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Purpose: This paper aims to present a historical case study of Norwegian transnational entrepreneurs (1880s–1930s) and the ecosystems that they founded in Russia's Arctic periphery. Drawing from the contemporary transnational entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystem literature, and inspired by AnnaLee Saxenian's concept of "brain circulation," this study explores the journey and impact of these entrepreneurs in a time of evolving political turbulence. Design/methodology/approach: This study applies a mixed-methodology approach, drawing from nine qualitative interviews held in 2021 and secondary material, including historical books, a podcast, videos and archival data. Findings: The Norwegian entrepreneurs were both "pulled" by and "pushed" to the Russian region, their "New America," where they could apply their personal skills and exploit their rich social and financial capital to establish a local entrepreneurial ecosystem. However, radical political change altered the context, which led many of the entrepreneurs to re-migrate to Norway. Research limitations/implications: This paper demonstrates the role of the political context for contemporary entrepreneurship and management research, as transnational entrepreneurs and international expatriates remain vulnerable to political change. Practical implications: Public-policy actors and managers in companies need to support highly-skilled transnational entrepreneurs, including expatriates, in a setting with turbulence, crisis and even war, to foster the sustainable contribution of entrepreneurial migrants to regional economic development across different countries. Originality/value: This paper presents an original, novel case study on the historical role of transnational entrepreneurs across different cultural settings, their impact on a foreign peripheral location, including social-network building and evolving political change in the historical context. The findings are relevant for contemporary management literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As China and Russia discover common ground in exploring the Arctic, the changing spatial dynamics create the possibility for new styles of governance in the area of combating corruption. This paper will ask whether the configuration of collaborative projects between Russian and Chinese partners will open up avenues for a shared governance of anti-corruption or whether, perhaps alternatively, there is the possibility of a non-state and post-sovereign governance model emerging. As there is little empirical evidence yet, this paper will focus on the case of "Arktik LNG-2" as the most substantial Russian-Chinese project in the Arctic to date. It argues that the set-up of this project expresses neither a shared governance nor a post-sovereign governance approach to anti-corruption. On the state-to-state level, there is no sign of China engaging with Russia. On the non-state level, there are no stakeholders that would articulate demands for anti-corruption. Instead, it is through corporate compliance policies that anti-corruption rules become applicable. But these rules are not "private" in the conventional sense. They represent a sub-state policy in the case of Russia and Party rule in the case of the Chinese counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of the region's diverse peoples and unique environments, Arctic political analyses frequently remain focused on the traditional level of the state and inter‐state relations. While states undoubtedly play a significant role in Arctic governance arrangements, this paper seeks to direct attention to the agency of the many people and actors performing politics in the region. A more 'peopled' analysis includes renewed attention to professionals – e.g., state personnel, politicians, and diplomats – as well as non‐state actors involved in Arctic politics through different avenues and with different levels of agency. This paper focuses on the so‐called Barents Cooperation, a peace‐building initiative set up in the wake of the Cold War between Nordic states and Russia in the Barents Euro‐Arctic border region. It draws on interviews with professionals involved in the daily running of the Barents Cooperation, including its funding of 'grassroots' and people‐to‐people activities, to ask what can lessons can be learnt about Arctic political participation beyond the state. Based on their reflections, key challenges, successes, and future opportunities are highlighted, and the paper argues for strengthening both the analytical attention to and the practical agency of a wider range of political actors. Geopolitical analyses frequently remain focused on the traditional level of the state and inter‐state relations. While states undoubtedly play a significant role in Arctic governance arrangements, this paper seeks to direct attention to the agency of the many people and actors performing politics in the region, focusing on the political initiative The Barents Cooperation. The paper argues for strengthening both the analytical attention to and the practical agency of a wider range of political actors in geopolitical analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sino–Russian Arctic energy cooperation is a successful example based on the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. In order to analyze the impact of Sino–Russian oil and gas resources cooperation in the Arctic on China's energy security, this paper selects 11 influencing factors such as energy self-sufficiency rate and uses the energy security index method to evaluate the three dimensions of energy supply, demand, and environmental security. The assessment results show that China's energy security is mainly affected by the over concentration of energy import sources. At the same time, energy demand and environmental security will also have an important impact on China's energy security. However, relative to energy demand, environmental security factors such as the proportion of clean energy consumption and channel safety factor have a greater impact on China's energy security. After China and Russia strengthen cooperation in oil and gas resources in the Arctic, China's energy security index is expected to increase from 0.4419 in 2020 to 0.5412 in 2025. Therefore, China can use technology, funds, scientific research, and other support to carry out all-round cooperation with Russia in the Arctic waterway, oil and gas exploration and development, and Arctic scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic is rapidly warming posing a significant threat to underlying permafrost. Permafrost degradation has already resulted in extensive damage to the Arctic's built infrastructure, putting communities and industries at risk. Projected climate warming will further reduce the capacity of permafrost to support infrastructure, thereby requiring a rethinking of construction and development of permafrost regions in the future. This paper focuses on three Arctic regions with a substantial presence of population and infrastructure on permafrost: USA (Alaska), Canada, and Russia. The three regions' permafrost construction practices are examined in order to identify best practices and major gaps. We identify a lack of standardized, codified construction guidelines; an absence of permafrost-geotechnical monitoring in communities; barriers to integrating climate scenarios into future planning; limited data sharing; and low numbers of permafrost professionals as major constraints limiting the region's resilience in the face of climate change. Refining building practices and standards, implementing operational permafrost monitoring systems, developing downscaled climate projections, and integrating local knowledge will minimize the impacts of permafrost degradation under rapidly warming climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stochastic weather generator is proposed in the paper. The model is designed for the numerical simulation of joint time series of surface air temperature, wind speed, and relative air humidity with a three-hour resolution at weather stations located in the Russian Arctic. The proposed weather generator allows taking into account the non-Gaussian form of one-dimensional distributions of meteorological parameters and the diurnal variations inherent to real series. The results of verifying the proposed model are presented, and the prospects of its further application are briefly described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of state capitalism is attracting growing attention in economic geography and political economy. We contribute to the debate by exploring the authoritarian state capitalism variant whereby the state moves beyond a predominantly regulatory role and appears as the dominant actor. We take Russia to be a prominent example of authoritarian state capitalism because the central state has subjugated economy, created organisational structures and designed development strategies to serve the interests of the kleptocrat, inverting the conventional meaning of 'state capture'. The paper illustrates the centrality of the state by exploring two state-sponsored megaprojects: (i) the upgrade of the Northern Sea Route and (ii) the construction of innovation clusters (Skolkovo). In the first case, the state directs resources to the