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An analysis of the ecological characteristics of cyanobacteria of the Svalbard Archipelago was carried out. Two groups of habitats (aquatic and terrestrial ones) were identified. The degree of water saturation was the main factor determining the development of cyanobacteria. The variability of habitats can be represented as a gradient of moisture from typically aquatic to subaerophytic and dry terrestrial habitats. Based on the number of finds and species richness, the most favorable habitats for cyanobacteria in Svalbard were as follows: (1) rocky communities under conditions of sufficient moisture, (2) exposed soil surfaces on which biological soil crusts were formed, (3) well-warmed slow streams, and (4) specific waterlogged habitats, such as seepages. Using the example of the analysis of the ecological characteristics of species growing on the archipelago, the concept of eurybiont properties of cyanobacteria was shown to be inconsistent. The greatest plasticity was exhibited by Nostoc commune Vauch. ex Born. et Flah., Microcoleus autumnalis (Trev. ex Gom.) Strunecky et al.,Calothrix parietina Thur. ex Born. et Flah., Oscillatoria tenuis C. Ag. ex Gom., and Pseudanabaena frigida (Fritsch) Anagn. All species, including those mentioned above, had obvious ecological preferences. An analysis of the substrate specificity of cyanprokaryotes indicated that the greatest number of their species was found in soil, rocky substrates, and moss-like environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic is one of the key regions in relation to global climate change, experiencing radical transformations in environmental governance as well as challenges in terms of its ecological protection. The region is witnessing a number of irreversible climatic shifts, such as melting permafrost, rising sea levels, contamination of the Global Ocean, and changes in the lives of indigenous people. The Arctic is a global hot spot in climate change where international cooperation (scientific, environmental, diplomatic, etc.) should be a priority to overcome existing ecological challenges. This article provides detailed analysis of these issues from cross-disciplinary perspectives, bringing insights from economics, history, anthropology, international relations, and political science from the perspective of literature on environmental regionalism. The article analyzes a selection of heterogeneous actors, many of whom have contradictory rules, norms, and priorities. Analysis of the Arctic through the lens of regional environmental governance aspires to contribute to understanding of the complexity of existing challenges and their potential solutions. This article offers an analysis of the major findings in this topical collection. It contributes to the development of cross-disciplinary approach to the studies of the Artic and outlines a research agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines tourism professionals' perceptions of climate change and their reactions to the associated challenges. Sixteen in-depth interviews with tourism professionals who work at Arctic destinations in Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark (i.e. Greenland), reveal that the professionals acknowledge several pressing issues arising from climate change, such as glacier retreating and snow shortfall. It discovers one salient adaptation action in association with snow-related activities. Further, three streams of driving forces prompt the professionals to devise sustainable mitigation actions entailing (1) staging socially responsible and wellbeing tourist experiences, (2) implementing waste programmes friendly to the Arctic ecosystem, and (3) cultivating eco-friendly practices through certifications and educational programmes. Lastly, to further construe the attitudes of tourism professionals, this study elicits the Climate Resilience Model on Arctic Tourism, characterizing the interplay among climate impacts, driving forces, and climate actions by the tourism business across four Arctic nations under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For over one hundred years, humans have been actively exploring polar regions. At present, each year, several thousand people work at polar stations in the Arctic and Antarctica. Polar stations have unique workplace characteristics; the conditions are classified as isolated, confined, and extreme. This leaves the important question of what motivates people to carry out professional tasks in such a context, particularly during wintering over in a polar station. The current study was designed to answer that question. Eighty-six winterers (22 women and 64 men) from ten different countries described their motivation to winter over. The qualitative approach, thematic analysis, was applied to data analysis. Two coding cycles were applied: initial coding and theming of the data. Fifty-six detailed categories were identified and then grouped thematically, resulting in 17 main categories. The three main motivation categories were challenge and adventure (N = 36), unique experience (N = 16), and performance of the job (N = 15). There were also differences in motivation between explorers from different countries, from Arctic and Antarctic polar stations, from civilian and military polar stations, and between female and male polar expeditioners. Obtained results can be applied to improve selection procedures and better support expeditioners during their stay in the polar station.

