Arctic Floating University

Вышел документальный фильм об экспедиции "Арктический плавучий университет - 2021" от наших информационных партнеров Северный город || Норильск.📽

Приятного просмотра!!!

#арктика #север #сафу #документальныйфильм #наука #АПУ #АрктическийПлавучийУниверситет

«Арктический плавучий университет - 2021» (Документальный фильм) В рейс отправляется «Арктический плавучий университет». Экспедиция, организованная Северным (Арктическим) и Росгидрометом в партнёрстве с «Норникелем». На бо...

Arctic Floating University-2021 returned to Arkhangelsk

The Arctic Floating University – 2021 expedition’s route was Arkhangelsk - Malye Karmakuly - Cape Zhelaniya - Novaya Zemlya archipelago - Salm Island - Franz Josef Land - Arkhangelsk. The icebreaker "Mikhail Somov" with scientists and students from NArFU and world's leading scientific and educational organizations on board was at sea for 21 days.

In total, 53 people from 15 organizations took part in the expedition. Scientists returning from the voyage, traditionally, were greeted with bread and salt. All members of the expedition received certificates.

Scientists engaged in research in the oceanographic block took water samples for chlorophyll-a, bacterial composition, methane at several dozen places. So, during the study, waters from the Atlantic were discovered. They are warmer and saltier than the surrounding water. This process of getting warmer waters from the Atlantic into the Arctic is called “atlantification”. This is mostly stated in the Barents Sea. Microorganisms are among the first to react to warming.

Alexandra Ershova, the head of Plastiklab, the laboratory for the study of plastic pollution of the natural environment, and associate professor of the Russian State Hydrometeorological University, drew attention to the fact that there is a very large amount of garbage for uninhabited islands in the Arctic: almost all garbage is plastic. The results of the sea study for microplastics will be announced later.

During the APU expedition, Anna Bobrik, a junior researcher of Moscow State University, made a discovery - the soils of the Arctic desert, even at the beginning of the growing season, in June, are characterized by a significant flow of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. She announced this at a press conference following the expedition.

During the voyage, NArFU specialists also studied the state of cultural heritage sites on the polar islands.

In the fall, a conference will be held at NArFU, where the AFU-2021 participants will tell about the research results.

#арктика #север #природа #заполярье #сафу #архангельск #земляфранцаиосифа #наука #АПУ #АрктическийПлавучийУниверситет

AFU-2021 Diaries: The first sunset in three weeks: "Mikhail Somov" is back to the White Sea!

Yulia Smirnova tells about the course of the expedition "Arctic Floating University" every day. Day 21 - June 30, 2021.

LESS STRESS, BETTER HEALTH
The first sunset in three weeks - here it is, the main news of the day! "Mikhail Somov" is already in the White Sea. First, we admired the Tersky coast on the starboard side, then - the Zimny coast on the portside. In the afternoon we enjoyed almost a resort on the deck, and in the evening saw a splendid sunset. We spent three weeks in the Arctic at the height of the polar day. The sun was not even close to the horizon. Now it lays on the water surface like a slice of orange, and it becomes clear: we are almost home.

However, I am getting ahead of myself. Many more important events took place on board before sunset and disco on the deck.

Students and graduate students presented their research projects: described the tasks they set for themselves at the beginning of the Arctic Floating University expedition, and what they managed to do.

Our doctors, associate professors of the Northern State Medical University Leonid Zubov and Alexandra Strelkova, summed up the results of our health studies, or, to be precise, the study of the human body adaptation to the conditions of the Arctic expedition.

“You made me happy and surprised,” – said Leonid Zubov.

Most of the participants benefited from the expedition! The stress level is now lower than when we left Arkhangelsk. Hearts and blood vessels work better. Efficiency is up to the mark. This is on average, of course. Those who worked shifts and sometimes did not get sleep at night, doing meteorological observations, monitoring marine litter or looking out for birds, had a harder time.