Northern Sea Route to secure Russia's control of the Arctic. In the second case, the state attempts to replicate the perceived developmental success stories of the West by fostering technology clusters. Each illustrative case offers an instructive insight into Russia's authoritarian state capitalism characterised by tensions between its own political and economic repertoires and a contentious relationship with the Western-dominated liberal capitalist world order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides the results of a study on fungal species diversity in the active and permafrost layers of peatlands within frozen peatbogs in the flatland areas of the cryolitozone, European Northeast of Russia (forest-tundra zone, southern and northern tundra subzones). Fungal taxonomic list includes eighty-three species from seventeen genera and two forms of Mycelia sterilia. The phylum Mucoromycota is represented by fifteen species (18% of total isolate number), and these species exhibit the following distribution by genus: Mucor (four), Mortierella (seven), Umbelopsis (three), Podila (one). Ascomycota is represented by sixty-eight species from thirteen genera. The genus Penicillium dominates the species saturation (thirty-seven species, 44%). Soil microfungal complex is represented by rare species (51%), random species (32%), frequent species (15%), and dominant species (2%). In peat soils, dominant species are Penicillium canescens (72%) and non-pigmented (albino) Mycelia sterilia (61%); abundant species are Talaromyces funiculosus (41%), Pseudogymnoascus pannorum (36%), albino Mycelia sterilia (29%), Umbelopsis vinacea (25%), Mortierella alpina (17%), Penicillium decumbens (21%), P. spinulosum (20%), and P. canescens (17%). In active layers of peat soils, abundant species are Penicillium thomii (14%), Mycelia sterilia (13%), Penicillium spinulosum (13%), Penicillium simplicissimum (13%) in forest-tundra; Talaromyces funiculosus (21%), albino Mycelia sterilia (15%), Umbelopsis vinacea (14%) in southern tundra; Penicillium decumbens (23%), P. canescens (17%), P. thomii (13%) in northern tundra. In permafrost peat layers, abundant species are Penicillium spinulosum (17%), Talaromyces funiculosus (34%), and Umbelopsis vinacea (15%) in forest-tundra; Pseudogymnoascus pannorum (30%) and Mortierella alpina (28%) in southern tundra; Pseudogymnoascus pannorum (80%) in northern tundra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes an approach to the numerical stochastic modeling of the time series of the wind chill index and equivalent effective temperature at weather stations located in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The approach is based on the use of a specially designed stochastic weather generator. It is shown that the approach allows developing the models of the time series of bioclimatic indices that very accurately reproduce various statistical properties of real processes related, in particular, to their daily variations and specific features of the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transportation of oil and gas in Russia's northern and Arctic regions has seen significant growth in recent years. However, the presence of permafrost in these areas can cause malfunctions in the main pipelines due to soil frost heaving. The operational pipelines also often suffer from various defects in their body and surface. To mitigate these issues, above-ground trunkline supports are utilized to protect the pipelines from cryogenic processes. Nevertheless, these supports are subjected to ground loads caused by cryogenic frost heaving, which poses a threat to the pipeline's integrity and the environment. In response to these challenges, this study presents a design for pipeline support to maintain the pipeline's stability in the face of soil displacement caused by unequal frost-heaving forces. A numerical model was created to evaluate the fracture of frozen rock and the resulting stresses in the soil and support structure. The input data for the model includes coefficients that describe the soil's state during the cryogenic process and the proposed support's parameters. The experimental results showed the proposed design to be effective in protecting the pipeline from soil frost heaving. The paper also provides the results of numerical and experimental studies on soil fracture stresses depending on the rock type and temperature. This design promises to increase both the safety of above-ground trunk pipelines and their technological efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China and Russia have different interests in the Arctic but are forced to look for possible ways of cooperation in energy projects in the current external conditions. This changes the priorities of both countries and, accordingly, transforms the risks. Objectives of the research: to build an algorithm for identifying anthropogenic environmental risks in the context of two major players economic activities in the Arctic region: the Russian Federation and China. In the paper, we formulated an algorithm of environmental risk identification. We identified environmental hazards from the main parameter—the type of economic activity for the extraction of energy resources, premises, and factors for the occurrence of environmental hazards and compiled criteria for risk selection. Methods used: complex analysis (mixed method research): empirical and comparative methods, methods of expert assessments, the method of inductive statistics (inferential statistics) to compare the perception of risk at the level of different groups. Results: the algorithm has been formed for determining risks in the changed external conditions. Major anthropogenic environmental risks are identified from the perspective of the main players in the Arctic—Russia and China, which can help to make the necessary decisions on time and partially prevent environmental degradation. This makes it possible to identify the risks associated with conducting economic activities for the extraction of energy resources in the Arctic region. Therefore, this study contributes to a more accurate identification of anthropogenic environmental risks in the Arctic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper continues the series of publications by the authors on the recognition of areas prone to the strongest, strong, and significant earthquakes using the FCAZ system-analytical method. The areas prone to earthquakes with M ≥ 5.5 in the eastern sector of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation were recognized. It is shown that certain potential high seismicity zones are well confined to the boundaries of the Eurasian, North American, and Okhotsk tectonic plates. In addition, according to the results of the FCAZ recognition, some areas located at a sufficient distance from the main tectonic structures of the studied region were also recognized as highly seismic. The results of the study, among other factors, justify the use of the assessment of the completeness magnitude in the catalog for choosing the set of recognition objects for the FCAZ method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil and gas extraction remains a cornerstone in Russia's development plans for the Arctic Zone, even as there are considerable constraints on new projects. But what does it take to implement hydrocarbon-based regional development in a rent-based political economy? This paper employs a case study of interaction between state and business actors over hydrocarbon-based cargo traffic for the Northern Sea Route to show how Russia's elites respond to constraints on Arctic development. It is argued that aims of development and of national interest protection enable the state to enlist companies when implementing high-level priorities. This happens when state actors mobilise major companies, using their privileges in the limited access order context as incentives. This route to implementation of regional developmental aims reinforces Russia's current oil and gas-based development model as a future model for the Arctic Zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to create a representative earthquake catalog for the Eastern Sector of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation that combines all available data from Russian and international seismological agencies, with magnitude reduction to a uniform scale. The article describes the catalog compilation algorithm, as well as formalized procedures for removing duplicates and choosing the optimal magnitude scale. Due to different network configurations and record processing methods, different agencies may register/miss different events. This results in the absence of some events in different earthquake catalogs. Therefore, merging the data of various seismological agencies will provide the most complete catalog for the studied region. When merging catalogs, the problem of identifying duplicates (records related to the same seismic event) necessarily arises. An additional difficulty arises when distinguishing between aftershocks and duplicates since both are events that are close in space and time. To solve this problem, we used a modified nearest neighbor method developed earlier by the authors. The modified version, which is focused on identifying duplicates and distinguishing between duplicates and aftershocks, uses a probabilistic