The effects of climate change are much more rapid and visible in the Arctic than in the rest of the globe. The Arctic is extremely attractive scientifically and cognitively. Therefore, polar regions may serve as some of the most captivating natural settings capable of engage society in discussions on environmental changes. The primary objective of this paper is to present selected initiatives implemented by the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences that aimed to connect polar research with schools and society, and show evidence on their effectiveness, with special focus on pupils from primary and secondary schools. In this paper, an overview of the educational and science communication initiatives undertaken by the Institute of Geophysics PAS for schools and whole society is presented, with the focus on polar research. Next, some results of the evaluation studies for those projects, that conducted detailed impact assessment, are discussed. Based on the evaluation studies and on general not-structured feedback received from diverse audiences of Institute’s activities, positive impact of bringing polar research closer to the society was observed. Using the Arctic and polar research as a vehicle to inspire interest in science and to raise societal awareness of the environmental challenges in various groups of non-specialists may be a very effective mean of science communication.

The first Arctic explorers underwent no formal selection procedure, and their personality traits were not diagnosed. Today, select in and select out procedures in systematic screening activities are common, although each country manages a polar station recruits according to its standards. The main goal of this article is to present the results of personality tests of work candidates at the Polish Polar Station Hornsund in Spitsbergen in 2019–2023. The applicants’ personality was diagnosed with the NEO Five-Factor Inventory examining the Big Five personality traits. Results indicated that candidates for work in the polar station were significantly lower in neuroticism, slightly lower in openness to experience and higher in conscientiousness than the general Polish population. Moreover, there was a significant discrepancy in neuroticism between winterers and those not selected for wintering. This result was not observed in the female group. Potential reasons for study outcomes will be discussed in the article.

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) serve a narrow, filamentary channels responsible for intense moisture and heat transport, which are vital for the Arctic sea ice loss and surface air warming, particularly in winter. In this study, ERA5 reanalysis data from 1979 to 2020 are used to investigate the evolution of ARs in the Arctic and the corresponding atmospheric circulation patterns in winter. Our findings indicate that atmospheric circulation is a key factor that facilitates the transport and dispersion of ARs. Cyclonic circulation anomalies provide the dynamical support for ARs in the early development stages, while anticyclonic anomalies are essential for maintaining the thermal and moisture conditions of ARs, particularly after their intrusions into the Arctic region. The cooperation between cyclonic and anticyclonic anomalies plays a critical role in the infiltration and dispersion of ARs, governed by distinct circulation modes for regional intrusions. A positive Arctic Oscillation‐like pattern manifests as a cyclonic system over the Arctic, increasing the likelihood of AR intrusion into Baffin Bay. Conversely, a negative pattern induces a more intense anticyclonic system over the Arctic, thereby raising the frequency of ARs in the Bering Strait. The Pacific‐North American pattern not only directly affects ARs entering the Arctic via the Pacific but also has downstream impacts on ARs intruding the Arctic through Baffin Bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The governance of the water, energy, and food (WEF) nexus is significant in the Arctic, where environmental changes are occurring at an accelerated pace, intensifying resource dynamics and geopolitical implications. Against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving Arctic landscape shaped by the global climate change, melting ice, and resource exploration, the WEF nexus emerges as a vital framework for understanding and addressing the region's complex resource interdependencies. Nonetheless, legal research in this context is still in its early stages, and, specifically in the context of the Arctic, we did not find any such research. This study assesses a nexus approach to WEF in Arctic's transdisciplinary and multifaceted environment from an international law perspective to address the intricate dynamics that shape the resilience and security of WEF resources in an increasingly interconnected and accessible Arctic. Our objective in this study is to introduce international law as an overarching network of international rules and principles, legal instruments, and relevant institutions as a starting point to address the WEF governance intricacies in the Arctic, facilitating the harmonization of diverse interests, ensuring equitable access to resources, and promoting sustainable development. We argue that international law constitutes the essential means to address a nexus approach to WEF and its issues and complexities in a transboundary context within the Arctic. By examining existing international legal frameworks applicable to the Arctic and related instruments, policies, journals, and other publications, this paper seeks to canvas how international law is in support of a nexus approach to WEF in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusive trade is a pressing need for the future world trading system. Indigenous peoples are among the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in many countries, either developed or