“You have left haste and worries on the mainland. Here you did calmly what you loved,” commented Leonid Zubov.

THE LOWER DECK THEATER NAMED AFTER SNIGIREVSKY-FUTORAN
The entire expedition, as well as colleagues from the projects "Narwhal" and "The Master of the Arctic", and the crew of "Mikhail Somov" gathered for the premiere of the experimental sea theater "Lower Deck" named after Snigirevsky-Futoran. The theater presented "The Tale of Fedot the Strelets" with a slightly altered plot - Fedot got to Bell Island in the Arctic Ocean.
And at nine in the evening we saw off our helicopter pilots, Vladimir Efimov and Artem Denisenko, and their blue MI8T, which carried us to Novaya Zemlya and Franz Josef Land. The helicopter made a circle of honor over "Mikhail Somov" and flew off into the pre-sunset sky. In only half an hour it landed at the Arkhangelsk airport "Vaskovo". And we still had to go and go, look and look at the sea ... Including from the empty helideck.

At two o'clock in the morning we are planning to approach the pilot buoy. And before that - a disco with DJ Ivan Makarov, student-oceanologist from Moscow State University. It is no longer the most northern disco, as on Heiss Island, but it is very beautiful, overlooking the sunset at the White Sea.

Very little time is left to pack the suitcases and backpacks and prepare cooling bags for the samples.

WHAT WE TAKE WITH US FROM THE ARCTIC
Participants of the Arctic Floating University 2021 expedition speak about the most valuable and important things they take with them. Someone in heart, someone in thoughts, someone in baggage with samples or in gigabytes of photos.

Alexandra Narizhnaya, Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics RAS:
“Emotions from people! I did not expect to meet such a team, such an insanely warm atmosphere, such a variety of areas of professional activity and personal interests. I'm already used to the ship, will miss portholes at home. And the landscapes of the Arctic: when you get up in the morning, and see a table mountain in front of you, or a glacier. The water is steel gray, next moment it is turquoise blue, then waves appear, then it is completely calm. Feeling of total freedom! Nothing is an anchor.”

Anna Trofimova, psychologist, Northern (Arctic) Federal University:
“In my heart I take home impressions and memories of the warmth and soulfulness of the people with whom we were together these three weeks. Inside my camera are beauty, splendor, and pristine nature of the harsh cold islands. They will remain in my heart forever.”

Nikolay Merinov, oceanologist , Northern Directorate for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, graduate student of NArFU:
“This is my second visit to Franz Josef Land, and I was glad to see these parts again. Still, this is an inaccessible territory, and not everyone gets to see glaciers, bird colonies, houses of the first polar explorers with their own eyes. For the first time I was here in 2018, when I worked at the Russian Arctic National Park at the ecological tourism department. I met tourists in Tikhaya Bay on Ho**er Island. Unfortunately, during the expedition I managed to participate in only one landing, and this time I did not see Tikhaya Bay. But my main oceanological work was on the ship, I participated in the stations of the oceanographic section. The conditions were tough, I worked shifts. The main thing that I take away is the experience of working at sea. Before that, I went only to the mouth of the Northern Dvina River, and I never had been further in the sea than Mudyug Island. I had not worked with bathometers or probing devices. Thanks to the leadership of Stanislav Malinovsky from the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, I have gained this experience.”

Ekaterina Gavryukhova, psychologist, Northern Fleet:
“I take with me the experience of leaving the comfort zone, which turned out to be necessary, possible and safe! Everything during the expedition was new to me. I saw many different areas of life that were unknown to me, but no less interesting than what I did. I’ve met many interesting people and learned about new professions. In confined space, all human features are manifested, it becomes clear what kind of person you are. Here it can be hard for people who are not outgoing and friendly. And I have noticed a special warm-heartedness and humanity in people for whom this expedition was not the first.”