metric in the network error space to determine the epicenters and times of seismic events. In the present paper, a comparison and regression analysis of the different magnitude types of the integrated catalog is carried out, and based on the obtained ratios, the magnitude estimates are unified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until quite recently, Arctic diesel fuel was produced in accordance with GOST R 55475 with a cold filter plugging point down to –52°C using a depressant-dispersing additive. However, in the Arctic, the temperature drops to –60°C and below, and the use of depressant-dispersing additives provokes product stratification with a sharp deterioration in the properties of the lower layer. This limited the application of Arctic diesel fuel in the Arctic. For such conditions, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation developed its own standards for Arctic diesel fuel without the use of depressant-dispersing additives, and suggesting values not higher than –65°C for the cloud point, pour point and cold filter plugging point. An obstacle for obtaining a product with such properties is the difficulty of simultaneously providing the required cetane number and the low temperature properties. This paper presents a method for obtaining Arctic diesel fuel with the desired properties based on deeply isomerized diesel fractions. To implement the project, the existing units at Slavneft-YANOS PJSC were analyzed, and a chain of units was assembled for primary oil refining, hydrotreating 80 atm and isodewaxing. In the course of a number of experiments new causes of the onset of cold filter plugging point were discovered, which were explained by an increase in the diesel fuel viscosity at extremely low temperatures. To reduce the viscosity of the product, hydrocracked kerosene was added to the formula. In May 2020, permits were received from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, and in October 2021, for the first time in the Russian Federation and in the world, the first industrial batch of 3,000 tons was successfully produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic has experienced the frequent and severe fires in recent years. Due to the unique geography and vegetation type in Arctic region, the fire trend and its driving mechanism are different from other regions and still unclear. This study investigated the fire trends across Arctic region based on Moderate‐resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) burned area product MCD64A1 during 2001–2020. In addition, the burned area change was attributed at spatial and temporal scales based on 15 natural and anthropogenic factors. Results show that the average burned area in Arctic region during 2001–2020 is 31.2 × 103 km2, with a maximum of 51.9 × 103 km2 in 2019. The change of burned area in Arctic region is spatially heterogeneous, with a significant increasing trend (Z > 1.96) in central Russia and a significant decreasing trend (Z < −1.96) in western Russia. There is a clear seasonality in the occurrence of fires in the Arctic, with a peak in the summer months and almost no fires in the winter. Relative humidity has the largest explanatory power for the spatial variation of burned area (q = 0.487), followed by vapor pressure deficit (q = 0.475) and land surface temperature (q = 0.367). The combined effect of precipitation and land surface temperature is the most powerful interaction (q = 0.587) to explain the spatial variation of burned area. The significant increase in time‐series burned area is primarily driven by the decrease of relative humidity. The results of this study are helpful to understand the fire trends and the contribution of climate change to Arctic fires. Plain Language Summary: In recent years, the Arctic has experienced frequent and severe fires. Due to the unique geographical location and vegetation type of the Arctic, it is necessary to understand its fire trends and driving mechanisms. This paper explores the spatial and temporal trends of fires in the Arctic from 2001 to 2020 based on the MODIS satellite‐based burned area product MCD64A1, and considers 15 natural and human influences to explore the driving mechanisms. The results show that the Arctic region burned an average of 31.2 × 103 km2 in 2001–2020, with the highest burned area of 51.9 × 103 km2 in 2019, and that burning events were mostly concentrated in summer. The burned area increases significantly in central Russia and decreases significantly in the west. Relative humidity is the most influential factor in the spatial and temporal variability of Arctic fires, and precipitation and land surface temperature have the greatest combined effect on Arctic fires. The results of this study contribute to the understanding of the process of Arctic fire change and the impact of climate change on Arctic fires. Key Points: The burned area significantly increased (decreased) in central (western) RussiaThe interaction between precipitation and land surface temperature has the greatest effect on Arctic firesThe change in burned area is mainly driven by the change in relative humidity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic region stands out due to its capability to host a large number of tourists without compromising the ecological situation of the territory. In particular, the potential capacity of the tourism market is several times higher than the one existing in accordance to the established development standards. The basis of tourism in the Arctic regions is ecological tourism, which has the least impact on the environment. We see the relevance of the study in identifying limits that should be expanded to achieve the required parameters for the development of ecological tourism. An expert study was performed involving 101 experts; experts needed to rank 33 types of tourism. Next, the variable series were calculated, after which 6 groups of types of tourism were obtained. The considered specific features, which make up the potential of ecotourism, provide an opportunity for further identification of indicators that can be used to assess the potential of ecotourism. The novelty of the study is that for the first-time ecological tourism is considered not as a general procedure in the tourism complex of the region, but as the main category of economic product. The paper points out the understanding of ecological tourism in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and considers aspects of managing its development. The practical application of the study may be the sphere of development of depressed territories, which essentially covers the entire Arctic region. The authors believe that the application of the developed management tools will diversify the economy of the region at large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploitation of oil and gas resources in the Arctic offshore is one of Russia's key priorities in such areas as science, economy, and technology. Global trends, harsh climate conditions, fragile ecosystems, conditions of the pandemic and post-pandemic periods, price volatility, and the growing importance of the environmental factor require that the process of developing the Arctic's hydrocarbon resources should become strategically sustainable. The paper provides a deep literature review on sustainability issues, sustainable development, strategic sustainability, and project efficiency in the Arctic offshore oil and gas sector. The paper analyzes the trends and conditions that substantiate the need to transform the traditional sustainability concept to meet new challenges and comply with new policies. Based on the analysis, the authors propose a definition of and a conceptual framework for strategic sustainability of oil and gas offshore projects in the Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the twenty-first century the Arctic region remains strategically important for many states located both inside and outside the Arctic. The transformation of the Arctic into an outpost of the world economy is dictated by the rapid and irreversible changes in the natural, socio-economic and political environment, among which two interrelated features stand out: climate change and globalization. The article focuses on analyzing the features of energy interaction between Russia and the People's Republic of China in the Russian Arctic. Over the past two years, the development of the Arctic, including the Russian Arctic zone, has been strongly influenced by the exacerbation of the Ukrainian crisis. The termination of Russia's cooperation with member countries and the majority of observer states of the Arctic Council towards the implementation of industrial projects in the Russian Arctic has strengthened the so-called 'orientation to the east' in Russian Arctic policy. The current macroeconomic situation creates the preconditions for the development of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, primarily with China. The publication analyzes the current stage of Russian-Chinese relations and examines the prospects for interstate energy cooperation in the Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The circumpolar habitat stands as one of the most vulnerable environments for human activity and health. The primary study objective was to compare sleep-related factors, light exposure, social cues, and potential confounding