© РИА Томск. Павел Стефанский
TOMSK, Nov 23 – RIA
Tomsk, Karina Sapunova. Scientists of the Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU)
intend to go on an expedition down the river Lena in 2017 to study features of
its ecosystems and influence of the happening processes on climate changes, the
press service of the higher education institution reported on Wednesday.
Earlier it was reported that TPU participates in the
international researches of the processes happening in the shelf of the polar
seas of Eastern Siberia, where there are more than 90% of underwater permafrost
and a large amount of hydrocarbons. They found out, that there are methane
emissions from under permafrost, and they accelerate global warming and can
lead to accident. Expanding researches, experts studied also the river Ob in 2016.
"We want to compare two greatest rivers of
Siberia – Ob and Lena. Ob is the river, in which reservoir there isn't enough
permafrost, and Lena is continuous permafrost, the rivers have different
geology, biochemical conditions. And it is important for us to compare, what
occurs in reservoirs to estimate their role in balance of methane in the Arctic
region", – professor Igor Semiletov is quoted in the message.
© предоставлено пресс-службой ТПУ
According to the press service, the expedition is
planned for the next summer.
It is specified that scientists will conduct complex
researches on biogeochemistry, hydrology, hydrochemistry, researches of gas
exchange of carbon dioxide and methane between river water and the atmosphere,
and also meteorological researches.
It is added that scientists plan to go to another
expedition to the East Siberian Arctic shelf after the expedition across Lena.
It is planned for September-October, 2017, presumably, it starts from
Vladivostok and takes 45-50 days.