Yuri Dvornikov, Junior Researcher, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia:
“The impressions are good and positive, everything went well, and everything will be just as well - I am confident of this after the expedition.”

Anna Trofimova, Deputy Head of the Expeditionary Team for Research, Northern (Arctic) Federal University:
“For me, the main thing is the invaluable experience of interaction with the team, the skill to organize the work of other people and work myself in our small team of organizers, to work for a big common cause. I also take back with me friendship and good, warm, sincere relationships with the participants of the Arctic Floating University”.

#арктика #север #природа #заполярье #сафу #архангельск #земляфранцаиосифа #наука #АПУ #АрктическийПлавучийУниверситет

AFU-2021 Diaries: Is There Life on Mars and Warming in the Arctic

Julia Smirnova tells about the course of the expedition "Arctic Floating University" every day. Day 20 - June 29.

HOW IS PERMAFROST RELATED TO MARS
"Mikhail Somov", smoothly swaying on Barents Sea waves, goes through the fog to the throat of the White Sea. Due to the fog, there is no way to admire the landscape, so all attention is paid to the most interesting lectures. They do not end at the Arctic Floating University, on the contrary: the closer to the finish line, the more new discussion topics arise. I do not exclude that at the berth of the Solombala terminal we will first gather to hear about the climate, microbiota or paleobotany, and only then we will go home.

"Is there life on Mars? A view from the Arctic ”- how can you miss a lecture with such an intriguing title? It is read by Nikita Demidov, a permafrost specialist, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences from the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. How are the studies of permafrost in the Arctic and the search for life on the Red Planet, both ancient and modern, connected? Why is the study of Mars an opportunity to learn the geological past of the Earth? Well, some of the landscapes we saw on the islands of Franz Josef Land did look alien! And Nikita Demidov's approach does not seem fantastic at all.

CLIMATE OF THE PAST AND THE FUTURE
Alexandra Narizhnaya from the Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, RAS, with her lecture "Climates of the Earth in the Past", arose a lot of questions and disputes. Is it getting warmer on Earth or colder? Can you trust the methods used by paleoclimatologists? And the models that predict the climate of the future?

In the expedition of the Arctic Floating University, many studies are connected with climate change. That is, for example, the work of Nikita Demidov - he identified the points for the state network for monitoring permafrost, being created in Russia, on all five islands where the landings took place, including the northernmost point of this network on Hayes Island. The monitoring is needed because permafrost has appeared to be not eternal.

We also have a discovery regarding greenhouse gases, which are considered as the main "culprits" of global warming. Anna Bobrik, junior researcher at the Faculty of Soil Science, Lomonosov Moscow State University, for the first time discovered the emission of CO2 from the soils of the Arctic deserts ecosystems in June, at the very beginning of the growing season.

“Unique data have been obtained that make a fundamental scientific contribution to the study of Arctic ecosystems. They will allow to assess the contribution of this region to global greenhouse gas emissions and predict the response of Arctic ecosystems to climate change and anthropogenic pressure,” Anna Bobrik sums up the results of her work.

Andrey Bezgreshnov and Ekaterina Zotova from the AARI received data on the concentration of carbon dioxide in the surface layer of the air every second along the entire route of the expedition (this is not an exaggeration or a metaphor). If 12 - 15 years ago in the same regions of the Arctic the concentration of this greenhouse gas averaged 340 - 350 parts per million, now it is already 360 - 370.

EXPANDING HORIZONS
We have completed today's lecture program from two expeditions that worked together with the Arctic Floating University on board the R / V Mikhail Somov. Yes, we had to negotiate, share the day and helicopter hours. But the joint work of the three projects became unique for the exchange of experience. Moreover, the best Russian experts on marine mammals and polar bears are participating in the expeditions "Narwhal" and "Master of the Arctic". Students and graduate students of the Arctic Floating University watched on deck, consulted with them and listened to lectures like today.

