vladimir Chupun[5] September 21, 2007July 22, 2008 81°30′N 103°54′E / 81.500°N 103.900°E / 81.500; 103.900 (North Pole-35 (start)) 81°00′N 31°18′E / 81.000°N 31.300°E / 81.000; 31.300 (North Pole-35 (finish)) 3,614
North Pole-36 Yuri Katrayev September 7, 2008 August 24, 2009 82°32′N 144°56′E / 82.533°N 144.933°E / 82.533; 144.933 (North Pole-36 (start)) 85°53′N 26°41′W / 85.883°N 26.683°W / 85.883; -26.683 (North Pole-36 (finish)) 2,905
North Pole-37 Sergey Lesenkov September 7, 2009 May 31, 2010 81°28′N 164°35′W / 81.467°N 164.583°W / 81.467; -164.583 (North Pole-37 (start)) 80°04′N 140°40′W / 80.067°N 140.667°W / 80.067; -140.667 (North Pole-37 (finish)) 2,076
North Pole-38 Tomash Petrovskiy October 14, 2010 September 20, 2011 76°07′N 176°32′W / 76.117°N 176.533°W / 76.117; -176.533 (North Pole-38 (start)) 83°53′N 154°18′W / 83.883°N 154.300°W / 83.883; -154.300 (North Pole-38 (finish)) 3,024
North Pole-39 Alexander Ipatov October 2, 2011 September 15, 2012 84°10′N 148°49′W / 84.167°N 148.817°W / 84.167; -148.817 (North Pole-39 (start)) 83°57′N 96°44′W / 83.950°N 96.733°W / 83.950; -96.733 (North Pole-39 (finish)) 1,885
North Pole-40 Nikolai Fomichev October 1, 2012 June 7, 2013 85°21′N 142°53′W / 85.350°N 142.883°W / 85.350; -142.883 (North Pole-40 (start)) 82°25′N 130°25′W / 82.417°N 130.417°W / 82.417; -130.417 (North Pole-40 (finish)) 1,736
North Pole-2015 Dmitrij Mamadaliev April 11, 2015 August 9, 2015

89°34′N 17°08′W / 89.567°N 17.133°W / 89.567; -17.133 (North Pole-2015 (start))

86°15′N 07°52′W / 86.250°N 7.867°W / 86.250; -7.867 (North Pole-2015 (finish)) 714

See also

References

  1. "North Pole drifting stations (1930s-1980s)". Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
  2. Calvert, James, Vice Admiral USN Ret. (1996) [1960]. Surface at the Pole. Annapolis, Maryland: Bluejacket Books. p. 86. ISBN 1-55750-119-X.
  3. September 21, 2007 Press-Release by AARI
  4. 14 July 2008 news story by the Associated Press
  5. Скалина, Ирина (10 July 2008). "Опасный дрейф; Полярников эвакуируют на судне "Михаил Сомов"" (web). "Российская газета". Retrieved 2008-07-12.(Russian/English)Skalina, Irina (July 10, 2008). "A dangerous drift; Polarnik evacuated on the ship "Mikhail Somov"" (web). Google Translation. Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
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