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- "Scientists estimated the restoration of the Mir deep-sea vehicles at 20 billion rubles."
"Scientists estimated the restoration of the Mir deep-sea vehicles at 20 billion rubles."
The restoration of the Mir deep-sea vehicles will allow Russia to regain priority in underwater research at depths up to 6 km. Mikhail Flint, Scientific director of the Ecology of the Seas and Oceans department at the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences, told Izvestia about this in an interview. This is 98% of the ocean floor. In general, in his opinion, 10 large scientific vessels, including an icebreaker, are needed to ensure the interests of our country in the oceans. Read more in an interview with Izvestia.
"Humanity will extract 60% of the electronics components of the future from the seas"
— Mikhail Vladimirovich, your institute specializes in the World Ocean. Why is it important to study it?
— First of all, it is the key to the survival of mankind. The world's population is 8 billion people. Of these, 1 billion are starving, and another 2 billion are not getting enough physiologically necessary food. At the same time, land resources are rapidly being depleted, and the ocean is becoming a key source of nutrition. Currently, the catch is about 100 million tons of seafood per year. But in principle, this source can give us much more.
We must remember that marine products can also come to our table indirectly, through the creation of feed for aquaculture. For example, Peruvian anchovy, which is the world's largest commercial species, produced more than 10 million tons in peak years, but almost the entire volume was processed into fish meal, which was used to make very effective feed for chickens, ducks, and turkeys. Thanks to this, in the 1970s, the United States, which monopolized the purchase of this flour, became leaders in the production of broilers.
At the same time, marine biota is an important and poorly developed source of substrates. In particular, biologically active substances and antibiotics for the pharmaceutical industry.
— What other riches are hidden by the depths?
— Some areas of the World Ocean are rich in ores. It is noteworthy that in marine deposits (such as manganese nodules, sulfide polymetallic ores or cobalt-nickel crusts) the content of useful elements is 10 times higher than in terrestrial ones. Moreover, deep-sea mining technologies already exist. The development is largely hampered by unresolved legal issues related mainly to the protection of ecosystems. According to current estimates, humanity will extract 60% of the electronics components of the future from the seas.
The ocean also plays a significant role in the carbon cycle. It absorbs up to 30% of anthropogenic CO2. Dissolved in water, this component becomes the main formation of phytoplankton, which, in turn, is the basis for the existence of the entire aquatic biological system. About 65 gigatons of this primary biomass are formed in the seas per year.
It must be said that the ocean is the "kitchen" of the global climate and the source of natural disasters (tsunamis, hurricanes). It is also the main transportation highway of the planet. It provides 80% of all global trade. In addition, it is a colossal recreational area, which plays an increasingly important role in the psychological recovery of people.
"Marine research is the muscle in the struggle for influence and resources"
— Why should Russian scientists explore the ocean on a global scale?
— Today it is the arena of intense geopolitical confrontation, the struggle for access to its riches, and marine research is the muscles in the struggle for influence and resources. Scientific validity is one of the important international rules that open up access to ocean resources. The implementation of these rules is strictly controlled by the UN commissions.
For example, CCAMLR (the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, one of the founders of which was the USSR) is now limiting Russia's catch of krill, the most valuable biological resource of the Southern Ocean. The reason is that our country does not conduct the necessary research and does not provide scientifically sound evidence of safe fishing. The Institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences have conducted only two specialized expeditions to Antarctica in the last more than 10 years. And this is obviously not enough. Meanwhile, krill is a valuable biological resource. Forecasts allow us to talk about the catch of up to 1 million tons per year, but the Russian Federation is not yet involved in the division of this "pie".
The issues of exploration and extraction of underwater minerals in the ocean, as well as the expansion of the boundaries of offshore zones are being resolved in the UN commissions on the law of the sea, including the Committee on the Seabed, and here, without special scientific research, Russia is gradually losing its position. Over the past seven years, our country has not conducted a single major scientific expedition in the areas of ore deposits on the ocean floor, and only one in areas promising for fishing. And then only by the decision of the president after the report of the Minister of Foreign Affairs that we are being "forced out of Antarctica."