Ilya Murashev from the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University and employee of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve, participates in the Narwhal project. By the way, the researchers managed to see rare marine mammals from a helicopter in the waters of the Franz Josef Land. The topic of Ilya Murashev's lecture was “Biodiversity - everything is not easy! Evolution of Approaches to Understanding Phenomena ”.

Vladimir Filippov, one of the participants in the "Master of the Arctic" project, spoke about his expedition to the Easter Island and about his research in the history, ecology and mysteries of the island in the Pacific Ocean. The topic of responsible use of natural resources and the complex, even tragic collision of the traditional way of life with modern civilization is relevant for such distant places as the Russian north and the Chilean island. And who knows if the Arctic Floating University will become Antarctic in the future? And then, on the way to the main goal, we will go not to Malye Karmakuly, but to the Easter Island.

.. SUMMING UP SCIENTIFIC RESULTS
Between lectures and lunches, afternoon snacks, dinners, the expedition members manage to do perhaps the most important thing: to formulate the results of their scientific work during these three weeks. Scientists write reports. Some of them have discoveries (like Anna Bobrik), important findings and valuable results.

For example, Alexandra Ershova, associate professor at the Russian State Hydrometeorological University, surveyed the coast of the Bell Island for the first time in the history on marine debris research. A lot of rubbish was found, although the island is uninhabited and rarely visited by people. These are mainly the remains of fishing gears. According to the composition of the garbage, it can already be concluded that the sources of pollution of the Cape Zhelaniya and the Bell Island are different; different currents bring garbage to the shores of the two archipelagos.

Artemy Goncharov, head of the laboratory of functional genomics and proteomics of microorganisms in institutional experimental medicine, professor of the Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University, began large-scale studies of microorganisms brought to the Arctic by migratory birds. They are associated with the emergence of infectious agents in the Arctic, including bacteria with multiple antibiotic resistance. Together with colleagues and students, Artemy collected biomaterial characterizing the ornithogenic ecosystems of the archipelagos of the Russian high-latitude Arctic, as well as samples of algobacterial mats - microbial biofilms that accumulate bacteria typical of polar regions and introduced by humans.

But many discoveries are yet to come. Researchers will analyze the received data and samples in laboratories of universities and research institutes.

Students and graduate students are preparing presentations of their projects which are scheduled for tomorrow, June 30, the final day of the expedition. ...

Students took part in all stages of scientific research - in accordance with the principle of "Learning through Research", formulated back in the 1990s, when the first Floating University of UNESCO-MSU appeared.

#арктика #север #природа #заполярье #сафу #архангельск #земляфранцаиосифа #наука #АПУ #АрктическийПлавучийУниверситет

AFU Diaries-2021: Initiation to Polar Explorers

Yulia Smirnova tells about the course of the expedition "Arctic Floating University" every day. Day 19 - June 28, 2021.

NOVAYA ZEMLYA AGAIN
The familiar shores of Novaya Zemlya appeared on the portside of “Mikhail Somov”. Brindled like a Kholmogory cow - only the white patches of snow are smaller than three weeks ago, when the Arctic Floating University was just beginning its journey north. Back then we were in anticipation of new discoveries, islands, impressions. Now our thoughts are partially in Arkhangelsk - we count miles to the pilot buoy, and to the berth of the Solombala terminal.

But only partially. Our work continues. Sensors for solar radiation, CO2 concentration and soot aerosols record data. Meteorologists continue their observations. Psychologists and doctors continue their tests, encephalograms, ECG, bioimpedance analyses.

Pavel Nazarov from Lomonosov Moscow State University delivers a lecture on uncultivated bacteria in the Arctic. Associate Professor of St. Petersburg State University Sergei Snigirevsky presents his research and paleobotanical findings made during several expeditions to the Arctic: to Spitsbergen, Timan, and Kanin Peninsula.

