Russian Drifting Stations on Arctic Ice Islands

Abstract

A summary of Russian discoveries of Arctic ice islands – peculiar tabular icebergs – is presented, complete with a chronological account of drifting stations installed on ice islands. Of 40 ‘North Pole’ drifting stations established from 1937 through 2013, six were set up on five ice islands: North Pole-6, 18/19 (same ice island), 22, 23, and 24. These ice islands served as reliable long-term research platforms as evidenced by the extensive bibliography of scientific publications based on observations made from manned ice island stations. Studies were conducted of structure and morphology of ice islands; under-ice biota; deep Arctic Ocean benthos; meteorology and climate; and oceanography. Biological collections from these ice islands are still being analyzed.