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Date submitted2024-03-30
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Date accepted2024-06-13
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Date published2024-07-04
Organotin pollutants in emerging coastal-marine sediments of the Kaliningrad shelf, Baltic Sea
Based on two years of monitoring of modern bottom sediments of two sections of the Kaliningrad shelf of the Baltic Sea – “Curonian Spit” and “Northern Sambian” – an assessment of the sources of pollution with organotin compounds (OTs) and heavy metals was carried out. The content of individual organotin compounds and OTCs spectra obtained by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry of relatively coarse-grained bottom sediments indicate the presence of organotins in significant quantities – the total OTs content (ΣOTs) is from 0.6 to 8.3 ng/g. However, the content of tributyltin (TBT), the main component of anti-fouling systems for marine vessels and the most dangerous endocrine-disrupting compound among the hazardous substances for marine ecosystems, is at a low level (0-2.3 ng/g) in all studied samples and has not increased over the two-year observation period (biodegradation index 1.7-12.4). At the same time, the presence of abnormally high concentrations of mono-, triphenyl- and tricyclohexyltin in the sediments of the ”Northern Sambian” site (up to 30, 7 and 6.4 ng/g, respectively) indicates an additional source of pollution of coastal waters and shelf sediments (for example, plastic litter and agricultural runoff). The absence of significant shipping in the study areas ensures a consistently low level of pollution with tributyltin and its derivatives (less than 0.3 and 2.3 ng/g of TBT in 2017 and less than 0.1 and 1.3 ng/g in 2018 for the sites “Curonian Spit” and “Northern Sambian”, respectively), which indicates the activity of the processes of TBT transformation and self-cleaning of sandy sediments. However, the identified trends and their predictive accuracy require long-term observation and monitoring of the sediment environment using data on the deep-water part of the shelf, enriched in clay and humus components.
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Date submitted2022-06-27
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Date accepted2023-06-20
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Date published2023-12-25
Analysis of the problems of high-quality drinking water extraction from underground water intakes on Vysotsky Island in the Vyborg district of the Leningrad region
This article presents the results of drilling, experimental filtration work and laboratory studies aimed at assessing the resources and quality of groundwater in the licensed area of Vysotsky Island located in the Leningrad region, in the Gulf of Finland in accordance with the requirements of regulatory documents. Analysis of the results of hydrochemical studies and their comparison with data on water intakes in adjacent areas gives the right to conclude that it is possible to classify a hydrogeological unit as a different type of resource formation than those located in the surrounding areas. Groundwater in this area is confined to an unexplored deep fractured regional high-pressure zone. According to the received data, the explored water intake can be attributed to a unique groundwater deposit, which has an uncharacteristic composition of groundwater in the north of the Leningrad region, which may be due to the mixing of modern sediments and relict waters of the Baltic glacial lake. The stability of groundwater characteristics is confirmed by long-term monitoring.
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Date submitted2022-03-14
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Date accepted2022-06-20
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Date published2022-11-10
Model of a walking sampler for research of the bottom surface in the subglacial lake Vostok
Technologies and technical means for investigation of subglacial lakes in Antarctic is a new developing scientific and technical direction, which today has no clearly established methodology. Based on the developed technology of drilling a new access well to lake Vostok and its penetration as well as analysis of existing methods and devices for bottom sediment sampling, a basic model of a sampler with a walking-type mover, capable of moving along different trajectories and operating in a wide technological range, is proposed. The proposed device model is equipped with different actuators for sampling the bottom surface with different physical and mechanical properties. Based on the presented basic model of the walking sampler, a mathematical model of the device was developed, which was based on the theoretical mechanics methods. As a result of conducted research the dependencies were obtained, which allow making a scientifically justified choice of optimal values for geometric and force parameters of the walking sampler. A conceptual design of the walking sampler has been developed, taking into account the mutual location and coupling of its main components, the overall dimensions of the delivery tool, as well as the esthetic component of the device.