developing countries, throughout their entanglement with globalization and require public support to maintain their traditions as well as economic life. For these reasons, many World Trade Organization (hereinafter “WTO”) member states provide fisheries subsidies as a tool for economic development and a proper means for reconciliation with indigenous rights. However, fisheries subsidies have been subject to greater scrutiny, and the need for further international regulation is widely recognized from the perspective of sustainable development. Against this background, this study examines the impact of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (hereinafter “FSA”) 2022 to cast light on potential legal impacts that the current FSA 2022 could have on indigenous communities, especially those who depend on fishing for their subsistence. We start with a brief description of the factual background of the difficulties that many indigenous peoples are facing, and then summarize indigenous peoples’ rights to fishing in the relevant fields of international law (Section II). Next, we find legal uncertainties in the jurisdictional part of the FSA 2022, especially in its scope and definition clauses (Section III.A). We identify several systemic concerns that may emerge from such uncertainties (Section III.B) and propose that such concerns should be addressed in the course of the ongoing negotiations for the comprehensive disciplines, and that inserting an exception clause for the indigenous peoples’ rights is an option (Section IV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article dwells upon characteristics of the species richness of parasite communities in least cisco Coregonus sardinella Valenciennes in Polar water bodies: Kureyskoye Reservoir, Lake Kutaramakan, Khatanga River. The communities consist of parasite species common in coregonids. The main species in all the parasite communities in least cisco are Dibothriocephalus ditremus and D. dendriticus. Triaenophorus crassus plerocercoids dominate in the regulated water body (Kureyskoye Reservoir). To analyze the species richness of the component communities (s), coefficients of the power-law equation s = a × nb were applied, where a is the expected species richness in the first host individual examined, and b is the rate of species accumulation in parasite component communities (s). The resulting curves of species accumulation give statistical rigor to the assessment of differences and similarities of the species richness of the component communities of parasites in least cisco of various ages and habitats. The species richness of infra- and component parasite communities in least cisco was found to be significantly lower in the lake and the storage reservoir than in riverine habitats (Khatanga River). At the same time, the species accumulation rate for parasite communities in least cisco from Lake Kutaramakan was higher than in the reservoir due to a higher diversity of parasite infracommunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preferential regime of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation is the latest regulatory mechanism designed to overcome negative socio-economic trends in the macroregion. The accumulated factual data over the three-year period of this work have made it possible to make the first reasonable estimates of its effects on the regional economy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the presence of transformational changes in the relationship between employment and investment due to the introduction of the preferential regime for key sectors in the regions that are fully or partially included in the Russian Arctic. The relationship between investment and employment in regional industries was studied using least squares regression analysis using Advanced Grapher 2.2 software. The results show, firstly, significant differences in trends in the implementation of preferential treatment: increased economic specialization of some regions and diversification of the economies of other regions. Secondly, there is a slowdown in the emergence of new projects. Thirdly, the markedly different employment effects across industries and regions of the Russian Arctic, as well as the changing nature of the relationship between investment and employment, require a significant revision of regulatory measures and economic policies to maximize regime effects and achieve sustainable long-term regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the extent to which the justice concerns of local stakeholders in the Arctic region of Finland are reflected in recent legal reforms. The reforms concern the Mining Act, the Act on a Mined Minerals Tax, the Nature Conservation Act, the Environmental Damages Fund, and the Act on the Sámi Parliament. The assessment is made from the perspectives of distributive, procedural, recognition, and intergenerational justice. We identified the justice concerns by conducting 21 interviews and a workshop, after which we analysed the legal reforms and discussed whether they reflected the justice concerns expressed by local stakeholders. We concluded that most of the justice concerns had been addressed, but only to a certain extent. Still, the most fundamental features of the governance of mining activities have not changed. By its very nature, the Finnish system of mineral ownership has remained a claim system, albeit not an entirely pure one. The reforms were not designed to limit the total volume of mining activities, and the mineral industry, backed by the EU and national policies, is likely to grow in the region. The most important legal change concerns the position of the municipal council. Today, a local land use plan is a precondition for granting a mining permit. The national Parliament did not approve a government proposal to reform the Sámi Parliament Act, which was a significant failure in recognition justice.

