Eutrophication of water

The processes of eutrophication (blooming), i.e. the formation of zones of oxygen deficiency, are characteristic of the Black Sea. With the waters of the rivers, it receives not only heavy metals and pesticides, but also nitrogen and phosphorus from the fields. Phytoplankton, receiving excess from fertilizers nutrients, rapidly multiplies, the water "blooms". Then the bottom microorganisms die off. In the process of decay, they use increased amount oxygen, which leads to hypoxia of bottom animals: crabs, squids, mussels, oysters, sturgeon fry. Kill zones reach 40 thousand square meters. km. All coastal waters of the northwestern area have been re-fertilized.

Accumulation of municipal solid waste

The bottom of the coastal zones and the coast are polluted with a huge amount of household waste. It comes from ships, garbage dumps organized along rivers and washed away by floods, from the shores of resorts. In salt water, such garbage decomposes for decades, and plastic takes centuries. Decomposition (MSW) leads to the release of toxic substances into the water.

So it is possible to briefly characterize the environmental problems of the Black Sea associated with human life.

Biological pollution of the Black Sea ecosystem by alien species

As a result of the extermination of bottom biocenoses, the entire burden of water purification and filtration fell on the rock mussel. But in 2005, it was almost completely destroyed by the rapana, a predatory mollusk that got here with the ballast water of ships. Due to the absence of natural enemies, the rapana significantly reduced the number of oysters, scallops, mussels, sea shank.

Another invader is the comb jelly Mnemiopsis, which feeds on young mussels and plankton. As a result, the sea does not have time to absorb organic pollution, the filtration of water by molluscs decreases, and eutrophication occurs. In addition, the comb jelly multiplied rapidly and disrupted the food base of the inhabitants of the Black Sea, which caused a decrease in the number of fish. The environmental problems of the Black Sea are of concern to scientists around the world.

Reduction of biological diversity. The decline of flora and fauna

A number of factors lead to a reduction in the number of biological species in the Black Sea. Along with biological pollution alien species this is pollution as a result of human activities, uncontrolled fishing, destruction of the bottom biocenosis.

Bottom communities are destroyed due to a combination of reasons, the main of which are pollution of coastal waters and trawling. Especially great damage causes bottom trawling by industrial vessels, which does not allow the ecosystem to self-purify, as it destroys biocenoses that filter and purify water.

Also, the constant rise in the upper limit of the hydrogen sulfide saturation zone changes the structure of the biological community: the bottom field of phyllophora algae disappears, predatory fish have practically died out, the number of dolphins has significantly decreased, many are born with serious defects. The number of aurelia jellyfish, companions of pollution, is increasing. In 1965, 23 species were harvested in the Black Sea commercial fish There are currently five types left.

Decrease in the area of ​​forests and specially protected areas in coastal areas

The Black Sea coast is rich in unique deciduous forests and pistachio-juniper woodlands, more than half of which are relict species. Preserved separate territories forb-grass steppes - the richest ecocommunities in terms of species diversity. The tragedy is that natural resources are located on the territory subjected to active economic development.
Unfortunately, their environmental value is often overlooked. On the territory of the reserves during the construction of oil pipelines, hectares of juniper forests are destroyed along with the animals living there.

Ways to solve environmental problems at the state level

The problems of the Black Sea are solved in Russia at the state level. This requires a number of measures aimed at improving the environmental situation, as well as significant financial costs. Closely related to ecology economic problems.

• It is necessary to develop a fundamentally new concept of nature management, to create a structure responsible for the Black Sea ecological situation.
• Strict control over the use of trawling and the transition to other methods of fishing. Underwater construction of "speed bumps" - massive artificial reefs made of special concrete and without reinforcement inside.
• Tightening control over harmful emissions, commissioning of deep-water sewage collectors.
• Creation of conditions for the life of algae, shrimps, mollusks, which in themselves are powerful treatment facilities. Construction of underwater habitats.
• Purchase of equipment for clearing the coastal strip from pollution.
• Restoration of protective forest belts along the perimeter of agricultural land and reconstruction of irrigation systems to reduce the release of fertilizers from the fields.
• Creation modern system removal and disposal of solid waste.
• The invention of methods for calculating the material damage caused to the region as a result of the misuse of relict forests and the coast for the construction of oil storage facilities and oil pipelines.

What should people do to improve the environment?

