Russian Geographical Discoveries of the 20th Century in Antarctica: Methodology for Identifying and Evaluation the Significance

• Published in: Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk Seriya Geograficheskaya
• Main Authors: D. S. Asoyan, V. M. Kotlyakov, A. A. Tishkov, Д. С. Асоян, В. М. Котляков, А. А. Тишков
• Other Authors: The study was carried out within the framework of the state-ordered research themes of the Institute of Geography RAS, nos. 0148-2019-0007 and 0148-2019-0010., Статья подготовлена в рамках тем госзадания Института географии РАН № 0148-2019-0007 и № 01482019-0010.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Russian
• Published: Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk. Seriya Geograficheskaya 2022
• Subjects: озеро Восток; Soviet geographical discoveries; primary descriptions; Russian toponyms; subglacial relief; Lake Vostok; Южный океан; советские географические открытия; первоописания; русские топонимы; подледный рельеф; Antarc*; Antarctica; East Antarctica; Southern Ocean
• Online Access: https://izvestia.igras.ru/jour/article/view/1469; https://doi.org/10.31857/S2587556621060054

The article discusses approaches to systematization and assessment of the significance of Soviet and Russian geographical discoveries in Antarctica in the first decades of research on the continent. It is shown that not all the criteria adopted for evaluating world geographical discoveries are adequate for the ice continent, including for the discoveries of Russian geographers in East Antarctica and the Southern Ocean within the framework of the CAE, SAE, and RAE. The main discoveries and primary descriptions of Soviet scientists fall precisely on the period from 1956 to 1975 and subsequent decades (more than 2000), which are respectively reflected in the toponyms of the region and shown on the first maps. They had a different scale and significance–from the global (discovery of subglacial terrain and Lake Vostok) to the continental and regional (mountains, rocks, nunataks, elements of the coastline, the relief of the ocean f loor, etc.) levels. It is concluded that most of the discoveries were predicted, logically followed from the previous stages of geographical research on the continent, and were determined by progress in the development of technical means and technologies for space sensing, geophysics, deep drilling of glaciers, the use of deep-sea vehicles, etc. A significant part of the discoveries was made in various fields of Earth sciences as a result of detailed research using new methods, including geophysical and remote sensing. The necessity of continuing work on accounting, cataloging, and personalization of Russian geographical discoveries in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean is justified. Обсуждаются подходы к систематизации и оценке значимости советских и российских географических исследований и открытий в Антарктиде в первые десятилетия исследований материка. Показано, что не все критерии, принятые для оценки мировых географических открытий, адекватны для ледового материка, в том числе для открытий отечественных географов в Восточной Антарктиде и Южном океане. Основные открытия и ...