— How does our country defend its rights to the Arctic shelf?
— Russian specialists have carried out extensive work to confirm that the Lomonosov and Mendeleev ranges belong to the Siberian continental Platform. The evidence included sedimentary rock samples and geological bedrock samples collected on the ocean floor, as well as modeling results of the geological history of the region. The problem was that fragments of the bedrock could be transported to the area by ice from the coastal zone of the continent as a result of ice drift. On this basis, the Russian application can be challenged. The most irrefutable evidence can be obtained by drilling the seabed, but technologically it is difficult to implement it now.
As a result, the justification of our country's claims to expand the boundaries of the continental shelf in the Arctic (which is 1.2 million square kilometers) was recognized as valid, but the final verdict can be made only after reviewing the applications from Canada and Denmark, which are expected by 2035. Moreover, if there are not enough materials, the countries will be offered to agree among themselves.
On the other hand, it is known that, for example, the Chinese are preparing an application for work using a manned underwater vehicle in the area of the junction of the Gakkel Ridge with the Laptev Sea shelf. This area is part of the economic zone of our Arctic. It is not known whether a Chinese expedition will be allowed there, but it is desirable that Russia does not take a back seat in the planning of these studies and in the right to scientific results.
"To ensure the interests of the Russian Federation in the oceans, 10 large vessels are enough for the institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences"
— The legendary "Worlds" played a significant role in such works. What are the plans to replace them?
— "Mira" has played a huge role in the study of the oceans and the fulfillment of deep-sea technical tasks. Now it is advisable not to replace the "Worlds", but to restore them. This is much cheaper and much faster than creating new vessels of a similar class. At the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, scientists estimated the restoration of the Mir deep-sea vehicles at 20 billion rubles.
They are currently under conservation. However, their spheres — the main structural element — are in good condition and only require certification. Here we need to recall the outstanding creator of the Worlds, Igor Mikhaltsev, an employee of the Institute of Oceanology. He had the idea of the unique design of these underwater vehicles. The remaining systems (hydraulics, batteries, manipulators, and others) are easy to upgrade or replace. The vessel Akademik Mstislav Keldysh, a carrier of deep—sea vehicles, also needs to be updated.
By returning the devices to service, Russia will restore its priority in exploring depths up to 6 thousand meters, which is more than 98% of the World Ocean area. It is worth remembering that there has always been a huge international queue for diving "Worlds". Their resurrection will pay off handsomely. Deep—sea research with a human aboard an underwater vehicle is a qualitatively different opportunity, a qualitatively different level of scientific work.
— What characteristics are relevant for research vessels today?
— The basic principle is that they should be adapted for a wide range of work, have a well—thought-out structure with a full-fledged laboratory complex, but at the same time, due to their modular design, they should be ready to quickly change the research front. Special attention should be paid to a high-precision measuring system for studying ocean circulation, properties of water masses, and climatic processes.
At the same time, the vessels must have excellent seaworthiness and modern deck equipment. A mandatory element is the dynamic positioning system (DPS), which allows you to automatically hold the vessel in one place in rough and windy conditions. The autonomy of navigation is extremely important, since the possibilities of entering foreign ports for resupply are often limited.
— Which country needs a scientific fleet?
— In my opinion, in order to ensure Russia's interests in the world's oceans, today 10 large vessels of unlimited navigation area, of different sizes and specialization, are enough for the institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Including one icebreaker. Plus small vessels for coastal research in the Caspian, Black, Baltic and Far Eastern seas.
The paradox is that we have 10 scientific vessels, but most of them are idle because they require repairs, and there is critically insufficient money allocated to maintain the scientific fleet. Of the eight large vessels with an unlimited navigation area, only one is usable today in the middle of the expedition season.
There is a lot of talk about building new ships for science. But it takes a long time and a lot of money. It is more reasonable, cheaper and faster to put existing vessels in order, modernize and retrofit with modern equipment. Many countries do this. The age of the vessel is not a hindrance if it is properly cared for. By completing these activities, the country can restore its scientific presence in key areas of the ocean at relatively low cost.
