Natural conditions of Varandey coastal tundra. Anthropogenic transformation of natural landscapes

The author aims to characterize natural conditions in the coastal area of the Barents Sea, from the settlement of Varandey to the Perevoznoye field. The research covered an area of 20  km2, 40  km long. An integrated climatic characteristic of the studied area is given, including the direction and speed of natural processes forming its shape, cryogenic processes, flora and fauna conditions, soil cover formation. The geomorphological, geological, and hydrological features of the area are outlined. The heterogeneity of the water–salt regime of the coastal area, typical of the northern seas of the Arctic, including the Barents Sea, is noted. In the laidas, the prevalence of accumulation of easily soluble salts over their removal is established, which allows the soils to be distinguished in terms of their salinity. Here, halophytic species are identified. The vegetation cover of the studied area is characterized according to the habitat of flora representatives. The research identified 100 species of vascular plants, 51 species of lichens, and 65 species of mosses. A soil survey found 27 soil varieties, which form the structure of the soil cover; their morphological and physicochemical characterization are given. The data obtained during field studies and remote sensing data were used to determine the structure of landscapes to the level of terrain types and units, as well as to propose their description. Their ecological and geochemical typification is carried out. The fauna composition was assessed based on state registration data and open sources; field observations with reference to biotopes were used. The dynamics of fauna population on the Barents Sea coast was assessed retrospectively. Field survey and remote sensing data made it possible to identify areas with anthropogenic disturbance of tundra landscapes. A typification of the identified anthropogenic disturbances of the natural environment and their areas within the survey area is proposed. The data obtained can be used as signs when assessing the state of natural environments in the coastal part of the northern seas of the Arctic, similar in terms of natural and climatic conditions.

1. Aleksandrova V.D. Principles of zonal division of Arctic vegetation. Botanicheskii Zhurnal. 1971;56(1):3–21. (In Russ.).

2. The Arctic flora of the USSR. Vol. I–X. Leningrad: Nauka Publ.; 1960–1987. (In Russ.).

3. Arkhipov V.V., Ermolov A.A., Ogorodov S.A., Shumovskaya D.A. Engineering and ecological-geological aspects of the dynamics of the coastal zone of the Varandey region of the Pechora Sea. In: Modern issues of geology. Moscow: Nauchnyi mir Publ.; 2002, p. 353–356. (In Russ.).

4. Atlas of the Arctic. Moscow: The Main Directorate of Geodesy and Cartography under the Council of Ministers of the USSR; 1985. (In Russ.).

5. Braginskii O.B. The global oil and gas complex. Moscow: Nauka Publ.; 2004. (In Russ.).

6. Gramberg I.S., Ivanov V.L., Pogrebitskii Yu.E., ed. Geology and minerals of Russia. Vol. 5. Arctic and Far Eastern seas. Book 1. Arctic seas. Saint-Petersburg: Russian Geological Research Institute (VSEGEI); 2004. (In Russ.).

7. Gerasimova M.I., Stroganova M.N., Mozharova N.V., Prokof’eva T.V. Anthropogenic soils: genesis, geography, reclamation Smolensk: Oikumena Publ.; 2003. (In Russ.).

8. Golubchikov M.Yu. Geoecological problems of the development of the Varandei Peninsula. Energy: economics, technology, ecology. 2006;(6):59–61. (In Russ.).

9. State Geological Map of the Russian Federation, m-b 1 000 000 (new series), sheet R – (40)- 42 – Vaigach Island – Yamal Peninsula. Explanatory note. SPb.: St. Petersburg Cartographic Factory VSEGEI.; 2000. (In Russ.).

10. Getsen V.G., Dedeev V.A., Zaporozhtseva I.V., Kuznetsov A.G., Malyshev N.A., Ryzhov I.N., Timonin N.I., Udot G.D., Yudin V.V. The structure of the platform cover of the European North of the USSR. Leningrad: Nauka Publ.; 1982. (In Russ.).