1. Take away from the coast, not only their waste, but also part of someone else's garbage.
2. cut down water flow to unload cleaning systems.
3. plant green the territory of your locality.
4. Maximum limit use of non-degradable packaging.
5. Observe conditions and rules for the disposal of toxic substances and household waste.
6. Demand from the administration of settlements to careful control over the environmental situation.

The Black Sea is a closed water area, so the issues of pollution in it become especially acute. The active participation of residents of coastal cities, indifference to environmental problems can save the Black Sea and prevent a natural disaster.

Main environmental problems of the Barents Sea

Pollution of the Arctic seas is a serious environmental problem.

Along with traditional maritime cargo flows, many transatlantic lines originate here, covering the main commodity and freight markets. international trade. The coastal position is associated not only with the activity of maritime merchant shipping, but also with the formation and development of such important sectors of the economy as shipbuilding, fishing and marine fishing, exploitation of seabed resources, tourism and recreation.
The development of oil and gas resources of the continental shelf of the Arctic seas is, in particular, a non-alternative option to compensate for the decline in gas and oil production on land.
Economic and other activities in the water area, catchment area and coastal zone of the seas of Russia began to lead to frequent conflicts in marine environmental management, to an increase in the number of individual areas with an unfavorable ecological situation. And although in last years as a result of a number of environmental protection measures the ecological state of the seas has somewhat stabilized, their ecosystems continue to experience significant anthropogenic pressures, sometimes going beyond the permissible limits.
The impact of economic and other activities on the ecological state of the Russian seas is very diverse. The main sources of pollution are economic activity in the watershed, affecting marine ecosystems through surface and groundwater runoff; economic activity in the coastal zone of the seas, especially in areas where large industrial centers and ports are located, affecting the pollution of the seas through domestic and waste waters; proper world economic activity related to shipping, fishing, underwater subsoil use, as well as the disposal of various wastes, including radioactive substances and potent toxic compounds; recreational activities in certain coastal zones; transboundary transport of pollution air masses associated with emissions of persistent organic substances, heavy metals, sulfur and nitrogen compounds from industrial, energy and transport sources located outside and inside Russia.
The most stressed areas in terms of pollution and anthropogenic load include the Gulf of Finland (primarily Neva Bay), Kola Bay, Dvina Bay, Pechora Sea, Avacha Bay, Amur Bay, Nakhodka Bay, Tsemesskaya (Novorossiysk) Bay. Taganrog Bay, Volga Delta.
In some areas of the Arctic seas of Russia, negative processes are mainly associated with pollution by heavy metals, oil products, organic compounds of various origins, radionuclides, nitrogen and sulfur compounds. The specificity of such environmental burdens on the environment is determined by the predominant resource orientation of the economy, where the share of the fuel and energy complex and raw materials processing in the industrial structure reaches 90%. At the same time, subsoil use is increasingly approaching the continental shelf, which contains the richest reserves of hydrocarbon raw materials.

Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation

federal state autonomous educational institution

higher professional education

Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov"

INTRODUCTION

The White Sea belongs to the basin of the Arctic Ocean and is a semi-isolated inland water body. Seas of this type are relatively few. The Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, as well as the Hudson Bay have similar features. The White Sea is the smallest of them. It is customary to divide it into two unequal parts - the northern (external) and southern (internal). They are connected by a relatively narrow strait, which is also called the throat.

Purpose: to study the environmental problems of the White Sea associated with anthropogenic activities.

The problems of the White Sea and the seas of the Arctic Ocean are very relevant today and attract a lot of attention not only from Russian scientists, but also from foreign specialists.

1. To study the environmental problems of the White Sea
2. Assess the state of the White Sea today
3. Propose ways to solve the environmental problems of the White Sea

To solve the tasks, I will analyze scientific articles from journals and textbooks on the environmental problems of the north.

CHAPTER 1. ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS OF THE WHITE SEA

Russia is one of the most environmentally polluted countries on the planet. The economic situation in Russian Federation continues to exacerbate the environmental, the severity of the existing negative trends is growing. The decline in production was not accompanied by a similar decrease in the volume of harmful emissions into the environment - in crisis conditions, enterprises save on environmental costs.

Water resources are an important and most vulnerable component of the environment. Under the influence of human economic activity leads to an aggravation of the following problems.

Water resources are unevenly distributed across the country: 90% of the total annual runoff falls on the basin of the Arctic and Pacific Oceans

The White Sea belongs to the basin of the Arctic Ocean and is a semi-isolated inland water body. Seas of this type are relatively few. The Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, as well as the Hudson Bay have similar features. The White Sea is the smallest of them. It is customary to divide it into two unequal parts - the northern (external) and southern (internal). They are connected by a relatively narrow strait, which is also called the throat.

