[Dispatcher1] Stern bridge, ready?
[VO] This research vessel was specially built for the Arctic and Antarctic and now it’s working on a very unusual mission
It’s making for latitude 82 degrees north, to find a thick ice floe, wedge into it and set up a camp nearby
And then, for about a month simply drift along with the ice
The purpose of the expedition is to continue research first carried out by drifting polar stations, which stopped working because of melting Arctic ice
[Dispatcher2] Akademik Tryoshnikov, your info please [Akademik Tryoshnikov] Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute vessel
with 108 people on board
[Dispatcher2] What's your destination? [Akademik Tryoshnikov] Arctic Ocean, Franz Josef Land
[Dispatcher2] Copy that, have a safe trip
[TITLE] GOING WITH THE FLOE
[Chronicles] The Arctic. It has been undiscovered for centuries. Severe, mysterious and voiceless.
[VO] “Severny Polyus” (or SP for short), is how the polar stations were known. In autumn, an expedition landed on an old,
thick ice floe and people lived and worked there for a whole year slowly drifting across the Arctic Ocean1400:01:59:75 --> 00:02:06:21 [Ivan Frolov Expedition leader] The first drifting station was built in order to conduct flights and collect weather data
[Subtitles] Average temperature is -42°C, wind speed is 7.4 m/s
[VO] Weather models can’t work properly without data from these latitudes,
and many research scientists see the chance to work in the high Arctic as quite a coup
The collection of data by drifting stations for oceanology, hydrochemistry, hydro-physics,
bottom research and ocean biology continued for many years until the Arctic ice started to melt
[Vladimir Ivanov deputy expedition leader] As a rule, all the SP stations are set up in October when active freezing begins
They try to find old ice that's already quite thick, not recently formed ice
Previously, this ice floe usually survived at least one year,
but even this kind of ice has begun to rapidly deteriorate in recent years
[Frolov] One rescue, two rescues, three rescues… we were always rescuing
[VO] While an expedition is on route to its destination, bottom geology and ocean hydrology research is carried out
Soil and water samples are taken. Nikolay Fomichyov headed SP-40, the last drifting station
[Nikolay Fomichyov oceanographer] Well, I'm already at retirement age,
but, you know, I've been working a long time, and for me…
my soul simply called me here, and I just came and asked
It's an interesting experiment…
a kind of nostalgia for the SP drifting stations that were set up on ice
It may be short-term, but nevertheless…
[VO] Now several of the polar explorers now aboard once worked on SP 40, the last drifting station
[Sergey Ovchinnikov atmospheric specialist] I have pictures that are scary to look at
A crack opened up right inside the tent
Then the common room collapsed
It just folded up
Just imagine, a wall of ice appears, taller than the station
You scramble to get everything out, because soon it'll be up against the building
[NIKITA KUSSE-TUZ] I wasn't scared because I didn't know what to be afraid of
At the same time, there was some kind of youthful enthusiasm
[titre] NIKITA KUSSE-TUZ OCEANOGRAPHER
[Nikita] I was saying:
'Why can't we stay here? There are still 3 full blocks of ice!'
[Ivanov] There were small houses on one side and equipment pavilions on the other,
and we had to do something fast,
[titre] Vladimir Ivanov deputy expedition leader
so we called in an atomic icebreaker to remove them49
That event was probably the main reason it was later decided
not to further risk people's lives
[Dmirty Belkov] Working in ice is more interesting 52 00:05:53:06 → 00:05:58:57 We're trying to make our way through the crevices in the ice, from one to another
This ship's solid, but we don't want to hit the ice needlessly
[VO] The “Akademik Troshnikov” can break meter-thick ice. Halted by an ice barrier,
the vessel moves back half a length, then rams with its full weight
[Dmiry Belkov] Come on girl, come on!
[VO] Now the crew has to find the right balance. On the one hand,
On the one hand, they need a solid ice floe for a station so that it won’t fall victim to a swell, the echo of a distant storm,
on the other hand, they must avoid allowing the vessel get so firmly stuck in ice that it can’t get out by itself
[Frolov] Look at all those hummock
There was a lot of pressure here, so there'll be more of them…
and if all this closes up, then we'll already be stuck
[VO] Ice captivity is when a vessel is so firmly caught in the ice that it is unable to escape
[Dmitry Belkov] Fourteen months away from home6500:07:24:16 --> 00:05:41:22 [Subtitles] DMITRY BELKOV FIRST MATE
I was with Sergey
He was first mate, and I was fourth
We finished our work, picked up the people, and headed back,
but then a cyclone hit and packed the bay with ice
It was serious ice, more than 1.5 metres thick
We only managed to struggle through 4-5 metres per watch 72 00:07:55:54 --> 00:07:59:32Command decided enough was enough and called in a plane
An Il-76 arrived and took the people off, and we stayed
[Subtitles]It was clear to those remaining on the Somov that they had to prepare for a long drift 75 00:08:14:64 --> 00:08:18:34[first mate] There was a birthday on the day the drift ended
We'd just raised a glass when there was a call saying cracks had appeared,
and we went up to the bridge
At first, I saw one crack, but then they opened up to the horizon
I called the engine room and said: 'Full speed ahead, this is no joke!'