Abstract Time‐lapse cameras have been widely used as a tool to monitor the timing of seasonal vegetation growth. These simple, relatively inexpensive systems can provide high‐frequency observations of leaf development and demography which are critical data sets needed to characterize plant phenology from species to landscapes. This is important for understanding how plants are responding to global changes, as well as for validating satellite‐derived phenology products. However, in remote regions including the high‐latitude Arctic, deploying time‐lapse cameras could be challenging. The remoteness and lack of widespread power and telecommunications infrastructure limit options for the installation, maintenance and retrieval of data and equipment, and make it difficult for cameras to survive in extreme weather (e.g. long cold winters). To improve our understanding of Arctic phenology, new technologies are required to address these challenges. Here, we present a novel, low‐power, compact, lightweight time‐lapse camera system, called power‐interval camera automation module (PiCAM). The PiCAM was designed with explicit consideration to simplify deployment (i.e. without a need for external power supplies) of camera systems and to address the challenges of camera survival in harsh Arctic environments. In this paper, we describe the design, setup and technical details of the PiCAM and provide a roadmap for how to build and operate these systems. As proof of concept, we deployed 26 PiCAMs at three low‐Arctic tundra sites on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska in early August 2021 for characterizing Arctic plant phenology. Of the 26 PiCAMs, 70% remained active at the point of our revisit in late July 2022 despite the extreme winter temperatures they experienced (< −30°C, heavy snow cover). We extracted key plant phenology metrics from the PiCAMs and captured strong differences across key Arctic plant species. We showed that the PiCAM has the potential to be widely used for monitoring plant phenology across the broader Arctic region, addressing the need for ground‐based understanding of Arctic phenological diversity to develop knowledge of plant response to climate change and to validate remote sensing products.

We present the results of impact toughness testing of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics based on an epoxy matrix and components forming an independent liquid phase in a composite structure (Loctite 638 anaerobic polymer material, Unisil-9628 silicone elastomer, synthetic wax). The tests were conducted after samples were held at temperatures of 20 ± 2, –30, and –50°C using the Charpy method for an impact direction perpendicular to the plane. Using an anaerobic polymer material as a component of the liquid phase in a hybrid matrix yields the highest impact toughness among the comparable types of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics and ensures the stability of this characteristic after holding at –50°C. The inclusion of synthetic wax in the composite matrix provides stability in impact toughness after storage at –30°C. Carbon fiber-reinforced plastic samples containing silicone elastomer in the hybrid matrix exhibit the lowest impact toughness after holding at various temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time‐lapse cameras have been widely used as a tool to monitor the timing of seasonal vegetation growth. These simple, relatively inexpensive systems can provide high‐frequency observations of leaf development and demography which are critical data sets needed to characterize plant phenology from species to landscapes. This is important for understanding how plants are responding to global changes, as well as for validating satellite‐derived phenology products.However, in remote regions including the high‐latitude Arctic, deploying time‐lapse cameras could be challenging. The remoteness and lack of widespread power and telecommunications infrastructure limit options for the installation, maintenance and retrieval of data and equipment, and make it difficult for cameras to survive in extreme weather (e.g. long cold winters). To improve our understanding of Arctic phenology, new technologies are required to address these challenges.Here, we present a novel, low‐power, compact, lightweight time‐lapse camera system, called power‐interval camera automation module (PiCAM). The PiCAM was designed with explicit consideration to simplify deployment (i.e. without a need for external power supplies) of camera systems and to address the challenges of camera survival in harsh Arctic environments. In this paper, we describe the design, setup and technical details of the PiCAM and provide a roadmap for how to build and operate these systems. As proof of concept, we deployed 26 PiCAMs at three low‐Arctic tundra sites on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska in early August 2021 for characterizing Arctic plant phenology.Of the 26 PiCAMs, 70% remained active at the point of our revisit in late July 2022 despite the extreme winter temperatures they experienced (< −30°C, heavy snow cover). We extracted key plant phenology metrics from the PiCAMs and captured strong differences across key Arctic plant species. We showed that the PiCAM has the potential to be widely used for monitoring plant phenology across the broader Arctic region, addressing the need for ground‐based understanding of Arctic phenological diversity to develop knowledge of plant response to climate change and to validate remote sensing products. [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]