IN modern time there are few water bodies that are not polluted, and the White Sea is no exception. Anthropogenic pollution of the White Sea began immediately after the appearance of man on its shores and over time became so significant that the consequences can be observed today.

The first important environmental problem of the White Sea is shipping. During a relatively short era of navigation, some areas of the bottom, especially in small bays, where it is convenient to settle during a storm, were so covered with coal slag that the ruined bottom biocenoses have not yet recovered there. These environmental problems of the White Sea cannot be considered modern, although the harm from them is no less. The problem of the death of seals due to sea transport routes is also relevant now. A large number of harp seal pups have died due to

very large development of shipping lanes. Employees of the Polar Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography conducted research in the White Sea aimed at identifying the effect of ice escorts on seals (Fig. 1.).

Figure 1 - Seal mating

Many haul-outs of these animals are now located on busy shipping routes, so ships become the cause of the death of seals. The problem is that small individuals with great difficulty manage to adapt to the prevailing conditions.

The woodworking industry has no less impact on the ecology of the White Sea. Production wastes at sawmills pollute the large rivers of the White Sea basin. The timber industry is one of the key environmental problems of the White Sea.

When transporting timber to woodworking factories, most of the logs fall behind the rafts and, after long sea voyages, moor to the shores. In some areas of the coastal zone, entire cemeteries of logs are formed, which rot there for decades (Fig. 2).

It is possible to compare water pollution by enterprises of the pulp and paper and woodworking industries, housing and communal services, river and marine vessels in different areas of the White Sea.

Figure 2 - Graveyard of logs

The main source of pollution of the White Sea is river runoff, with which the main mass of pollutants enters the coastal waters of the White Sea from enterprises of the pulp and paper industry, the Ministry of Energy, housing and communal services, river and marine vessels (Table 1, Table 2). In 2004, 2351 tons of oil products and 499 tons of phenols entered the White Sea with river waters. A significant source of pollution of sea waters is the discharge of sewage by enterprises of cities and towns located in coastal areas and estuarine areas of rivers. According to the Main Directorate natural resources and environmental protection in the Arkhangelsk region in 2004, 265,661.2 thousand m3 of wastewater was discharged into the bays of the sea and estuarine sections of rivers, of which more than 90% fell on the Dvina Bay. During the year, 11,483 thousand m3 of wastewater entered the Kandalaksha Bay. In 2004, 5.358 tons of oil products, 0.225 tons of phenols and 4.873 tons of surfactants were discharged into the Dvina Bay with wastewater from enterprises and cities, 0.003 thousand tons of oil products, 0.001 thousand tons of surfactants and 0.001 thousand tons of iron into the Kandalaksha Bay.

Table 1 - The volume of wastewater entering certain areas of the White Sea in 2004

Table 2 - Inflow of pollutants into the White Sea (in tons) in 1998-2004 (total for Dvina, Onega and Kandalaksha bays)

The mining industry, no less than the forest industry, helps create environmental problems for the White Sea. To a greater extent, pollution occurs with lead, copper, zinc, nickel, chromium. The fact is that many heavy metals accumulate in marine plants and animals, making them poisonous. Fortunately, there is no such thing in the White Sea yet. But if pollution of this kind continues at the same rate, it will be dangerous to eat the gifts of the White Sea. Rains in the White Sea region are acidified. Although they carry a weak acid, they are harmful to freshwater reservoirs, biocenoses and coastal populations. Directly to the sea, they do not carry any particular danger, since the acid balance in sea ​​water moving is not easy.

Well, like the rest of the seas, the White Sea is negatively impacted as a result of oil entering the sea waters. This is a well-known modern pollutant, called "black gold". Technical oils and fuels get into the water most different ways, but the main one is a leak from oil depots. Oil is more terrible for its physical properties than chemical ones. The feathers of birds, getting wet in this thick liquid, lose their heat-insulating layer and the ability to fly, as a result of which the birds die either from hunger or from cold. The oil film prevents the normal exchange of oxygen in the air with water. Fortunately, most spilled oil can be collected and neutralized relatively quickly. What remains in the sea is knocked down by waves into lumps and goes to the bottom, where it is later blocked by bottom sediments and neutralized. Such oil lumps destroy bacteria over time.

