The second stage of the expedition of the Russian Geographical Society on the archipelago of Franz Josef Land

The press service of the Russian Geographical Society announced the start of the second stage of a comprehensive expedition to the island of Alexandra Land in the Franz Josef Land archipelago, which is being carried out jointly with the Ministry of Defense and the Russian Arctic National Park. Its first stage took place in May 2023.

In the year of the anniversary of the discovery of the Franz Josef Land archipelago, a complex expedition went to one of its islands to continue long-term research. The expedition members will live and work at the Omega scientific station of the Russian Arctic National Park, located almost on the shore of Severnaya Bay.
"Scientists will conduct a wide range of scientific research, including continuing those started on previous expeditions. Also, solemn events dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the discovery by the expedition of Karl Weyprecht and Julius Payer of the Franz Josef Land archipelago will be held on the island of Alexandra Land," the message says.

During the second stage of the expedition, specialists will face a wider range of tasks. Scientists will conduct paleoseismic studies, study marine mammals, glaciers, take samples of water, algae, bottom sediment in the coastal zone of Alexandra Land Island for the content of artificial radionuclides. They will also evaluate the qualitative and quantitative composition of marine litter, including plastic. In addition, the scientists will conduct geobotanical studies, microbiological studies of soils and work to refine the landscape map of the island.