ST. PETERSBURG, March 20. /TASS/. The North Pole - 42 expedition, which started in September 2024, onboard the world's only ice-resistant self-propelled platform, conducted surface-to-bottom sensing in the Arctic Ocean's areas where Russian researchers had not been since 2007, press service of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI, St. Petersburg) said.
"The station drifted over several morphometric structures of the ocean floor, including the Lomonosov Ridge, the Podvodnikov Basin, and the Mendeleev Ridge's western slope," the press service said. "By regular oceanographic sensing from the surface to the bottom, scientists have studied in detail the vertical thermohaline structure of waters in those areas, typical for the winter season."
Right now, Russian scientists are working less than 650 kilometers from the geographical North Pole. Comprehensive scientific research in that area of the Arctic Ocean has not been conducted since 2007. Collected data will be used for more accurate forecasts of local ice situations to plan operations of the Northern Sea Route, Russia's one of main economic routes, the press service added.
About the expedition
The North Pole is designed for year-round expeditions in northern latitudes of the Arctic Ocean. It does not require icebreakers to get to the work site, to drift for up to two years and then to return to port. The platform can accommodate Mil Mi-8AMT (Mi-171) helicopters and ensures comfortable and safe operation at minus 50 degrees and 85% humidity. The speed is at least 10 knots. The vessel is designed for 14 crew and 34 scientific staff. The displacement is more than 10,000 tons. The platform is equipped with an on-board scientific complex of 15 laboratories, and a mobile field camp for accommodation on ice floes.