variables among schoolchildren residing in the European Arctic region from two settlements situated below and above the Polar Circle using validated self-reported questionnaires. Materials and Methods: We recruited 94 children aged 13–15 years (40.4% males), matched by sex and age, from public educational institutions in two circumpolar settlements located below (Kem', Republic of Karelia; 64.6 NL) and above the Polar Circle (Apatity, Murmansk Region; 67.3 NL). Participants completed several surveys, including the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale, the Insomnia Severity Index, the Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Scale, and the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire, to evaluate sleep parameters and chronotype. The χ2 test was used to test for differences between proportions. Linear regression and multiple regression models with co-factors were applied to assess the relationship between studied indicators. Results: A noteworthy increase in physical activity was observed in children residing in Kem' compared to those in Apatity. Children from Apatity showed higher alcohol consumption than their counterparts from Kem'. The overall rate of excessive daytime sleepiness in the sample was 17.1%. Moderate insomnia symptoms were reported in 18.4% of adolescents living in Kem' and in 25% of respondents living in Apatity, respectively. Notably, participants from Kem' attained higher academic scores and had longer exposure to sunlight on schooldays. On the other hand, children from Apatity tended to have later bedtimes and sleep-onset times on schooldays. According to the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire data, a reliance on alarm clocks on schooldays, and a higher Sleep Stability Factor based on the Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Scale. Discussion: Our study indicating that higher physical activity and longer sunlight exposure among Kem' children on schooldays are associated with earlier wake-up times during schooldays, earlier bedtime whole week, reduced dependence on alarm clocks, and higher academic achievements. The results of older schoolchildren differ from many works published previously in the USA, Argentina, and Japan, which could be explained by the season when the study was performed. Here, we observed a negative impact on school performance and sleep parameters in children living in high latitudes, namely in circumpolar regions. Conclusions: Our study points out that adolescents living above the Polar Circle tend to have sleep problems, e.g., late sleep-onset times, higher excessive daytime sleepiness, and insomnia-related symptoms, because of experiencing reduced exposure to natural light. Future research encompassing assessments across all four seasons will provide a more comprehensive understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indigenous populations of the Arctic regions of Russia experience the lowest coverage of health-related services. We assessed the prevalence of hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses (HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV and HEV) among 367 healthy adult Native people of the Arctic zone of Yakutia. The HAV seroprevalence was above and increased with age. The anti-HEV IgM and IgG antibody detection rates were 4.1% and 2.5%, respectively. The average HBsAg detection rate was 4.6%, with no positive cases identified in participants aged under 30 years, confirming the effectiveness of the newborn vaccination program that began in 1998. Anti-HDV antibodies were detected in 29.4% of HBsAg-positive cases. The anti-HCV and HCV RNA detection rates peaked in the age cohort of 50–59 years (10.8% and 3.9%). No statistically significant gender differences in the prevalence of different viral hepatitis were observed. The time-scaled phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that all HBV genotype A and D strains isolated in this study were autochthonous and had an estimated most common recent ancestor (MCRA) age of around the 11th to 14th century. Unlike HBV, the HCV strains of subtypes 1b, 2a and 2k/1b were introduced from other regions of Russia in the 1980s and 1990s. The HCV 1b sequence analysis revealed a series of transmission events. In conclusion, these data emphasize the urgent need for expanded viral hepatitis screening and care programs in the indigenous populations of the Arctic zone of Yakutia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates dominant features of the atmospheric circulation evolution associated with extreme heat waves (HWs) in Russia during the summers of 2010 and 2016, respectively, and their possible association with Arctic sea ice loss. Results show that a region of Russia (20°–70°E, 45°–65°N) experienced a lasting 44-day HW event from 4 July to 16 August 2010 and a 26-day HW event from 2 to 27 August 2016. The associated atmospheric circulation anomalies are characterized by the summer Arctic cold anomaly in the mid- to low troposphere and an anticyclonic circulation anomaly over the Ural Mountains. Simulation experiments forced by summer Arctic sea ice anomalies reproduce the major characteristics of observational associations. Observations and numerical simulations indicate that summer Arctic sea ice anomaly is conducive to the formation of the summer Arctic cold anomaly, which is often accompanied by the enhanced baroclinicity in most of the Arctic troposphere and increased and decreased meridional temperature gradient in the high and midlatitudes, respectively. Such a configuration strengthens westerly winds over most of the Arctic and weakens zonal westerly over the southern Ural Mountains. This anomalous zonal wind pattern establishes the background conditions for the sustained positive geopotential height anomaly in the mid- to low troposphere that dynamically facilitates the prevalence of Russian HW events. Moreover, when compared with 2016, the weaker meridional potential vorticity gradient anomaly in the summer of 2010 prolonged the persistence of Ural blocking, which may lead to longer HW events in Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground storage facilities dug in permafrost, or ice cellars, are a natural means of preserving food in conditions of transport isolation and total energy dependence on imported fuel. In the context of rapidly changing natural conditions, such storage facilities become unstable due to warming and degradation of permafrost. Monitoring and modeling the thermal regime of permafrost soils around ice cellars will help assess the impact of predicted climatic changes and the effectiveness of engineering solutions to sustain these facilities. In this paper, we made an attempt to simulate and predict the thermal regime of permafrost around an ice cellar, located in the community of Lorino, NE Russia. We found out that by 2050 the depth of seasonal thawing of the soil above the storage facility will increase from 1.12–1.74 m to 1.19–2.53 m, while the mean annual ground temperature will increase by only 0.5 °C, regardless of the climatic scenario. Results of the predictive simulation demonstrate significant but not critical changes of the thermal state of permafrost around the ice cellar. In fact, incorrect maintenance of the facility may have higher impact to its stability than climate changes. Some recommendations on preventive measures on increasing the ice cellar stability were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Russia is aiming to expand its power in the Arctic Circle by acquiring unrestricted access to hydrocarbon reserves off the coast of the Norwegian Archipelago of Svalbard. Two bodies of international law govern Svalbard. The Svalbard Treaty of 1920 ascertains Norway's sovereignty over the archipelago and permits the signatory nations, including Russia, to conduct commercial activities on the land and in the "territorial waters". The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea establishes maritime zones that allow coastal states to claim exclusive rights to their territorial seas and continental shelf. Norway holds that "territorial waters" in the Svalbard Treaty is the twelve-nautical mile territorial seas and limits Russia's access to hydrocarbon resources there. Russia contends that "territorial waters" includes the 200-nautical mile continental shelf beyond the territorial seas. After analyzing both interpretations of the Treaty under the Vienna Convention on Law of Treaties, the Russian interpretation of "territorial waters" falters in many respects. This comment argues Russia's aim for unrestricted access to Svalbard's resources is a violation of UNCLOS. The international community must forge a uniform interpretation: The Arctic Counsel or NATO should demonstrate regional support, Norway should bring a case against Russia before the ICJ for encroachment, and Norway should place additional economic sanctions on Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is of strategic importance for the country. Considering the fragility of Arctic ecosystems, special attention needs to be paid to the sustainable development of transport and related infrastructure within the framework of the "blue economy" concept, which is relevant for Arctic waters. At the same time, it is necessary to identify the main factors and tasks of creating transport and port infrastructure, building