Small releases of this product into the water are much more dangerous for the environment. No matter how badly “black gold” dissolves with water, this process still occurs over time. Thus, the toxic substances contained in this black product enter the hydrosphere. Without causing harm immediately, they are included in the cycle of substances and cause various diseases in marine flora and fauna. This is a time bomb, and besides, it is also invisible. Invisible, of course, in quotation marks. Oil spills, as a result of tanker accidents, also occur in the White Sea. Agriculture, compared with other industries, causes less harm. It is poorly developed in Pomorie. Basically, it replenishes the sea basin with runoff from livestock farms, pesticides and a small amount of mineral fertilizers. However, so far there is no particular threat to the White Sea and from the ingress of synthetic detergents into it. But the White Sea is not immune from this in the future. Speaking about the assessment of the environmental problem of the White Sea, it would not be superfluous to mention the figures, albeit approximate ones, but still. Every year, approximately 100 thousand tons of sulfates, 0.750 synthetic detergents, 0.150 phenols and 100 thousand tons of fuel and lubricants enter the White Sea. So, the annual pollution of the White Sea can be estimated at about 800 thousand tons - one million.

Description of work

The White Sea belongs to the basin of the Arctic Ocean and is a semi-isolated inland water body. Seas of this type are relatively few. The Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, as well as the Hudson Bay have similar features. The White Sea is the smallest of them. It is customary to divide it into two unequal parts - the northern (external) and southern (internal). They are connected by a relatively narrow strait, which is also called the throat. Purpose: to study the environmental problems of the White Sea associated with anthropogenic activities. The problems of the White Sea and the seas of the Arctic Ocean are very relevant today and attract a lot of attention not only from Russian scientists, but also from foreign specialists.

The Arctic Ocean is Russia's natural border from the north. The Arctic Ocean has several unofficial names: the North Polar Sea, the Arctic Sea, the Polar Basin or the old Russian name - the Icy Sea.

Russia is the owner of six seas of the Arctic Ocean. These include: Barents, Beloe, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, Chukchi.

Barencevo sea, marginal sea of ​​the Arctic Ocean, between the northern coast of Europe and the islands of Svalbard, Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya. 1424 thousand km2. Located on the shelf; the depth is mainly from 360 to 400 m (the largest is 600 m). Large island - Kolguev. Bays: Porsangerfjord, Varangerfjord, Motovsky, Kola, etc. Strong influence warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean determines the non-freezing of the southwestern part. Salinity 32-35‰. The Pechora River flows into the Barents Sea. Fishing (cod, herring, haddock, flounder). The ecological situation is unfavorable. It is of great transport importance. Major ports: Murmansk (Russian Federation), Varde (Norway). The Barents Sea is named after the Dutch navigator of the 16th century. Willem Barents, who made three voyages in the Arctic Ocean, died and was buried on Novaya Zemlya. This sea is the warmest of the Arctic seas, because the warm Norwegian current comes here from the Atlantic Ocean.

White Sea- the inland sea of ​​the Arctic Ocean, off the northern coast of the European part of the Russian Federation. The area is 90 thousand km2. Average depth 67 m, maximum 350 m. In the north it connects with Barents Sea Straits Throat and Funnel. Large bays (lips): Mezensky, Dvinsky, Onega, Kandalaksha. Large islands: Solovetsky, Morzhovets, Mudyugsky. Salinity 24-34.5 ‰. Tides up to 10 m. The Northern Dvina, Onega, Mezen flow into the White Sea. Fishing (herring, whitefish, saffron cod); seal fishing. Ports: Arkhangelsk, Onega, Belomorsk, Kandalaksha, Kem, Mezen. It is connected with the Baltic Sea by the White Sea-Baltic Canal, with the Azov, Caspian and Black Seas by the Volga-Baltic Waterway.

The White Sea does not have a clear border with the Barents Sea, they are conditionally divided in a straight line from Cape Svyatoy Nos on the Kola Peninsula to the northwestern tip of the Kanin Peninsula - Cape Kanin Nos. The outer part of the White Sea is called the Funnel, the inner, fenced off Kola Peninsula, - By the basin, they are connected by a relatively narrow strait - the Throat of the White Sea. Although the White Sea is located south of the Barents Sea, it freezes over. On the islands in the White Sea there is a historical monument - the Solovetsky Monastery.