POLAR BOWLING AND A CUP OF SEA WATER
But the main event of the day is not a scientific one, but symbolic. Initiation to polar explorers. Not only those Arctic Floating University participants who cross the Arctic Circle for the first time experience this rite of passage (as is customary among sailors when crossing the equator), but all members of the expedition, even if it is third or tenth time for them. The main thing is make it in time today, while we are still north of the Arctic Circle. Otherwise, what polar explorers are we?

The high point of the ceremony includes drinking a full cup of salt water from the Barents Sea on the deck of “Mikhail Somov” and receiving a gentle blow on the head with a huge atlas of the Arctic from the head of the expedition, Alexander Saburov. To be honest, only Alexander Saburov and Alla Khvostova from the Northern (Arctic) Federal University drank the mug of sea water to the bottom. Oceanologist Ivan Makarov from Moscow State University decided not to waste time on trifles and drank right from the bucket.

But in order to be allowed to taste the sea water and the atlas, one has to pass many tests. Play polar bowling by rolling an orange across 60th, 70th and 80th latitudes and hitting the North Pole. Count all the portraits of Mikhail Somov aboard “Mikhail Somov”. Draw a portrait of the head of the expedition. Eat apples from a bucket of water without using hands. We did it!

.. In the evening, "Mikhail Somov" anchored at Malye Karmakuly. The MI8T helicopter delivered its cargo and brought six people from the Novaya Zemlya meteorological station on board. New faces in the mess room after three weeks of expedition - an event as well.

JUST THE TIME FOR BEAUTIFUL CLOUDS
Participants of the Arctic Floating University expedition, freshly initiated to polar explorers, summarize personal results of the voyage and make plans for the future.

Alexandra Narizhnaya, postgraduate student at the Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics RAS:
“My love for the North began in my second year of bachelor studies at the Department of Meteorology and Climatology, Faculty of Geography of Moscow State University, when we had an internship in the Khibiny. For two months we lived in the mountains, conducted observations, went on hikes. Last year I worked at the Moscow State University Belomorsk Biological Station. But the Arctic expedition is the first one in my life. I have never seen such sky and such diverse and beautiful clouds before! And this steel cold northern sea, and glaciers, and mountains ... Beauty! The polar day turned out to be a very big advantage for me. At any time of the day, both at night and early in the morning, you can go on deck, look, observe, think ...

During the expedition, I measure shortwave and longwave solar radiation. I also observe cloud coverage, since it strongly affects the flux of solar radiation. Depending on the thickness and height of the cloud layer, the indicators of radiation flux will change. An opportunity to conduct such studies at high latitudes is a rare one. And that is why it is very important to me: I study such a phenomenon as cold invasions in the seas of the Russian Arctic. These can be observed precisely here where the expedition is taking place, and just at this time of the year. A stream of cold air comes out of Franz Josef Land, flows out onto the sea surface, and a beautiful cloud structure is formed.”
WHY DON’T WE SET SIGHTS ON THE NORTHERN SEA ROUTE?
Oleg Minchuk, expert of the Arctic Center for Strategic Research, member of the expedition organizers team:
“This is the first Arctic expedition for me as well, although for some reason everyone thinks otherwise. In fact, I have started working at the Institute for Strategic Development of the Arctic not so long ago. I was interested in the Arctic before that, I have several scientific articles published on legal aspects and history of the Arctic.
The real Arctic matched the pre-expedition picture in my head by seventy percent. There was no wow effect. Climate? Well, it's cold, but I'm from Arkhangelsk and used to the cold. The landings were not very difficult, the weather was generally good. I did not notice any particular differences from tourism in the Arkhangelsk region, as for me field conditions are not a problem. Moreover, our life onboard is not really a field-type one, we live like in a sanatorium with four meals a day.