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Results of an assessment study on coping strategies and psychological state of indigenous students (Chukchi) of the Chukotsky Multidisciplinary College in the city of Anadyr under the COVID-19 pandemic conditions were presented in the paper. Methods. Psychological testing was performed with the following standardized methods: the coping test of R. Lazarus and S. Folkman (Ways of Coping Questionnaire, WCQ), the Toronto Alexithymic Scale (TAS-26), The Level of Social Frustration (adolescent version of LSF), and Neuro Psychic Adaptation (NPA) by I.N. Gurvich. Results. Overall, male students’ preferred coping strategies were “escape-avoidance”, “self-control”, and “problem solving planning”. Female students chose “escape-avoidance” and “positive reassessment”. A pronounced preference for the non-adaptive “escape-avoidance” strategy was observed in 56% of boys and 75% of girls. Both male and female students’ least used strategy was “taking responsibility”. More than 40% of the examined students tended to have signs of neuroticism and stress. Girls were mainly characterized by neuro psychic instability. On average, both male and female students proved to be at risk based on their level of alexithymia. Alexithymic traits were characteristic of 69% of boys and 86% of girls. Social frustration about any fields was uncertain. However, 20-27% of students expressed dissatisfaction about their mental health and more than a third (33-40%) felt unhappy with their health in general. Conclusion. A big number of students, both males and females, exhibited low neuro psychic stability and highly intensed copings which, along with alexithymia and under prolonged exposure to unfavorable factors, can cause increased vulnerability to stressful situations, lowered overall psychological stability, disturbed reactions of adaptation, and depleted functional adaptive potential.

Scarce research into the secondary metabolites of the fungi Pseudogymnoascus spp. has shown a hidden biosynthetic potential for biologically active compounds. This work investigated the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites by two Pseudogymnoascus fungal strains, VKM F-4518 and VKM F-4519, isolated from the surface soil layer of the Kolyma Lowland, Russia, in the Arctic. In these strains, 16-membered trilactone macrolides, (+)-macrosphelides A and B, were identified using 1D and 2D NMR, UHRMS, and optical rotation data. In the fungi of this genus, these metabolites were found for the first time. The studied strains are highly active producers of macrosphelide A, which is being considered as a promising agent for the cure of cancer. Using the antiSMASH secondary metabolite analysis tool, we found that the genome of strain VKM F-4518 contained 32 of the biosynthetic clusters of the secondary metabolite genes (BGC) and that of VKM F-4519 had 17 BGCs. Based on the comparison of the cluster of macrotriolide genes from the fungus Paraphaeosphaeria sporulosa, we found the complete supposed cluster BGCs of macrosphelides in the genomes of two Pseudogymnoascus strains using the BLAST+ program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The review analyzes a range and prevalence of health disorders in workers employed at mining enterprises in the Arctic and exposed to heterogeneous occupational factors. We revealed that working processes typical for basic occupations in under-ground mining involved exposure to a set of heterogeneous harmful and (or) hazardous occupational factors such as intense occupational noise; elevated vibration; aerosols with predominantly fibrogenic effects, dusts and chemicals; high hardness and intensity typical for physical work; non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. It was shown that diseases of the ear and mastoid, vibration syndrome, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, respiratory diseases and diseases of the nervous system prevailed both in the structure of general morbidity and in occupational one typical for miners. To create proper working conditions and to minimize effects of harmful and hazardous occupational factors as well as occupational health risks, it is advisable to perform comprehensive hygienic assessment of introduced equipment, machinery and mechanisms; to establish levels and doses of occupational factors. Engineering and technical, technological, medical and preventive and treatment and health-improving activities should be developed on this basis with special emphasis on such occupational groups as drift miners, drill-operators, blasters, timbermen, operators of cargo handling machinery, drilling unit operators, miners in mining outputs and faces, repairmen, and electric gas welders. It seems extremely vital to apply risk assessment methodology to assess occupational health risks for workers employed in mining operations in the Norilsk industrial region considering climatic features of the Arctic. This assessment is important for substantiating relevant activities aimed at managing such risks and protecting workers’ health.