a modern fleet, and organizing fisheries and tourism in an environmentally sound manner. The purpose of the study is to consider the problems of anthropogenic influence for seaport facilities and to create a conceptual model of an environmental risk management system. The existing problems of Arctic ports and infrastructure are analyzed and existing business processes are considered, taking into account the peculiarities of their functioning in Arctic conditions. To systematize environmental assessments and establish dependencies between the main indicators describing the impact of port activities on elements of the natural environment, ontological domain engineering is proposed. It systematizes the basic terminology used within different subject areas of ecology and risks and allows one to visualize the relationships between elements of the natural environment, objects, port systems, their parameters and impact factors to assess the impact of the seaport on the natural environment. The results of ontological engineering (design and development of ontologies) in the field of risk management are presented. Future research will be aimed at developing the applied aspect of applying the results of ontological engineering in terms of specific engineering studies related to the assessment of anthropogenic load on the Arctic territory using simulation modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses some approaches to building a system of indicators reflecting the state and dynamics of the transition to low-carbon development in Russia. To this end, the authors have analyzed a system of indicators reflecting progress in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the context of transitioning to a low-carbon economy. As part of the study, additional indicators are proposed and partially calculated for inclusion in the system (such as the carbon footprint of use and production in Russia in order to use the net carbon export indicator). CO2 emissions contained in manufactured goods and implicit in exports are calculated on the basis of an input–output model. In addition, the indicators of carbon dioxide absorption by forests in the regions of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation are considered. This indicator is obtained on the basis of conversion–volumetric coefficients in the context of age groups. The experience of China and Germany in the develpment of renewable energy is considered, an analysis of the energy intensity indicators of regions of Russia is conducted, indicators of the absorption of greenhouse gases by forests are calculated, and proposals are made to improve the indicators of low-carbon development. The study reveals a significant gap between produced and consumed carbon dioxide emissions, which is determined by the large export of carbon emissions, while the volume of carbon emissions from the forests of the Russian Arctic is 168.8 million t of CO2 per year. The proposed system of indicators of the transition to low-carbon development for various levels complements the known indicators of the low-carbon segment of the Sustainable Development Goals with relevant indicators, such as an increase in electricity production from renewable sources, the share of public transport running on batteries, and carbon absorption by ecosystems. Currently, the system includes ten indicators, representing four main areas (energy intensity, carbon intensity, introduction of cleaner energy sources, and carbon uptake by ecosystems). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the forecasts made by IEA, BP, and Total in early 2021, the demand for hydrocarbons will continue for decades, and their share in the global energy balance will remain significant. Russia, as a key player in the energy market, is interested in maintaining and increasing hydrocarbon production, so further exploitation of the Arctic energy resources is an urgent issue. A large number of onshore oil and gas projects have been successfully implemented in the Arctic since the 1930s, while recently, special attention has been paid to the offshore energy resources and implementation of natural gas liquefaction projects. However, the implementation of oil and gas projects in the Arctic is characterized by a negative impact on the environment, which leads to a violation of the ecological balance in the Arctic, and affects the stability of its ecosystem, which is one of the most vulnerable ecosystems on the planet. The main goal of the present study is to understand how the implementation of oil and gas projects in the Arctic affects the ecosystem, to assess the significance of this process, and to find out what the state and business could do to minimize it. In the article, the authors analyze energy trends, provide brief information about important oil and gas projects being implemented in the Arctic region of Russia, and investigate the challenges of the oil and gas projects' development and its negative impacts on the Arctic environment. The main contributions of this paper are the identification of all possible environmental risks and processes accompanying oil and gas production, and its qualitative analysis and recommendations for the state and business to reduce the negative impact of oil and gas projects on the Arctic ecosystem. The research methodology includes desk studies, risk management tools (such as risk analysis, registers, and maps), brainstorming, the expert method, systematization, comparative analysis, generalization, and grouping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development of the Arctic is the main priority of the state policy regarding regional development of the Russian Federation. The study of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation for the formation of principles, methods and strategies, as well as organizational and economic mechanisms for its sustainable development is topical at present. This article deals with one of the strategic decision-making tools used in the process of implementing the development program for the Russian Arctic, namely, the assessment of the technical and economic potential of the Arctic fields. The purpose of this assessment is to rank the fields according to the priority of their commissioning for a more optimal distribution of costs in the development of Arctic resources. This paper presents the results and methodology of technical and economic potential estimation in general, and the potential of the Arctic oil and gas fields in particular. An analysis of the conceptual apparatus in the field of the evaluation of various types of potential is carried out. The methodology for assessing the technical and economic potential of a field are investigated. The problems arising in the process of such an assessment are revealed. Recommendations for improving the methodology of assessing the technical and economic potential of oil and gas fields in the Arctic are given. The necessity of expanding the list of indicators for assessing the technical and economic potential of these fields, taking into account current trends, has been noted. A list of 10 technical and 26 economic indicators to assess the technical and economic potential of the development of offshore Arctic fields is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the article is to find out the key factors of sustainable development of the Russian Arctic, which is strategically significant for Russia. The academic literature was reviewed to find out the time dynamics of the references to the economic models suitable for achieving the goals of sustainable development, and there has been hyperbolic growth in the attention paid to similar problems all around the world. The article compares three relatively new economic models in order to understand which of them is the most applicable to the promotion of sustainable development in the Russian Arctic: (a) bioeconomy, (b) green economy and (c) circular economy. The analysis of the relevant sources shows that the model of the circular economy is preferable for the Russian Arctic. Most of the article is dedicated to understanding the sources and mechanisms of the circular economy. The schematic description of vertical greenhouses and possibility of using vertical farms are presented in the paper as an example of organization of local food production according to the principles of the circular economy. The article considers a modeled project of creating a vertical farm in the Russian Arctic and a simulated indicator—profit of the vertical farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study mainly focuses on the development of the Arctic region and the difficulties it faces in the new situation. Finding a suitable development path for low-carbon environmental protection and sustainable development has gradually become the focus of attention in all countries. The secret contest of strength is also becoming increasingly fierce. The escalation of the arms race has virtually made the ambitious Russian Arctic plan more radical. This article will use the "ANP-SWOT" strategic analysis method to reveal the possible damage to the environment of the Arctic region and its unsustainable side behind Russia's grand development plan in the Arctic region. At the same time, it will list the views and contradictions of the countries in the region for the proposals on the resolution of