Kara Sea marginal sea Sev. Arctic Ocean, off the coast of the Russian Federation, between the islands of Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land and the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago. 883 thousand km2. It is located mainly on the shelf. The prevailing depths are 30-100 m, the maximum is 600 m. There are many islands. Large bays: the Gulf of Ob and the Yenisei Gulf. The rivers Ob and Yenisei flow into it. The Kara Sea is one of the coldest seas in Russia; only near the mouths of rivers in summer the water temperature is above 0C (up to 6C). Frequent fogs and storms. Most of the year is covered with ice. Rich in fish (whitefish, char, flounder, etc.). The main port of Dikson. Sea vessels enter the Yenisei to the ports of Dudinka and Igarka.

The main navigable strait (between the Barents and Kara Seas) is the Kara Gates, its width is 45 km; Matochkin Shar (between Northern and southern islands Novaya Zemlya), with a length of almost 100 km, has a width in places less than a kilometer, most of the year it is clogged with ice and therefore not navigable.

Laptev Sea(Siberian), marginal sea of ​​the Arctic Ocean, off the coast of the Russian Federation, between the Taimyr Peninsula and the Severnaya Zemlya islands in the west and Novosibirsk in the east. 662 thousand km2. The prevailing depths are up to 50 m, the maximum is 3385 m. Large bays: Khatanga, Olenek, Buor-Khaya. There are many islands in the western part of the sea. The Khatanga, Lena, Yana and other rivers flow in. Most of the year it is covered with ice. walrus live, sea ​​hare, seal. The main port of Tiksi.

It is named after Russian navigators of the 18th century, cousins ​​Dmitry Yakovlevich and Khariton Prokofievich Laptev, who explored the shores of this sea. The Lena River flows into the Laptev Sea, forming the largest delta in Russia.

The New Siberian Islands lie between the Laptev and East Siberian Seas. Although they are located east of Severnaya Zemlya, they were discovered a hundred years earlier. The New Siberian Islands are separated from the mainland by the Dmitry Laptev Strait.

East-Siberian Sea, marginal sea of ​​the Arctic Ocean, between the New Siberian Islands and Wrangel Island. The area is 913 thousand km2. located on the shelf. The average depth is 54 m, the maximum depth is 915 m. The coldest of the Russian Arctic seas. Most of the year is covered with ice. Salinity is from 5 ‰ near river mouths and up to 30 ‰ in the north. Bays: Chaunskaya Bay, Kolyma, Omulyakhskaya Bay. Large islands: Novosibirsk, Bear, Aion. The rivers Indigirka, Alazeya, Kolyma flow into it. In the waters of the sea, walrus, seal and fishing are carried out. The main port of Pevek.

Wrangel Island lies between the East Siberian and Chukchi Seas. The island is named after the Russian navigator of the 19th century. Ferdinand Petrovich Wrangel, who explored the East Siberian and Chukchi Seas; he suggested the existence of the island according to many data known to him. On Wrangel Island there is a nature reserve where polar bears are especially protected.

Chukchi Sea, a marginal sea of ​​the Arctic Ocean, off the northeastern coast of Asia and the northwestern coast of North America. It is connected by the Bering Strait to the Pacific Ocean (in the south) and by the Long Strait to the East Siberian Sea (in the west). 595 thousand km2. 56% of the bottom area is occupied by depths of less than 50 m. The greatest depth is 1256 m in the north. Large Wrangel Island. Bays: Kolyuchinskaya Bay, Kotzebue. Most of the year the sea is covered with ice. Fishing (charr, polar cod). Fishing for sea seals, seals. major port Whalen.

The ecological situation in the waters of the Arctic Ocean is far from favorable. At present, the world community is faced with the problem of solving several environmental problems associated with the Arctic Ocean at once. The first problem is mass extermination marine biological resources, the disappearance of some species of marine animals living in the Far North. The second problem on a global scale is the widespread melting of glaciers, the thawing of the soil and its transition from a state of permafrost into a frozen state. The third problem is the classified activities of some states related to testing nuclear weapons. It is the secret nature of such events that makes it difficult to establish a true picture of the ecological situation in the waters of the Arctic Ocean.

And if one of the environmental problems - the destruction of certain species of marine animals - was solved to a certain extent at the end of the 20th century by establishing prohibitions and restrictions on their extermination, then the rest of the problems - radiation pollution, melting ice - still remain unresolved. In addition, one more environmental problem may be added to the existing environmental problems in the near future - ocean water pollution due to the development of the oil and gas industry in the ocean. The solution of these problems is possible only in the aggregate, by changing their attitude towards the region of the entire world community, and especially those countries that are currently engaged in the division of the waters of the Arctic Ocean.