The landscapes were exactly like I had imagined. Most impressive were Bell Island and Tikhaya Bay on Ho**er Island. There were very beautiful bird colonies on the rocks on the southern shore of Bell Island, they looked like mysterious fairytale castles. In Tikhaya Bay we climbed higher, and a beautiful view opened up from above. It was really cool! And the rest was work.

In general, I think we managed pretty good, especially taking into account the new conditions. For the first time, the Arctic Floating University is being held onboard the scientific expedition vessel “Mikhail Somov”. The ship carries several expedition teams at the same time, not only AFU; it is necessary to coordinate work with colleagues from the “Narwhal” and “Master of the Arctic” projects. We landed on the islands in helicopters for the first time as well.”

“Fancy where you would like the next Arctic Floating University expeditions to go.”

“It would be great to travel the Northern Sea Route back and forth. And on a ship better suited for scientific research, with more laboratories and more equipment on board, including deck equipment.”

#арктика #север #природа #заполярье #сафу #архангельск #земляфранцаиосифа #наука #АПУ #АрктическийПлавучийУниверситет

AFU Diaries 2021: The Arctic is brighter and warmer than we thought!

Julia Smirnova tells about the course of the expedition "Arctic Floating University" every day. Day 18 - June 27.

DOES THE ORGANISM LIKE THE EXPEDITION
- I lost a kilogram of fat!
- And my water is gone, strange ...
- I moved to the fitness standard category! Two kilograms of muscle tissue were added.

The conversations in the wardroom are now about what our doctors, associate professors of the Northern State Medical University, Alexandra Strelkova and Leonid Zubov, told. They repeat the same studies as at the beginning of the voyage: bioimpedance (thanks to which it becomes clear just how much muscle mass, water, fat, and so on in the body are) and measurement of all parameters of the cardiovascular system.

Leonid Zubov interprets the results on a ten-point scale - it shows how successfully the body adapts to the conditions of the Arctic expedition, whether it has to strain or feel comfortable, like at home. I have 3 points out of 10 both at the beginning and now.

- This is good, physiological norm, - Leonid Zubov says.

I am also happy - I feel good at the Arctic Floating University. As well as my body. But there is no limit to perfection:
- At the end of the expedition, one participant got to 1 point, that is, to the ideal state. Although in the beginning it was worse, - Leonid Zubov surprises. There were several such people who benefited from the work in the Arctic (and this is the results of only one day of the second stage of medical research, doctors will check everyone by June 30). However, there are also those with eight and nine of 10-point scale. And this is already a breakdown in adaptation, overstrain or depletion of the body.

FROM ECOLOGY TO PSYCHOLOGY
NArFU psychologists Maria Tunkina and Anna Trofimova conduct emotional intelligence tests today. It is also an important thing in an expedition, where communication with colleagues is 24 hours a day: in cabins (on "Somov" we live 2 - 4 people in a cabin), in the dining room, on the deck, in laboratories, on disembarkations, etc.
Four lectures today - even if it's Sunday. Yuri Dvornikov, junior researcher at RUDN-University, talks about the features of decoding images obtained as a result of remote sensing.

Anna Bobrik, junior researcher at the Department of Soil Science, Moscow State University named after MV Lomonosov, chose a topic - "Environmental problems of the Arctic". We discussed whether it is worth building cities in the Arctic, or whether it is wiser to work on a rotating scheme method. Anna’s opinion is that it is possible and necessary to build cities in the Arctic. The question is how to develop them and create comfortable conditions for life and work there. And not to abandon and turn them into ghost towns, as happened with many places in the North.

Yulia Khomenko from the Neuroimaging Laboratory of the Bekhtereva Human Brain Institute, RAS, told about "Psychophysiological aspects of adaptation to conditions of an expedition." Yulia has also begun the second stage of her research: she makes a repeated encephalogram in order to compare the work of the brain at the beginning of the expedition and closer to the end.

Maxim Chervyakov, Head of the Department of Meteorology and Climatology, Saratov National Research State University named after N.G. Chernyshevsky, spoke about the Youth Club of the Russian Geographical Society.

