File:Papanin with flag.jpg Ivan Papanin on the North Pole-1 drifting ice station.
Soviet and Russian manned drifting ice stations are important contributors to exploration of the Arctic . The stations are named North Pole (Russian : «Северный полюс» ) (NP , (Russian : «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:
stations, drifting on the pack ice (i.e. relatively thin and short-lived ice):"NP-1" through "NP-5", "NP-7" through "NP-17", "NP-20", "NP-21"
stations, drifting on ice islands (glacier fragments, that were split from the shore): "NP-6", "NP-18", "NP-19", "NP-22".
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[update] , three "NP" stations had carried out scientific measurements and research since then: "NP-32" through "NP-34".[citation needed ] The latter was closed on May 25, 2006.[citation needed ]
"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-1
I.D.Papanin
May 21, 1937
February 19, 1938
89°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-2
M.M.Somov
April 2, 1950
April 11, 1951
76°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-3
A.F.Trioshnikov
April 4, 1954
April 20, 1955
85°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-4
E.I.Tolstikov
April 8, 1954
April 19, 1957
75°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-5
N.A.Volkov
April 21, 1955
October 8, 1956
82°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-6
K.A.Sychev
April 19, 1956
September 14, 1959
74°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-7
V.A.Vedernikov
April 23, 1957
April 11, 1959
82°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-8
V.M.Rogachyov
April 27, 1959
March 19, 1962
76°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-9
V.A.Shamontyev
April 26, 1960
March 28, 1961
77°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-10
N.A.Kornilov
October 17, 1961
April 29, 1964
75°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-11
N.N.Bryazgin
April 16, 1962
April 20, 1963
77°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-12
L.N.Belyakov
April 30, 1963
April 25, 1965
76°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-13
A.Ya. Buzuyev
April 22, 1964
April 20, 1967
73°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-14
Yu. B.Konstantinov
May 1, 1965
February 12, 1966
72°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-15
V.V.Panov
April 15, 1966
March 25, 1968
78°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-16
Yu. B.Konstantinov
April 10, 1968
March 22, 1972
75°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-17
N.I.Blinov
April 18, 1968
October 16, 1969
80°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-18
N.N.Ovchinnikov
October 9, 1969
October 24, 1971
75°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-19
A.N.Chilingarov
November 7, 1969
April 16, 1973
74°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-20
Yu. P.Tikhonov
April 22, 1970
May 17, 1972
75°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-21
G.I.Kizino
April 30, 1972
May 17, 1974
74°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-22
V.G.Moroz
September 13, 1973
April 8, 1982
76°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-23
V.M.Piguzov
December 5, 1975
November 1, 1978
73°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-24
I.K.Popov
June 23, 1978
November 19, 1980
76°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-25
V.S.Sidorov
May 16, 1981
April 20, 1984
75°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-26
V.S.Sidorov
May 21, 1983
April 9, 1986
78°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-27
Yu. P.Tikhonov
June 2, 1984
May 20, 1987
78°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-28
A.F.Chernyshov
May 21, 1986
January 23, 1989
80°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-29
V.V.Lukin
June 10, 1987
August 19, 1988
80°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-30
V.M.Piguzov
October 9, 1987
April 4, 1991
74°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-31
V.S.Sidorov
October 22, 1988
July 25, 1991
76°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-32
V.S.Koshelev
April 25, 2003
March 6, 2004
87°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-33
A.A.Visnevsky
September 9, 2004
October 5, 2005
85°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-34
T.V.Petrovsky
September 19, 2005
May 25, 2006
85°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-35
Vladimir Chupun[ 5]
September 21, 2007
July 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
External links