11. Dobrovol’skii G.V., Urusevskaya I.S. Soil geography. Moscow: Moscow University Publishing House: Nauka; 1984. (In Russ.).

12. Ignatenko I.V. Tundra and forest tundra soils (using the example of an Eastern European province) [dissertation]. Moscow; 1976. (In Russ.).

13. Isachenko A.G., Shlyapnikov A.A Landscapes. Moscow: Mysl’ Publ.; 1989. (In Russ.).

14. Shishov L.L., Tonkonogov V.D., Lebedeva I.I., Gerasimova M.I. Classification and diagnostics of soils in Russia. Moskow: V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Institute of the Russian Federation Academy of Agricultural Sciences; 2004. (In Russ.).

15. Kuzmina E.Yu. Leafy mosses of disturbed and natural habitats of the Varandey and Toravey oil fields (Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Arkhangelsk Region). News of taxonomy of lower plants. 2021;35:229–239. (In Russ.).

16. Lavrinenko I.A., Lavrinenko O.V., Kulyugina E.E. Restoration of vegetation cover at the sites of drilling wells in the Bolshezemelskaya tundra. In: Flora of anthropogenic habitats of the North. Sat. Moscow: Institute of Geography of RAN; 1996, p. 55–79. (In Russ.).

17. Lavrov A.S. Geological mapping on a scale of 1:200,000 sheets R-39-XXIX–XXXVI, R-40-XXVIII–XXXVI, Q-40-II-VI, XI, XVII, Q41 and in 1975–1979. Moscow: KAE; 1979. (In Russ.).

18. Leskov A.I. A geobotanical sketch of the coastal meadows of the Little Earth coast of the Barents Sea. Botanical Journal. 1936;21(1):96–116. (In Russ.).

19. Makeev V.M. Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The current state and prospects of development. SPb.: Eleksis Print Publ.; 2005. (In Russ.).

20. Mineev Yu.N. Goose-like birds of the Eastern European tundra (distribution, population dynamics, conservation) [dissertation]. Moscow; 1999. (In Russ.).

21. NPK “Atmosfera” of State Observatory named after A.I. Voeikov. Climatic characteristics of the power line construction area (Varandey village). Report. Sankt-Peterburg; 2008. (In Russ.).

22. Piavchenko N.I. Bumpy peat bogs. Moscow: Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR; 1955.

23. Ramenskaya M.L. Analysis of the flora of the Murmansk region and Karelia. Leningrad: Nauka Publ.; 1983. (In Russ.).

24. Rebristaya O.V. Flora of the east of the Bolshezemelskaya tundra. Leningrad: Nauka Publ.; 1977. (In Russ.).

25. Khmaladze G.N., ed. Surface water resources of the USSR. Volume IX. Transcaucasia and Dagestan. Leningrad: Hydrometeorological Publishing House; 1969.

26. Ryzhkov L.P., Sidorov G.P The state of Atlantic salmon stocks Salmo salar I in the reservoirs of the European North of the USSR and the main ways to increase them. In: Collection of scientific papers of the State Research Institute of Lake and Fisheries. Issue 163. Leningrad: GosNIORH; 1981, pp. 24–33.

27. Sidorov G.P. Fish resources of the Bolshezemelskaya tundra. Leningrad: Nauka; 1974.

28. Tsekh V. Atlas of the Soil of the World. Moscow: Akademiya Publ.; 2007.

29. Chuksina N. A. To assess the estuary area of the Pechora River as a fishery reservoir. Water resources. 1987;(4):30–40.

30. Kalyakin V.N. Fauna of birds and mammals of the Novaya Zemlya region and assessment of its condition. In: Boyarsky P.V., ed. Proceedings of the Arctic Marine integrated expedition under the general editorship. Issue III. A new Land. Volume 2. Part II. Studies of the natural environment of Novaya Zemlya. Moscow; 1993, p. 23–90.

31. Uspenskii S.M. The Living Arctic. Moscow: Mysl’ Publ.; 1987ю