— Tell us about the auxiliary research tools that are being created at IO RAS?
— The autonomous profilograph probe designed at our institute has great prospects. It moves independently along a cable fixed to the bottom and measures the most important properties of the water column at different depths. Currently, several such probes are operating in the Black Sea.
A towed "Video module" created at our institute also deserves special attention. The device "slides" along the ocean floor and allows you to make a very wide range of observations of the bottom surface and the objects lying on it. The complex is equipped with high-precision cameras and sensors, which makes it possible to study bottom objects in detail. Among other things, such a device was used to detect and study radioactive objects buried at the bottom of the Kara Sea.
The Institute has created a special autonomous buoy to study the processes of interaction in the ocean—atmosphere system and the fluxes of climatic gases at this boundary. It is currently in the field testing stage.
It is worth noting the autonomous bottom seismic stations. They record the slightest tremors and acoustic signals underwater and help predict earthquakes and tsunamis, explore oil and gas fields under the ocean floor.
Unfortunately, we do not have an alternative to foreign equipment for many marine research projects.
"Climate warming will not transform the seas of the Siberian Arctic into a new fishing region"
— What expeditions are planned for 2025?
— The main interest for us now is the Arctic. Two major expeditions are planned this year to study the natural complexes of the Russian northern seas, their biological productivity, seasonal variability, reactions to current climatic processes, their role in the absorption and emission of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and many other aspects. It is planned to install trap buoys in the Arctic to analyze sedimentation processes, as well as a special autonomous buoy to study the processes of interaction in the ocean—atmosphere system. A separate program will be devoted to geophysical research of the Arctic shelf. Work is planned to monitor radioactive burial grounds in the vicinity of Novaya Zemlya. Large-scale studies of the processes in the Arctic seas during the ice retreat were planned, which is necessary to understand the phenomena associated with climate change. But currently, due to problems with financing, the court cannot be prepared on time, and the start of the field season will be postponed. Accordingly, it will be necessary to significantly adjust the scientific programs of the planned research.
According to the plan, two expeditions will operate in the Atlantic Ocean: one of them will study bottom currents that influence climatic processes, and the other will focus on reconstructing ancient oceanological conditions. But, again, our vessels are not ready for this work today.
Special attention is paid to the Black and Baltic Seas, where scientists monitor ecosystem changes due to climate change and human activity. Similar studies will be conducted in the Caspian Sea, where concerns are raised about the rapid decline in the basin level and the spread of the omnipresent ctenophore mnemiopsis. It threatens not only the food supply of commercial fish, but also their larvae. Additionally, the impact of mothballed oil wells on marine ecosystems will be monitored.
— What is particularly interesting about the Northern Seas for scientists?
— The Arctic continues to get warmer and free of ice. The year 2025 started as the least icy in the history of observations. We need to know how the appearance of the Arctic seas will change in connection with the current climate processes, their biodiversity, fishing productivity, role in the global carbon cycle, what are the main environmental risks and much more. Russia, as a great Arctic power that owns 75% of the shelf, should lead the way in exploring these issues.
For several years, experts from the IO RAS have been investigating in detail the fate of strigoi crabs (opilio), invaders of the Kara Sea, which entered the basin from the west from the warmer Barents Sea. At first, their numbers grew, and there were even plans for local fishing, but we have shown that due to the poverty of the waters, the number of species began to decline sharply. The lack of food led to the arthropods starting to eat their own young. Thus, it is not necessary to count on an industrial catch.
In general, our research has shown that the seas of the Siberian Arctic will not be transformed into a new fishing region by the current warming of the climate, and if this happens, it will be very, very soon. The main reason for this is the low productivity of the basic trophic levels — the foundations of the ecosystem. The Siberian seas receive about 2.5 thousand cubic km of fresh water due to the outflow of the great Siberian rivers. Large—scale desalination of the upper layer limits the vertical mixing of the water column and the important process of mineral nutrition entering the photosynthetic zone and, as a result, the formation of primary products - the basis for the existence of all living things in the ocean. This is one of the significant results of our long—term research - large-scale river runoff does not enrich the Arctic, as previously thought, but impoverishes it.
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