They were used to jokes after 6 months
We fired her up and escaped the ice
Cook! They made a cake for a birthday
Can you bring it up?
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you!
[VO] 82 degrees north. The vessel nudges into a 1.5 meter thick ice floe
They decide to stop here and start the search for a suitable site to set up an ice station
Sailing further north could be dangerous because the ice may be too thick
[Frolov] It took a long time to make our way through the ice floe during the night
I came out at 5am and saw the ice was very good, but we were breaking it
[Subtitle] IVAN FROVOL EXPEDITION LEADER
Today we have a very important operation: we must find an ice floe and put people to work
An ice floe is chosen from satellite images and then it is examined "live" from a helicopter
The main thing is that it's durable
That depends on many factors, mainly the shape: it should be round
If it's round, it means it's been battered around a lot and is already quite tough
It should be about one metre thick, not more
We don't want a really big one
There are huge fields now reaching 70 km, but it's obvious they'll break up quickly,
so we need about five kilometres…
even three, without too many hummocks, so we can work comfortably
We haven't found any round ice floes yet,
so we'll try right here
So, concerning observations on the ice.
There are oceanographers and biologists, as well as geophysicists and ice explorers
There's also a technical support team [Guy] And the rangers?
[Frovol] They're a kind of security service
[Guy2] Do you have your own hunters?
[Frolov] Yes, with a hunting licence112
[Guy2] And do you have a rifle?
[Frovol] No, we don't
So, do you plan to show the bears your hunting licence?
[Andrey Chugunov] I've seen nothing: no tracks, no sign of polar bears or arctic foxes
[Subtitle] ANDREY CHUGUNOV RANGER 11700:11:43:35 --> 00:11:45:85 No birds either, just nothing…
Neither man nor beast
I'll stay near the ship, and my colleague will go with the Germans to measure the ice 12000:11:58:75 --> 00:12:04:00 Gauging ice depth is always something of a guess. Only measuring by hand can give an accurate reading.
That’s why ice experts are the first to step on the ice floe. There are two groups operating at the same time,
Russian and German teams. In all 15 different institutes have sent specialists on this expedition, three are from Europe 12300:12:28:23 --> 00:12:31:23 [Chugunov] I'm most concerned about my mate's fate right now
He's been riding in that old washtub for an hour already
He's probably died and frozen stiff 12600:13:03:01 --> 00:13:04:56 What are you laughing at?
[VO] Only after an ice floe plan has been produced, can they start making it habitable.
[Frolov] In essence, we're developing a new type of station:
a ship and ice as one object
This will be the first floating laboratory in the world 13100:13:42:06 --> 00:13:46:56 [Subtitle] IVAN FROLOV EXPEDITION LEADER
that can be frozen in ice to set up such stations
In some years, a unique platform launch is set up, this provides expedition members with comfortable cabins
and the confidence that should the ice crack they won’t fall into the ocean in their beds
Only equipment remains on the ice. This expedition is a kind “dry-run” to establish exactly what future platforms might need
Traditionally, a polar station is deemed to be open once its first weather report has been transmitted
[Dispatcher1] Drumroll, please! Who'll send out the first data? Maybe you, Vasily, as team leader? 13800:14:36:76 --> 00:14:37:23 No, I'll just watch
[Dispatcher1] And listen [Dispatcher2] Radio meteo, come in!
[Dispatcher1] Go ahead, Tryoshnikov 14100:14:44:75 --> 00:14:46:13 Ready to write this down?
Copy
49
945
57
005
73
830
That's it, until next time!
Who'll say it?
- Hurrah! - HURRAH!
[Frolov] We're opening a station of a new type: a vessel in an ice floe
Our drift is an experiment 15400:15:58:23 --> 00:16:04:04 Very soon, a new vessel will be launched from St. Petersburg
that's designed for drifting: an ice-resistant, self-propelled platform
Our job is to work out methods for working as a single team at this new type of station
This will be our home in the coming days,
and, perhaps, months
So, prepare for the drift!
