The Institute of Oceanology RAS (Russian Academy of Sciences) is popular and known in the scientific community. And what do we know about him ?! Why was it created? What is being studied in it? Who was its first director? You will find these and other facts from the history of the institute in our article.
Quick reference
Institute of Oceanology P.P. Shirshova RAS is the oldest and largest research center in our country in the field of ocean science. It is named after its first director - Petr Petrovich Shirshov, who at one time was a Soviet statesman, hydrobiologist and polar explorer. The Shirshov Institute of Oceanology was founded by order of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union on January 31, 1946. It is located in Moscow at the address: Nakhimovsky Prospekt, house 36.
At the head of Shirshov, scientists such as S.V. created and raised the institute. Bruevich, V.B. Shtokman, A.D. Dobrovolsky, L.A. Zenkevich and others. Today, there are 38 research laboratories under the wing of the center. In total, the staff of 1267 people, of which 98 doctors of sciences and 220 candidates of various sciences. The structure of the scientific institution has a Center for marine expeditions and research.
Branches that the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology contains
The research center has seven branches in different cities throughout Russia:
- Kaliningrad Atlantic;
- Gelendzhik southern;
- Arkhangelsk Northwest;
- Astrakhan Caspian branch;
- St. Petersburg branch;
- Kaliningrad Atlantic Fleet Base;
- Vladivostok Pacific Fleet Base.
The activities of oceanologists
Institute of Oceanology P.P. Shirshova RAS is engaged in various types of work. The main activity for scientists is determined by the Russian Academy of Sciences. In addition, the institute works under the state program. Let's look at what this scientific center is doing, and what is its main activity.
The main types of activities in scientific and applied research:
- climatology, as well as the physics of the seas and oceans;
- hydrochemistry of oceans and seas, purification of the oceans from pollution;
- biological productivity, variability of ecosystems of the seas due to climatic and anthropogenic factors, ecology and biology of oceans and seas;
- geophysics, chemistry, dynamics, geology, minerals, ocean sedimentogenesis;
- seismology of the seas, as well as electrical and seismic sounding of the Earth's crust;
- hazardous events occurring in the oceans and natural disasters;
- creation of equipment and instruments for the study of oceans and seas;
- heat transfer and hydrodynamics in the oceans;
- acoustics, wave processes and cavitation;
- The oceans and the diversity of ecosystems, their rational use.
Other activities
Institute of Oceanology P.P. Shirshova RAS carries out research projects, which are mainly financed by scientific foundations, as well as foreign and international organizations. In addition, the scientific center organizes and conducts research on marine and land expeditions, including international ones. Institute of Oceanology RAS Shirshova provides various services for the operation and management of technical equipment and vessels. Scientists of the institute also organize and conduct engineering and geodetic, hydrometeorological, environmental and geological surveys.
On the basis of the center, divers provide scientific and technical work, provide inspection services for underwater hazardous facilities in Russian waters. The latest technologies for observing the oceans are being developed, preparations are being made for GSO and certification. Within the walls of the institute, expert reviews of technical and scientific programs, research and design work, and specialized projects are carried out.
Direction of ocean physics
When they founded the Institute of Oceanology. P.P. Shirshov Academy of Sciences, the first thing they did was open a school of ocean physicists. It conducted basic research, and made world discoveries in the field of ocean currents. B. B. Shtokman led theoretical research, and A.D. Dobrovolsky - experimental. Thanks to these two researchers, accurate maps of currents in the oceans were built.
Geology of the seas and oceans
Work in this direction began at the institute a year after opening - in 1947. The group of scientists was small - only five employees headed by professors V.P. Zenkevich and P.L. Bezrukov. Today, more than 350 senior and junior researchers are working there. They have 17 secured laboratories at their disposal. They study tectonics, geochemistry, geomorphology, and also mineralogy. Scientists are exploring water, ice and air suspension. Recently, researchers have been closely observing micro-paleontology, minerals, coasts and shelves.
For all its existence, the Institute conducted more than 150 expeditions in the oceans of our state. About 65-70 specialists are involved in one flight, which are divided into 10 units. Each squad is a representative from the organization in its profile. Swimming takes 90 days, or 3 months, not counting the time for preparation. On-board operational processing of samples. Abroad, this type of expedition is just beginning to master and apply.
Marine and oceanic ecology
The Institute conducts extensive research on the biology and productivity of the oceans. Scientists are interested in plankton, nekton, cetaceans, macroalgae and so on. On the basis of this direction, maps of the fauna of the World Ocean have been developed, and zones where commercial fish feed are found and marked.