conflicts, broaden the perspective to the global scope, take the common interests of all mankind as the starting point, combine the views and contradictions of all parties, and put forward proposals that are truly beneficial to the development of the Arctic region, thereby promoting inter-regional cooperation and developing a new Arctic strategy that prioritizes global progress and prosperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is a continuation of the research on creating the most complete and representative earthquake catalogs by combining all available data from regional, national, and international seismological agencies and reducing magnitudes to a uniform scale. The task of identifying and removing duplicates that arise during the merging process is solved using the authors' modification of the nearest neighbor method. It is evident that the intelligent merging of different earthquake catalogs for the same territory will improve the completeness and representativeness of events in the final integrated catalog. In this article, the earthquake catalog of the western sector of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF) covering the period 1962–2022 was created by merging three regional Russian catalogs and the ISC catalog. The ratio of magnitude types in the catalog for different seismic networks was analyzed, and magnitude estimates were unified based on the obtained ratios. For analyzing seismic activity in the western AZRF, it is recommended to use earthquakes from the period 1998–2020 when the catalog was significantly cleaned from explosions and other events of the "non-earthquake" type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timing of ice freeze‐up and break‐up in the Arctic may be responding to climate change. Passive microwave remote sensing is a powerful technique for monitoring this timing. We processed low‐frequency microwave time series from the European Space Agency Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission for a set of 31 satellite gauging reaches (SGRs) above 65°N between 2010 and 2020 to determine timing of freeze‐up and break‐up and annual river ice durations. We found indication of progressive ice cover reduction over more than half of the monitored river reaches, with possibly the fastest rate occurring over northeast Russia. Some rivers in high‐latitude North America experienced a slight increase in ice cover. Across the data set, we observed an average 2.2 days shift toward later ice freeze‐up in autumn and an average 0.6 days shift toward earlier ice break‐up in spring, resulting in an average decrease of 3.4 days in ice duration between 2010 and 2020. River reaches with the longest duration of ice cover appeared to have experienced the fastest rate of decrease. A possible reduction of the time lag between air temperature rise or fall and corresponding river ice break‐up and freeze‐up was also observed. Yet results on variability are carefuly interpreted given the short length of the time series (2010–2020) and the low statistical confidence rates calculated for the decadal tendency. Still outcomes are consistent with increases in global and Arctic surface air temperature. Following these time series over the next decade using passive microwave satellite sensors can monitor ice cover duration in the Arctic and will further determine temporal and regional trends. Key Points: A satellite passive microwave algorithm provides timing of river ice freeze‐up and break‐up verified by ground and independent informationRiver ice cover duration during 2010–2020 in northeast Russia was found to vary dissimilarly to that in North American riversResults are consistent with interannual air temperature variability and compatible to other investigations on river ice trends [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is one of the most intensively developing regions of the country. Amongst the major domains of economic and industrial growth and improvement is transport infrastructure and particularly the railway network. This area is being exposed to negative factors of rapid climate change that can significantly affect and compromise this activity. Thus, it is vital to take them into account during design, construction, and operation of the railway infrastructure facilities. This work details the production of a digital atlas comprising the 1950–2021 dynamics of the main hydrometeorological parameters: air and soil temperature, precipitation, wind speed, air and soil humidity, and snow cover thickness. The maps are based on climatic data derived from the MERRA-2 (Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2) reanalysis. In total there are 459, which are arranged into 7 chapters. The atlas geographically covers the western part of the Russian Arctic encompassing the regions of quite intensive transport development, which includes the construction of the Northern Latitudinal Railway. Original algorithms of geospatial data processing and their further representation as well as the maps compiled in GIS environment are discussed. Comprehensive analysis of climatic changes in the region of the Russian Arctic including detailed quantitative evaluation over 40 years is given. In the Discussion, we focus on those changes of the regional climate which, from our point of view, are the most significant for consideration by railway operators. The obtained results contribute to framing the theoretical basis of design, development, and sustainable operation of the railway infrastructure in the Arctic and facilitate the decision-making process. This is the first experience of building a specialized climatic cartographic product for the needs of the Russian railways, and to our knowledge the first atlas such as that in the world. In the future, the amassed experience may be transferred to other regions of the Russian Federation as well as similar regions in Canada, Sweden and Highland China that are also subject to significant climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strains of Drouetiella species (Cyanobacteria, Oculatellaceae) from a terrestrial biotope were isolated and characterized using an integrative approach including molecular, morphological, and ecological information. The specimens were collected from the Arctic and Subarctic areas of European Russia. Drouetiella species possess morphological plasticity and can be confused with similar species of Oculatellaceae or Leptolyngbyaceae. The 16S rRNA gene phylogeny supported the strong monophyly of the genus Drouetiella with the separation of four linages corresponding to three known species and one to new taxon. The 16S-23S ITS rRNA sequences of the analyzed Drouetiella strains differ in length and nucleotide composition, which has had an effect on the hypothetical secondary structures of the D1–D1′, Box-B, V2, and V3 helices. As a result of complex study of the genus Drouetiella, a new species—Drouetiella ramosa sp. nov.—is described from the Subarctic of European Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The movement patterns of domestic reindeer depending on indigenous herding practices were studied using GPS collars. Data were collected during the summer-autumn of 2021 from the private Nenets herd in the South of Yamal Peninsula, Russia. We classified the types of herders' influence on reindeer and estimated the densities of GPS fixes on pastures in four time periods in June – November. Based on ethnographic data and personal experience of migrating with Nenets, we hypothesized that a long-lasting stay of reindeer at a nomadic campsite is the significant indicator of human influence on a herd. Our GPS data registered that reindeer stayed at campsites significantly longer in July during the peak of insect harassment. This factor determined the maximum level of human control over the herd as shown by the limited distance of dispersal of reindeer from a campsite. By early August, the active phase of bloodsucking insects concludes as does active control of the herd, allowing a return to freer foraging and increased range of movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Russian resource developers operating in remote parts of the Arctic have demonstrated over the past several years that it is feasible to extract natural resources throughout the year, and ship large quantities of raw materials with regular intervals from the Arctic to international markets; this despite very difficult operational conditions in the Arctic during both winter and spring. Several resource extraction projects are currently being implemented or planned. This study examines how the extractive companies have built up enhanced supply chain resilience and transport reliability to mitigate common Arctic risks. The companies have taken control over supply chains and adopted several precautionary and innovative infrastructure and logistics measures designed to prevent or mitigate disruption to these supply chains. Preferred logistical solutions for all of these extraction projects have developed into large package deals, where long-term production and transport of commodities, icebreaking services, and state support are all included. Western sanctions on Russia as a result of the war in Ukraine, will slow down the pace of future Russian projects in the Arctic, at least in the short to medium-term, but the sanctions are likely to increase the future