[VO] Most of the research will be conducted on a daily basis, this is called “routine data collection” 16100:16:50:67 --> 00:16:55:23 This though is a unique situation, because the ice floe is drifting, the water,
ocean floor and surrounding atmosphere are constantly changing
The scientists are keen to obtain as many spring observations in this latitude as possible 16400:17:10:12 --> 00:17:14:02 [Ivanov] Sea expeditions aren't usually conducted when everything's covered in ice,
and SP stations are usually placed farther to the east, so they can operate longer
Consequently, there's hardly any data from this area at all
[Journalist] Why do you need so much snow? [Nikita Mescheryakov] To get Caesium 134
[Subtitle] NIKITA MESCHERYAKOV BIOLOGIST
We need a large quantity of water to catch some, so we're collecting 500 litres
[Dr Diedrich Fritzsche] For isotopes, we need 10 grams, or even less
[Kuse-Tuz] We'll measure temperature, salinity, pressure, the current's velocity and direction,
and changes in hydrophysical features
While we're drifting, they'll record these measurements every 10 seconds
[Sergey Ovchinnikov] In terms of latitude, this is the highest atmospheric station
It feels like I'm at an SP, though the ship's right here
[Subtitle] SERGEY OVCHINNIKOV ATMOSPHERIC SPECIALIST
with warmth, comfort, and good food
At the beginning, when you're rushing to build the stations, that's a real pleasure
Our station is unique because it's located at the northernmost latitude
and takes recordings without interruption
It's the 1st time it's been used on an ice floe
[SUBTITELS] SERGEY PILGAEV GEOPHYSICIST
[Pavel Baryshev] The northern magnetic field's unusual, so it'll be interesting to measure
There's no other magnetometer in the world operating at such a high latitude right now,
[SUBTITELS] PAVEL BARYSHEV GEOPHYSIST, GEONAGNETIST
so the data we obtain will be extremely valuable
[Researcher] A bear's approaching from the magnetology pavilion behind me 18700:19:35:35 --> 00:19:39:17 Now, we'll all return to the ship in an orderly fashion
Where's that rascal…
who won't let us do our work?
[Worker2] All aboard!
We raise the gangway, so the bear can't climb up, right?
[Worker3] No, no! Please, not the wires!
Hey Misha! Walk on by! 19400:20:27:02 --> 00:20:32:01 [Baryshev] He came, sniffed around, and chewed on a rope, but didn't like the taste
[SUBTITLE] PAVEL BARYSHEV GEOPHYSICIST, GEOMAGNETIST
Then he leaned on my antenna and snapped it 19700:20:36:86 --> 00:20:39:34 He chewed up something of my neighbour's too
[Worker3] From the stern, I saw him walking over there.
It bit a cable here
[Ranger] Well, the ship's been here three days
Some odours appeared…
and the bears with them
[Worker4] And so, only a little, he didn't bite through, just chewed a bit 20400:21:31:67 --> 00:21:34:24 Well, it seems that's it, touch wood
That's good
More or less
He just scratched himself on it, but he didn't do any damage
[VO] The ice group installs seismic sensors, which will send a kind of ice floe “cardiogram” to the “Academik Troshnikov” bridge20800:22:00:02 --> 00:22:03:45 We can forecast dangerous ice conditions
There could be hummocking or fissures
[Journalist] This your invention? [Kovalev] Yes
[Journalist] Your department's? [Kovalev] Our lab's
[SUBTITLE] VLADIMIR IVANOVDEPUTY EXPEDITION LEADER
[Ivanov] Of course, a lot can be calculated now, but nothing can replace real field data
Satellites do a lot, but not everything
Though they've started measuring ice depth with satellites over the past five years,
their data must still be verified on the ground
Atmospheric tests of the surface layer, boundary layer, and ionosphere
in polar latitudes differ greatly from those in temperate ones
[SUBTITLE] ...AND SO WENT THE MONTH
[VO] Every day the ship’s helicopter flies to collect water sample from different locations
This time, while returning, the crew noticed an ice crack several kilometers away from the vessel
Just three days ago, Sergei Kovalyov, the ice group head, using seismic sensors,
had forecast that the ice floe was very likely to crack
[Researcher2] Oh! Holy moly! There it is! I see it now
[Researcher3] I want to shout and run around!
The ice floe's cracked! 22700:24:15:02 --> 00:24:15:78 Because…
to predict a crack in an ice floe…
that's…
hat's really something!
[Journalist] Can I cross here? [Researcher2] Sideways, you need to roll
[Journalist] Got it [Researcher2] I'll show you, like this
I know how to roll 23400:24:41:89 --> 00:24:43:10 Like this
[Journalist] Uh, huh! I understand
You've gotta be kidding me! 23700:24:54:20 --> 00:24:56:13 [Worker] Well, it gurgles a bit.
It was cool!
[VO] The station carries on normally for another week. And then, a new crack appears
[Worker] Look out the window! You can see it!
[Journalist] That one just in front of the shed?
That's a beaut!
[VO] The fissure runs right through the station cutting the observation site of from the vessel 24400:25:39:42 --> 00:25:42:74 [Ivanov] We need to find a new spot for the meteo-pavilion
[Worker] Why the panic? It's stable enough here!
Will it really be sturdier over there?
On a ship, you don't have to worry about cracks appearing in the night
On SPs, you had to save your home, but, here, we only need to save the equipment24800:26:38:67 --> 00:26:44:12 The meteo-pavilion was reconfigured in a day and that evening published a routine weather report
The crack widens further the following morning, but the drift trial continues
The vessel based ice-station has survived for more than a month and in that time, 25100:26:55:33 --> 00:26:59:78 unique data has been collected and recommendations drawn up for the construction
of a new type of ice platform which, it is planned will be floated out in 2021