Information
Expeditionary work in Antarctica began in 1956 with the organization of the 1st Antarctic Expedition of the USSR Academy of Sciences under the leadership of Mikhail Somov. In 1959, AARI headed the National Antarctic program and has been successfully carrying out its work up to the present day.
ACTIVITY
- Research on the role of Antarctica in global climate change processes;
- Study of subglacial water and lithospheric bodies of Antarctica;
- Study of paleoclimate;
- Research on the biodiversity of Antarctica and its surrounding seas;
- Study of the mineral and hydrocarbon potential of Antarctica and its prospects;
- Space weather studies;
- Study of anthropogenic impact on the Antarctic environment;
- Support provision for Russian space activities.
SCIENTIFIC WORK
Every year, 120 people winter at RAE stations; during the season, another 110 scientists and technical specialists are added the staff.
In February 2012, for the first time in human history, the surface of the subglacial Lake Vostok in Antarctica was reached at a depth of 3769.3 m, as a result of drilling the Antarctic ice sheet. When opening the lake, researchers obtained unique material - a core of the lake ice from the bottom layers of the Antarctic glacier and samples of frozen lake water. Comprehensive studies of these probes yielded scientific results of global significance, which made a fundamental contribution to the knowledge of the unique subglacial reservoir and became new evidence of the competitiveness of Russian science at the international level.
AARI research work in Antarctica made it possible to obtain valuable information on the structure and composition of the Antarctic ice sheet and the climate change. The results obtained put AARI at the forefront in the study of the South Polar Region within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty.
In the near future, it is planned to restore the Russkaya field base as a permanent station (it operated as a station from 03/9/1980 to 03/12/1990).
LOGISTICS CENTER
- Planning, organizing and conducting the annual Antarctic expedition, staff selection.
- Material and technical support for year-round stations and seasonal field bases.
- Carrying out transport operations, including sea and air operations and inland tractor train traverses.
- Repair works at stations.
- Building and maintenance of snow-ice runways.
- Ensuring activities in accordance with the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.
- Ensuring the Antarctic environment monitoring.
- Organization, logistics and technical support for the scientific research.
AARI was appointed as a state operator to organize and carry out activities in Antarctica in the interests of the Russian Federation by the Russian Federation Government Order No. 1872-r, dated October 8, 2012.
STATION MAP
MAP
| By Sergey Kashin, Arina Kosareva |