The transition of Arctic single-industry towns to sustainable models of local economic and community development is a daunting task, given the mutual interdependence of the local economy and the life cycle of the town’s primary employer. To achieve sustainability, the organic co-development of social and human capital is crucial. Interaction institutions formed within the framework of social activities are key components stimulating social capital development in the local community, which in turn leads to the consolidation of the human capital in the territory. The purpose of the study is to identify social activity and social capital features within the local community of Kostomuksha Urban District as well as migration attitudes of different population groups highly important for population replacement. The study used a range of sociological, statistical, and general research methods to reveal the social practices prevailing in the community of Kostomuksha Urban District, identify and characterize the population groups that are vital for the regeneration of social capital, and compare their migration attitudes. Based on the results of the study, conclusions were drawn about the sustainability of social capital regeneration in Kostomuksha Urban District and the influence of its aspects on the consolidation of human capital. The research reveals the need for a concentrated effort by the local government to increase local sustainability by expanding social space through involving the surrounding territories and preventing institutional distortions in upward social mobility processes. The scientific novelty of the research lies in its methodological approach, which synthesizes the role-based and temporal components of social activity in the analysis of sociological research data. Also, as a new administrative entity in the Russian Arctic and a definite exception in terms of socioeconomic development of the Arctic monotowns, Kostomuksha Urban District has been previously studied to a very limited extent. The research has practical implications for devising strategic documents for regional development and socioeconomic management of single-industry towns.

The study was carried out to design a concept for developing the coal industry in the Far North of the Russian Federation. The concept is based on an assessment of the region’s prospects for the industrial development and the specific features of local coal mining. The object of the study was a set of licensed companies operating coal deposits in the Far North. The subject of the study was a long-term development concept for such companies. The relevance of the study lies in the fact that the economic potential of the Far North of Russia is not fully realized. One of the promising areas for the development of the region is the creation of new coal production and processing centers. The diverse coal compositions in the Far North make it possible to produce advanced carbon products, which is an alternative direction for the use of solid fuels in the conditions of the fourth energy transition accompanied by a decrease in the role of coal in the energy sector. The article presents the results of an analysis of the current situation in the coal industry of the Far North. The analysis covers such aspects as the distribution of coal reserves, the locations of coal mine operators, their production and economic indicators, and their relationships with the external environment. Based on the results of the analysis, proposals for the development of the industry in the short and long term are formulated. The study’s novelty lies in the concretization of the list of coal mining companies operating in the Far North, the analysis of their economic indicators for the period from 2018 to 2021, and the presentation of a new concept for the development of such businesses. The study identified a lower level of coal deposit development in the Far North compared to other regions of Russia, an increase in the contribution of mining companies operating in the Far North regions to the total financial output of the coal industry, and factors limiting the growth rate of coal production in the northern areas, including the limited scope of distribution channels for end products.

