New research vessels and satellite connection for Russian Arctic
A fleet of new research vessels and the establishment of a Russian Arctic satellite system are on top of the wishing-list of Leonid Vasiliev, leader of the Arkhangelsk-based Northern Service on Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring.
According to Vasiliev, his institution plans the construction of ten new Arctic research vessels. That, together with the development of a Russian-built Arctic satellite system, will be of paramount importance for Russian Arctic research, Vasiliev told Regnum.
The “Arktika” satellite system is currently under development. It will make Russia less dependent of foreign satellite information from the area.
The Northern Service on Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring is currently involved in the collection of data on the extension of the Russian Arctic shelf. All remaining data is to be collected in the course of 2011, and a complete application is to be handed in to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in 2012, Vasiliev underlines.
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As recently reported by BarentsObserver, Russia will next year conduct another major expedition with the “Akademik Fyodorov” research vessel. According to Vasiliev, the 2011 mission will be the last expedition on collection geological shelf data.
Read also: Continental shelf survey to continue next summer