significance of export terminals on the NSR, as the preferred departure points for Russian Arctic commodities on their way to selective market destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Chironomids, or non-biting midges, are one of the most abundant insect families. Their larvae are an important component of various aquatic ecosystems. In the Chironomus genus, sibling species are found that are not distinguished by morphology. Due to the presence of giant polytene chromosomes in their salivary gland, it is more convenient to use cytogenetics for species identification. The molecular genetic method also has limitations and depends on the level of intra- and interspecific variability of species. We used morphological, cytogenetic, and molecular genetic approaches to the study of chironomid larvae from two lakes on the Yamal Peninsula. We found a few larvae, which by morphology were very similar to the Chironomus riihimakiensis group. By cytogenetics, we identified the species as Ch. laetus, the first species with arm combinations AE BC DF G and propose the name of a new cytocomplex—"laetus". We also found a hybrid, Ch. laetus × Ch. sp. Le1, which is the first hybrid between species from different cytocomplexes. Molecular-genetic analysis of COI gene sequences has shown high values of genetic distance between Ch. laetus and species from the Ch. riihimakiensis group. Molecular genetic data suggests the presence of a subgroup with Ch. laetus. The study of the biological diversity of the Arctic zone yields intriguing results. Initial research on the lakes of the Yamal Peninsula resulted in the identification of Chironomus laetus and the hybrid Ch. laetus × Ch. sp. Le1. To avoid misidentification, we used morphological, cytogenetic, and molecular genetic approaches. By cytogenetics, in Ch. sp. Le1, seven banding sequences were found: Le1A1, Le1B1, Le1C1, Le1D1, Le1E1, Le1F1, and Le1G1. The karyotype of Ch. laetus was mapped for the first time; it is the first species with the arm combinations AE BC DF G. We propose the name of a new cytocomplex—"laetus". DNA-barcoding of the COI gene was carried out for Ch. laetus and Ch. laetus × Ch. sp. Le1 for the first time. The estimated genetic distance between the sequences of Ch. laetus and Ch. riihimakiensis is 2.3–2.5%. The high similarity in morphology, banding sequences, and the possibility of hybridization indicate a close relationship between Ch. laetus and Ch. sp. Le1, which is assumed to be the northern variant of Ch. riihimakiensis. Molecular genetic data suggests the presence of a subgroup with Ch. laetus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content and composition of 19 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in peat oligotrophic soils (Cryic Histosols) in the northern territories of Western Siberia were analyzed by gas chromatography in chloroform extracts. The content of PAHs in the examined soils varies from 33 to 148 ng/g. Low molecular weight (three-ring) PAHs account for 70–75% of the PAHs composition, while the total share of high molecular weight compounds does not exceed 25%. The latter are mainly represented by four-ring species, their concentrations decreasing in the sequence: fluoranthene > pyrene > chrysene. Cluster analysis (Euclidean index and pair group method) demonstrates the correlation of PAH composition with residual eutrophication and manifestation of soil degradation signs. Principal component analysis shows that phenanthrene, pyrene, and, to a lesser degree, fluoranthene and anthracene display the strongest positive correlation with the first component. The second component correlates with the contents of fluoranthene, fluorene, and naphthalene. The degradation of soil oligotrophic peat horizons accompanied by the appearance of mucky material appears as a decrease in the share of fluoranthene and an increase in the concentration of naphthalene. In oligotrophic peat horizons with the signs of residual eutrophication, the share of fluorene and naphthalene increases along with a decrease in the content of phenanthrene and fluoranthene. The diagnostic ratios identified by principal component analysis—Ant/(Ant + Phe) and Flt/Pyr—suggest a natural (petrogenic) origin of the PAHs in all examined peat soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil pollution is today one of the main factors of the technogenic impact on the environment. Emergency oil spills are the main source of the oil pollution. The causes, scales, and environmental consequences of emergency spills are considered. The advantages and drawbacks of methods for eliminating the spills of crude oil and petroleum products on the surface of water bodies are discussed. The features of the sorption method for oil collection from the water surface, which is the most widely used method, are described in detail. Requirements to petroleum sorbents are analyzed, and classes of the sorbents are described. Synthetic polymer sorbents have a set of advantages over other types of oil-absorbing materials. Fighting emergency oil spills should include the activity aimed at their prevention. This is particularly topical for Russia, which starts active operation of the Northern Sea Route and of shelf deposits of fossil fuels in seas of the Russian Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Combined internal overvoltage occurs as a result of the disturbances and failures development in the distribution electrical grids. • In power supply schemes for remote low-power consumers on long-distance lines, quasi-stationary voltage increases are possible due to the capacitive effect of long lines. • Quasi-stationary overvoltages can pose a danger to all substation equipment insulation, including power transformers, voltage transformers, non-linear surge arresters, etc. • Long-term currents exceeding the rated currents of power transformers can lead to power transformers thermal damage or the appearance of insulation defects. • In the event of a violation of the longitudinal symmetry of phase voltages, priority switching is not switching off the load, but disconnecting the network element on which the combined violation occurred. One of the main conditions for the non-development of quasi-stationary overvoltages is the operational work of personnel and the well-established operation of the relay protection. For consumers more than 100km away, this is not always possible to provide. This paper presents simulation-based studies on the 110 kV substations located in the Euro-Arctic region of Russia. Longitudinal and transversal disturbances in the high voltage grid are studied. The influence of the harsh climatic conditions on the rate of occurrence of accidents is shown. The 110-kV section of the Kola power system was considered and the features of this section were analyzed. The simulation model of the investigated section was created in the ATP-EMTP software and a wire break of the overhead transmission line followed by a single phase-to-ground faults of the same phase was simulated. The influence of combined overvoltage on substations electrical equipment is considered. The simulation results show that overvoltages in power grids with one-way power supply can pose a significant threat to insulation of any substation equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on radiocarbon dating, a tephra horizon, varve counts and palaeomagnetism, detailed age models covering the last ~24 k cal a bp, have been developed for the stratigraphy in the lakes Bolshoye Shchuchye and Maloye Shchuchye in the Polar Ural Mountains, Russia. The inclination curves from these lakes show nearly identical palaeomagnetic secular variations in the studied cores from both lakes, allowing for a precise correlation between the cores. A large and very distinct inclination deviation, named the Bolshoye Shchuchye Event, was identified in all cores retrieved from both lakes. It lasted over a period of 1245 years, from 20 470 to 19 225 cal a bp. The well‐dated palaeomagnetic inclination graph offers a new possibility to correlate archives in this part of the Arctic for the last ~24 k cal a bp, probably also over longer distances. The sedimentation rate shows the same trend in all cores from both lakes, including high input during the Last Glacial Maximum and gradually lowering after ~18 k cal a bp to lower and stable Holocene values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to map and provide an overview of international, regional, and national law applicable to marine waste in the Barents Sea, and to analyze fishing industry actors' practices and perceptions of marine waste. We identify gaps between the law and its implementation, enforcement, and practice. The legal framework for marine plastic pollution in the Barents Sea and the Arctic is fragmented and not harmonized. Insufficient waste management facilities and regulations are likely to hinder compliance with existing regulations. There is an urgent need to upgrade the waste management infrastructure for the fishing industry in Norway and in northwest Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Defense Sciences / Savunma Bilmleri Dergisi is the property of Turkish Military Academy Defense Sciences Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Official reindeer herding statistics are an invaluable source of data for both social and natural scientists wishing to