The aim of the study was to identify the key trends in the structural development of industrial production in the regions of the Russian Arctic. Based on the share of industrial activity in the gross value added, the total volume of investment in fixed capital, and the number of employees, the authors analyzed structural shifts and assessed changes in the structure of industrial production in nine regions that are fully or partially located in the Russian Arctic. To quantitatively measure structural transformations, we used indices such as the structural shift mass, the index of the difference between two structures (Ryabtsev index), and the quadratic coefficient of absolute structural shifts (Kazinets index). The study found that over the period 2005–2020, the main trend in the structural transformations of industrial production in the regions of the Russian Arctic was the growing economic dominance and investment attractiveness of industries associated with the extraction of minerals. It is shown that the pace of structural shifts in the industry of the Arctic regions had a clear dependence on the phase of the economic cycle: during crises, the deviations of the shares of structural elements in all the structures under study increased markedly compared to the subsequent periods of economic activity. This dependence confirms the significant transformational impact of geopolitical and geoeconomic processes on the existing system of economic activity in the Arctic, indicating the need for further research on this topic in light of the recent large-scale crises of 2020–2022. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the use of multiple parameters that allow for assessing the scale of structural transformations taking place in the industrial production of Arctic regions more fully and deeply. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of using the results in developing regional strategies and programs for the socioeconomic development of the Arctic.

The governance of the water, energy, and food (WEF) nexus is significant in the Arctic, where environmental changes are occurring at an accelerated pace, intensifying resource dynamics and geopolitical implications. Against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving Arctic landscape shaped by the global climate change, melting ice, and resource exploration, the WEF nexus emerges as a vital framework for understanding and addressing the region’s complex resource interdependencies. Nonetheless, legal research in this context is still in its early stages, and, specifically in the context of the Arctic, we did not find any such research. This study assesses a nexus approach to WEF in Arctic’s transdisciplinary and multifaceted environment from an international law perspective to address the intricate dynamics that shape the resilience and security of WEF resources in an increasingly interconnected and accessible Arctic. Our objective in this study is to introduce international law as an overarching network of international rules and principles, legal instruments, and relevant institutions as a starting point to address the WEF governance intricacies in the Arctic, facilitating the harmonization of diverse interests, ensuring equitable access to resources, and promoting sustainable development. We argue that international law constitutes the essential means to address a nexus approach to WEF and its issues and complexities in a transboundary context within the Arctic. By examining existing international legal frameworks applicable to the Arctic and related instruments, policies, journals, and other publications, this paper seeks to canvas how international law is in support of a nexus approach to WEF in this region.

This article reviews the main properties of the modular design of small nuclear power plants (SNPPs), shows the possibility of reducing the cost and construction time of this class of plants through factory production, the effect of serialization, and the reduction of redundant safety systems. The prospects for significant expansion of the field of application of nuclear technologies due to their modularity and the possibility to ensure high safety performance are presented. Possible areas of SNPP use for power supply of remote territories including the Arctic area, production of high-potential heat and hydrogen for industrial consumers, and other applications are analyzed. It shows the need to develop and implement a new nuclear energy technology platform based on SNPPs to solve the problems of global decarbonization of the world economy by significantly expanding the scope of nuclear energy technologies in addition to the currently developed technological platform of a closed nuclear fuel cycle with fast neutron reactors and the technological platform of controlled thermonuclear fusion. The authors propose to create a pilot site for testing technologies for captive production of hydrogen (heat) for an industrial consumer, as well as other technologies for the utilitarian use of SNPPs based on a pilot demonstration of a nuclear power plant with a high-temperature (about 1100°C) fast neutron reactor with a gas coolant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic is often cast as a site where natural resources can be extracted with