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Date submitted2021-10-19
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-27
Potential technological solution for sampling the bottom sediments of the subglacial lake Vostok: relevance and formulation of investigation goals
The subglacial Lake Vostok in Antarctic is a unique natural phenomenon, its comprehensive study involves sampling of water and bottom surface rocks. For further study of the lake, it is necessary to drill a new access well and develop environmentally safe technologies for its exploration. This article discusses existing and potential technologies for sampling bottom surface rocks of subglacial lakes. All these technologies meet environmental safety requirements and are conducive for sampling. The authors have proposed an alternative technology, using a walking device, which, due to its mobility, enables selective sampling of rocks across a large area from a single access well. The principal issues, related to the implementation of the proposed technology, are investigated within this article. This report is prepared by a team of specialists with many years of experience in drilling at the Vostok Station in Antarctic and in experimental work on the design of equipment and non-standard means of mechanization for complicated mining, geological and climatic conditions.
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Date submitted2018-07-05
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Date accepted2018-08-31
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Date published2018-12-21
The lake Il’men clint, Russia: a potential devonian geopark
- Authors:
- John E.A. Marshall
- David J. Siveter
The Devonian rocks exposed on the shores of Lake Il’men, some 150 km SSE of Saint Petersburg, are important historically in the context of the recognition of the Devonian System. Moreover, they provide unique potential for a range of geological studies today. The non-geological heritage of the area – its flora, fauna, past and current industrial use and cultural links – is also a very worthy one. Since 2001 the area has been recognised asa Specially Protected Natural Territory. A ‘Geopark’ is a unified area of local or wider extent that has been so designated based on its significant geological and associated natural and cultural heritage. There are many positive criteria for considering that the Lake Il’men area could acquire the appellation of a Geopark. Scientific investigations dedicated to understanding the geodynamical conditions operating at Lake Il’men would resolve how to best to help promote the future preservation of this unique natural area.
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Date submitted2016-11-21
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Date accepted2017-01-23
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Date published2017-04-14
Prospects of obtaining samples of bottom sediments from subglacial lake Vostok
- Authors:
- N. I. Vasilev
- G. L. Leichenkov
- E. A. Zagrivnyi
The paper proves the timeliness of obtaining and examining bottom sediments from subglacial Lake Vostok. Predictive geological section of Lake Vostok and information value of bottom sediments have been examined. Severe requirements towards environmental security of lake examinations and sampling of bottom sediments rule out the use of conventional drilling technologies, as they would pollute the lake with injection liquid from the borehole. In order to carry out sampling of bottom sediments from the subglacial lake, it is proposed to use a dynamically balanced tool string, which enables rotary drilling without any external support on borehole walls to transmit counter torque. A theoretical analysis has been carried out to assess the operation of the tool string, which is a two-mass oscillatory electromechanical system of reciprocating and rotating motion (RRM) with two degrees of freedom.
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Date submitted2015-08-21
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Date accepted2015-10-24
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Date published2016-04-22
Results of the 5G borehole drilling at russian antarctic station «Vostok» and researches of ice cores
- Authors:
- N. I. Vasilev
- A. N. Dmitriev
- V. Ya. Lipenkov
We produce an information about results and features of the 5G borehole drilling in Antarctic layer at Russian station Vostok. Main regularities of the change structured and physical properties by Antarctic ice layer depth, which determine mechanical and reological properties if ice, which influence to sinking of a borehole and to the maintaining of it in a working condition, the safe and competitive technologies creation for drilling of strong ice layers and the environmentally safe technology of the subglacial reservoirs unsealing. We also produce results of the ice cores researching and the paleoclimatic raws construction, which are reconstructed by the ice cores researching from Vostok station, which is compared with isotopic graph. This graph describes changes of World ocean level.
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Date submitted2014-06-24
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Date accepted2014-08-31
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Date published2014-12-22
Unique engineering and technology for drilling boreholes in Antarctic ice
- Authors:
- Vladimir S. Litvinenko
As the result of many years of research into the processes of the transfer of ice as a rock mass on a global scale, concerning the Antarctic ice sheet at the ultra-deep 5G borehole, a discovery has been made that is of international significance in the areas of glaciology and geodynamics. Those who created the theory of thermal and mechanical penetration into ice and loose sediments have developed unique technology and engineering processes in order to drill boreholes using thermal and mechanical methods.