They are the future owners certain territories should first of all pay attention to the ecological state of the region. We are observing on their part activities that are aimed only at studying the geological nature of the ocean floor in order to satisfy their economic interests.

In connection with the future economic development of the depths of the Arctic Ocean, at present international level raises the question of improvement and stabilization ecological state this region.

However, the solution of this problem is clearly hampered at the present time by the fact that some states, in pursuit of hydrocarbon deposits, are busy dividing the continental shelves. At the same time, they imprudently postpone the solution of the environmental problems of the waters of the Arctic Ocean for an indefinite period, limiting themselves only to stating the facts of the emergence of a threat to one or another ecological disaster.

In the light of the future economic activity, aimed mainly at the development of deep deposits of hydrocarbon raw materials, the onset of another environmental problem for the waters of the ocean is seen. After all, it has been established that ocean waters located near oil and gas platforms are far from the ideal state in environmental terms. Moreover, such territories can be classified as environmentally hazardous. And if we take into account that by the time the process of the international division of the continental shelf of the Arctic Ocean is completed, the level of technology will already make it possible to extract oil at any depth, one can imagine how many such platforms will be built simultaneously in the waters of the ocean. At the same time, a positive solution to the environmental issue of the activities of such platforms will remain highly doubtful, because by that time the continental reserves of hydrocarbon raw materials will be practically exhausted, prices for it will rise even more, and mining companies will chase production volumes first of all.

Also, the question of eliminating the consequences of nuclear weapons tests remains open, which is also an important factor in characterizing the environmental situation in the Arctic Ocean. At present, politicians are in no hurry to resolve these issues - after all, such events in the light of their implementation in permafrost conditions are quite expensive. While all free money these states spend on studying the depths of the Arctic Ocean, the nature of its bottom in order to provide evidence in the struggle for the continental shelves. One can only hope that after the end of the division of the territory of the Arctic Ocean, the countries to which certain areas of the ocean will legally belong will take measures to eliminate these consequences and will not allow such activities in the future.

The most dangerous phenomenon from an ecological point of view in the waters of the Arctic Ocean is the widespread melting of glaciers.

To highlight this environmental problem on a global scale, you can refer to the data of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation. According to the report of the Ministry of 18.06.2008. - by 2030 in the north of Russia, due to global warming, catastrophic destruction may begin. Already now in Western Siberia permafrost is thawing by four centimeters a year, and in the next 20 years its border will move as much as 80 kilometers.

The data provided by the Ministry of Emergency Situations is really amazing. Moreover, the content of the report was focused mainly not on the actual environmental aspects of global warming, but on those issues that are important for the socio-economic and industrial security of Russia. In particular, it was noted that in twenty years more than a quarter of the housing stock in the north of Russia could be destroyed. This is due to the fact that the houses there were built not on a massive foundation, but on piles driven into the permafrost. With an increase in the average annual temperature of only one or two degrees load bearing capacity of these piles is reduced immediately by 50%. In addition, airports, roads, underground storage facilities, including oil tanks, storage facilities and even industrial facilities can be damaged.

Another problem is the sharp increase in the risk of floods. By 2015, the drainage of northern rivers will increase by 90%. Freeze-up time will be reduced by more than 15 days. All this will lead to a doubling of the risk of floods. This means that there will be twice as many transport accidents and flooding of coastal settlements. In addition, due to the thawing of permafrost, the risk of methane release from the soil will also increase. Methane is a greenhouse gas, its release causes an increase in the temperature of the lower layers of the atmosphere. But this is not the main thing - an increase in the concentration of gas will affect the health of the northerners.

The situation with the melting of ice in the Arctic is also relevant. If in 1979 the area of ​​ice there was 7.2 million square kilometers, then in 2007 it decreased to 4.3 million. That is almost twice. The ice thickness has also almost halved. This has advantages for shipping, but it also increases other risks. In the future, countries with low level landscapes will be forced to protect themselves from possible partial flooding. Russia, its northern territories and Siberia, this concerns directly. The only good news is that in the Arctic the ice is melting evenly, while in south pole ice moves in leaps and causes earthquakes.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations is so seriously concerned about the situation that it plans to equip two expeditions to the north of the country to study the changing climate and test equipment in new conditions. Expeditions are directed to Novaya Zemlya, the New Siberian Islands and the mainland coast of the Arctic Ocean. In any case, the task of ensuring the safety of the population in the northern territories is now becoming one of the priorities for the Russian government.