processes eased by retreating sea ice. This article argues that Arctic resource euphoria is misplaced – at least partly – due to the worsening climatic, ecological, and social crises that increase the costs and risks of extraction. Permafrost melt is making mineral and fossil fuel extraction riskier and more difficult, as extractive infrastructures – built with great sunk costs – are deteriorating. The climate catastrophe can already be observed, first-hand, in the Arctic. This can give insights into what kinds of dynamics can be expected globally. The deterioration of extractive infrastructures caused by the climate crisis is likely to dampen the forecasts for expanding extractivism. This article identifies interdisciplinary research gaps and needs, while offering new prognoses for the future in and through the Arctic at the interface of climate crises, global climate tipping points, and resource extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Głównym celem prezentowanej pracy była ocena zobrazowań satelitarnych Landsat 8 pod kątem obecności zachmurzenia nad strefą czołową lodowca Aavatsmarka (NW Spitsbergen, Svalbard). W pracy wykorzystano wszystkie dostępne do pobrania zobrazowania Landsat 8 wykonane od początku misji (początek 2013 r.) do końca 2020 r. oraz obejmujące cały obszar zainteresowania (AOI). Łącznie było to 868 zdjęć satelitarnych. Stopień widoczności strefy AOI na każdym obrazie został obliczony przy użyciu obrazu Quality Assessment Band (QA), który stanowi integralną część zbioru danych Landsat 8. Dane QA zostały zreklasyfikowane, pogrupowane w określone klasy widoczności i przedstawione w ujęciu rocznym oraz miesięcznym. Przeprowadzono również analizę częstości występowania zobrazowań użytecznych, tj. takich, na których stopień pokrycia terenu zachmurzeniem jest nie większy niż 5%. Spośród wszystkich dostępnych zobrazowań, na przestrzeni analizowanych lat tylko 176 (ok. 20%) zawierało obszar w pełni widoczny, zaś ok. 60% zdjęć było pokrytych chmurami w ponad 95%. Dane te porównano również z wynikami zachmurzenia w najbliższej stacji meteorologicznej w Ny-Ålesund. In many parts of the world, glaciers are the main source of water supply for hundreds of millions of people, a source of electricity generation or an element responsible for the local structure of flora and fauna. It is recognized that the dynamics of the mass balance of glaciers are an early response to the currently observed climate change, associated with long-term industrial and post-industrial activities. Due to the location of glaciers and difficult direct access to them, research expeditions are exposed to high costs associated with ensuring safety and logistics, as well as supplying them with equipment necessary to conduct research. The example of the COVID-19 pandemic drew attention to additional, previously unforeseen difficulties with the organization of research expeditions. In relation to the above, remote methods of obtaining data on glaciers, including widely used remote sensing methods, are becoming extremely important. The polar areas that accumulate most of the ice on the Earth are observed with selected satellites much more often than areas located in moderate and low latitudes. This is due to the overlapping of successive acquisition paths towards the poles. The shortened time interval between acquisitions creates potentially high possibilities of using this data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of aerosol sources on the pollution of the Russian sector of the Arctic is now strongly underestimated. A new polar aerosol station was arranged in August 2019 on Bely Island (Kara Sea), on the pathway of air mass transport from industrial regions of Western Siberia to the Arctic. Continuous aethalometer measurements of a short-lived climate tracer, i.e., black carbon, (from December to April 2019 and from January to November 2020) showed its seasonal variations with high values (60–92 ng/m3) in December–April and low values (18–72 ng/m3) in June–September. Pollution periods are identified. Regional distribution of fossil fuel and biomass combustion sources are obtained using the black carbon concentration weight trajectory model. The impact of gas flaring from oil and gas extraction areas of Western Siberia, the Volga region, the Urals, and the Komi Republic is found to be most pronounced during the cold period, and the impact from wildfire smoke emissions is found to be maximal in the warm season. A marker of biomass burning impact, determined from the difference between the black carbon concentrations measured in a broad wavelength spectrum, indicated the predominant effects from residential wood combustion in the cold period and agricultural and forest fires in the warm season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reveals the issues of preparation of the Petsamo-Kirkenes offensive operation on October 7–29, 1944. Based on the study of domestic and foreign literature, an analysis of the prerequisites, stages of the operation at the time of its planning, as well as the features of the use of troops at the beginning of the operation is presented. The composition of the forces and means of the opposing sides is revealed. The tasks of the parts at the initial stage of the operation are disclosed.