Let me remind you that partners and sponsors of the expedition of the Arctic Floating University in 2021 were VTB Bank, Norilsk Nickel, Government of the Arkhangelsk Region, Russian Arctic National Park and Russian Geographical Society.

PARTY IN THE MAIN SALOON
The brightest event of the cultural program of the Arctic Floating University (at least, for now, there will be a premiere of the performance at the Lower Deck Theater) - the party in main saloon.

It seems that organizers of the floating university take people to the team only with musical talent: all the participants could play the guitar and sang. The head of the expedition, Alexander Saburov, accompanied Anastasia Lomakina. Oleg Minchuk - solo and in a duet "Minvody" with a student of Moscow State University Polina Vodolazskaya. There also was a duet by a psychologist of the Northern Fleet Yekaterina Gavryukhova and a journalist of the Norilsk TV channel “Severny Gorod” Andrei Grishkov. What a different repertoire the state inspector of the Russian Arctic National Park Dmitry Barashnin had! There were also guest stars at the concert - singers from the "Narwhal" and "Master of the Arctic" expeditions.

The most impressive song that ended the party was dedicated to the disembarking on the Bell Island (and performed to the melody from the musical "Notre dame"):

Bell froze my brains and ears
Bell, how my heart beats, listen
And I no longer feel both legs.
Oh, Eira's house didn't help me to keep warm ...
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COLDER

Members of the expedition of the Arctic Floating University continue to share their experience, impressions and discoveries made on the Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land and in the Barents Sea. Today the floor is given to debutants - those for whom this is the first polar expedition.

Pavel Futoran, master's student in "Biology and biodiversity of the Arctic" of the Higher School of Natural Sciences and Technologies, NArFU, senior state inspector in the field of environmental protection of the Kenozero National Park and the National Park "Onega Pomorie":
- I expected more severe climate, preparing for sub-zero temperatures, but here it turned to be warmer. I am surprised that even such a northern archipelago as Franz Josef Land has Arctic oases. I like nature since childhood; I love forests, rivers, lakes. Now I am working in the national park, we are keeping a record of birds, we are engaged in expeditions. There is also a national park here, but because of the inaccessibility there is no such flow of people as in Kenozero and Onega Pomorie. And for the same reason, there are absolutely no trespassers that we often have to deal with. But on the other hand, here you need to constantly be armed and alert because of the danger of meeting a polar bear. We only have brown ones, it's calmer with them: you don't touch him - he doesn't touch you.

In fact, I am happy that I participate in the expedition of the Arctic Floating University! I got new acquaintances, new experience, new knowledge. I studied the arctic bird species; I was consulted by the ornithologist of the Narwhal project Ilya Murashev. I saw a minke whale for the first time.

ICE IS NOT WHITE!
Daria Kuznetsova, undergraduate student of the Department of Oceanology, St. Petersburg State University:

- I didn't expect the Arctic to be so colorful! I thought that there would be just a white sea, less relief and generally less land. In reality, it turned out to be much brighter. Even ice is not white, but blue! I am pleased that I have conducted a full-scale study of chlorophyll. The fact is that satellite information only shows what is happening on the surface. Thanks to the oceanographic section, where I worked at all stations, we can see the distribution of chlorophyll, and even in such an interesting period, when the ice has just thawed and phytoplankton is developing at the edge of the ice. In principle, there are not very many field data of this nature, so they are especially interesting.

We filtered out the chlorophyll in the taken water samples, froze them so that nothing would develop there. After arriving in Arkhangelsk, I will put them in a bag with refrigerants and take them to the laboratory at the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. There we will determine the concentration of chlorophyll.

Why do we study chlorophyll? Phytoplankton are the lungs of the planet, it absorbs the largest amount of CO2 from the atmosphere. And we do not understand very well what is its activity, what is scale of distribution and role in the carbon cycle.