The Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute has announced that the research vessel "North Pole" has departed from Murmansk with a team of scientists aboard, heading towards the Novosibirsk Islands. This is where the drifting polar station will begin its work as part of the "North Pole-42" expedition. For many months, polar explorers will conduct research in the high latitudes of the Arctic Ocean, encompassing over fifty scientific programs.
Scientists expect to gather a vast amount of data on the state of the natural environment, which will expand our understanding of the processes occurring in the Arctic. This data can also be used to make key strategic decisions, such as regarding the construction of an icebreaker fleet or the development of navigation on the Northern Sea Route. Scientists will continue to study the geological structure of the Arctic Ocean floor, which is necessary for refining the outer boundary of Russia's continental shelf and other scientific tasks.
The data obtained by specialists will also allow for forecasting transformations caused by global climate change and assessing the vulnerability of Arctic ecosystems. Scientists from the AARI intend to determine whether there are prerequisites for a further reduction in the summer ice cover in the Arctic Ocean.
The infrastructure of the "North Pole" vessel allows for scientific research at the highest technological level, from the ocean floor to the upper layers of the atmosphere and near space. The vessel's capabilities allow for submerging instruments to any depth, using satellites and unmanned vehicles.