Despite stormy conditions, Russian scientists continue research in Antarctica

Pavel Filin, a staff member of the Center for Arctic Studies of the MAE (Kunstkamera) RAS, is now taking part in the work of the 68th Russian Antarctic Expedition aboard the scientific expedition ship “Academiс Treshnikov”. Technically, the ship delivers food and fuel to the Antarctic stations and exercises the personnel changes of wintering polar explorers, while scientists use this opportunity to reach the most severe continent of the planet to conduct their research.

The tasks of Pavel Filin include the study and description of the historical sites and monuments of the Russian Federation within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty. At the moment, Russia has officially declared the presence of 8 objects of historical and cultural heritage in Antarctica, including the building of the Pole of Inaccessibility station, the stone monument to Ivan Khmara, the monument to Anatoly Shcheglov, the cemetery on Buromsky Island, the observatory of the Soviet Oasis station, the tractor at the Vostok station, the construction drilling complex of Professor Kudryashov at Vostok station, heavy snowmobile "Kharkovchanka" at the Progress station. In total, 90 objects have been declared under the Antarctic Treaty by different countries.

As Pavel Filin told us, the current expedition is taking place in difficult weather conditions:

“After stopping in Cape Town, “Academiс Treshnikov” crossed the Indian and Southern Oceans in stormy autumn conditions and carried out work near the Progress and Molodezhnaya stations. Now the ship is standing near the ice barrier, about 80 km from the Schirmacher Oasis, where the Novolazarevskaya station is located. The expedition team on a K-32 helicopter flew to the station to conduct work and is now waiting for weather conditions to improve. Wind with gusts of up to 34 m/s and a snowstorm does not allow flying back to the ship.”

After work at Novolazarevskaya, "Akademic Treshnikov" will visit the Bellingshausen station, and then will return to St. Petersburg.

Фотографии предоставлены П.А. Филиным