understand and model ecological systems in the Arctic. However, as with all official statistics, reindeer herding statistics are subject to certain distortions emerging from the way they are collected and processed as well as from a priori assumptions. In this article, we analyse Soviet/Russian reindeer herding statistics in order to reveal these distortions and assumptions and show how these statistics should be interpreted. Particularly, we analyse reindeer ownership categories and reindeer age/sex categories, spatial organization of the data, so-called magical numbers (statistical parameters used by the state to assess the quality of reindeer herding management), and the manner of collecting statistics. We show that official Soviet/Russian statistics reflected the world as the state wanted to see it, even if it obviously did not completely correspond to the world 'out there'. In Soviet times, the state even made systematic attempts to change this world to better correspond to the statistics, which, however, was never fully achieved. On the basis of this analysis, we offer some recommendations for how an interested researcher should read and understand Russian reindeer herding statistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is the first attempt to assess the role of climatic predictors in the rise of COVID-19 intensity in the Russian climatic region. The study used the Random Forest algorithm to understand the underlying associations and monthly scenarios. The results show that temperature seasonality (29.2 ± 0.9%) has the highest contribution for COVID-19 transmission in the humid continental region. In comparison, the diurnal temperature range (26.8 ± 0.4%) and temperature seasonality (14.6 ± 0.8%) had the highest impacts in the sub-arctic region. Our results also show that September and October have favorable climatic conditions for the COVID-19 spread in the sub-arctic and humid continental regions, respectively. From June to August, the high favorable zone for the spread of the disease will shift towards the sub-arctic region from the humid continental region. The study suggests that the government should implement strict measures for these months to prevent the second wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increase in air temperature leads to a significant transformation of the relief and landscapes of the Arctic. The rate of permafrost degradation, posing a profound change in the Arctic landscape, depends on air temperature, vegetation cover, type of soils, surface and ground waters. The existing international circumpolar programs dedicated to monitoring the temperature state of permafrost TSP (Thermal State Permafrost) and active layer thickness CALM (Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring) are not sufficient for a comprehensive characterization of geocryological conditions. Yet, no standardized protocol exists for permafrost monitoring and related processes. Here, we propose a novel multi-parameter monitoring protocol and implement it for two sites in the European part of the Russian Arctic: the Yary site along the coast of the Baydaratskaya Bay in the Kara Sea (68.9° N) within the continuous permafrost area and the Hanovey site in the Komi Republic (67.3° N) within the discontinuous permafrost area. The protocol includes drilling boreholes, determining the composition and properties (vegetation cover and soils), snow cover measurement, geophysical imaging, active layer estimation and continuous ground temperature measurements. Ground temperature measured in 2014–2020 revealed that amplitudes of surface temperature fluctuations had no significant differences between the Yary and Hanovey sites, while that the mean annual temperatures between the areas had a considerable difference of greater than 3.0 °C. The period of the presence of the active layer changed with the year (e.g., ranging between 135 and 174 days in the Yary site), showing longer when the air temperatures in summer and the preceding winter were higher. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) allowed determining the permafrost distribution and active layer thicknesses. Thermometry results were consistent with our geophysical data. Analyzing the composition and properties of frozen soils helped better interpret the data of geophysical and temperature measurements. By integrating the study of the soil properties, ground temperatures, and ERT, our work allowed us to fully characterize these sites, suggesting that it helps better understand the thermal state at any other research sites in the European north of Russia. Our suggested monitoring protocol enables calibrating and verifying the numerical and analytical models of the heat transfer through the earth's surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the depletion of traditional energy sources, the rising costs of their operation and the need to transition to a sustainable economy, it becomes relevant to increase the share of renewable energy sources in total consumption. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of renewable energy and the establishment of factors determining pro-environmental behavior. The data of the author's sociological survey of the population of the Arctic regions of Russia and methods of descriptive statistics were used, and regression analysis was carried out. The study shows the ecological and energy characteristics of the Arctic regions of Russia. The main advantages and possibilities of transition to renewable energy sources have been identified. A relationship has been established between the degree of involvement in pro-environmental behavior and knowledge about renewable energy, the perceived importance of environmental problems, age, income, education, amount of waste produced and current electricity costs. It is shown that the degree of involvement in pro-environmental behavior affects the willingness to pay more for renewable energy. A number of institutional measures to promote renewable energy, increase willingness to pay for renewable energy and spread pro-environmental behavior are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Regional Science Policy & Practice is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses the valuation of ecosystem services in connection with the economic activity of the Russian Federation in the Arctic zone. It also considers the categories of ecosystem services in general and the assessment of ecosystem services in the Arctic in particular. The article also considers types of negative impacts on the Arctic ecosystems, their assessment, and investment risks existing in ecosystem services. It is shown that the application of the methodology and ecosystem services contributes to the adequate assessment and creation of a hierarchical classification of "usefulness" and "benefits" for society derived from the existence, use, and non-use of ecosystems. The concept of Arctic ecosystem services consists of three components: identification, monetisation, and ecological risk assessment. Identification, classification, and initial assessment, mainly at the qualitative level, allow us to determine and classify services for further improvement of life quality and regulation of socio-economic effects of environmental changes. Quantitative assessment is related to the identification of the degree of ecosystem service amenability. The example of the Arctic ecosystems shows that the possibility to assess and the accuracy of the assessment can be quite different and largely depends on the type of service. The analysis of possible ecosystem services and their relationship with the quality of life in the Russian Arctic indicates significant investment risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is the apex predator of the Arctic but its distribution throughout the Pleistocene and Holocene has not previously been reported. Although natural death specimens of this species ('fossils') are rare, archaeological remains are much more common. This historical compilation presents the record of known ancient polar bear remains from fossil and archaeological contexts before AD 1910. Most remains date within the Holocene and derive from human habitation sites within the modern range of the species, with extralimital specimens documented in the north Atlantic during the late Pleistocene and in the southern Bering Sea during the middle Holocene reflecting natural expansions of sea ice during known cold periods. The single largest polar bear assemblage was recovered from an archaeological site on Zhokhov Island, Russia, occupied ca. 8,250-7,800 a BP during the warmer-than-today Holocene Climatic Optimum: 5,915 polar bear bones were recovered, representing 28% of all remains identified. Polar bear fossils and archaeological remains across the Arctic are most often found in proximity to areas where polynyas (recurring areas of thin ice or open water) are known today and which likely occurred in the past, including for the oldest known fossil from Svalbard (ca. 130-115 k a BP) and the oldest known archaeological specimens from Zhokhov Island (ca. 8,000 a BP). This pattern indicates that as they do today, polar bears may have been most commonly found near polynyas throughout their known historical past because of their need for ice-edge habitats at which to hunt seals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]