Gydan will reveal its secrets

The Gydan Peninsula is one of the few areas of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, which has not yet been affected by the industrial development. In contrast to the Yamal Peninsula, explored by scientific expeditions inside out, there are still almost untouched places. Climatic conditions, geographical remoteness from densely populated areas and a lack of a well-developed transport network resulted in inadequate attention of science, despite the fact that there are about one hundred and eighty bird species breeding on the peninsula, including those listed in the Red Data Book, and the Gydan Bay is a place of wintering, feeding and spawning of fish bioresources.

The effect of the upcoming industrialization on the biodiversity of the peninsula and the indigenous population living there is to be determined by scientists. We require a deep and comprehensive knowledge of climatic changes, geology, topography, geomorphology and hydrology of the peninsula. Moreover, in order to avoid various kinds of shocks, it is very important to obtain data on the social and economic processes and the state of reindeer pastures, as well as hunting and fishing resources, and to arrange for regular environmental monitoring.

All these issues will be addressed by the comprehensive Gydan Peninsula study program to be implemented by the Arctic Research Center in cooperation with leading research institutes inside the RAS system. To pursue regular field studies on the Gydan Peninsula, a research station will be established in 2016 after the example of similar facilities that are currently functioning on Bely Island and Erkuta River in the South Yamal providing expeditions with all the things needed and allowing scientists to live and work autonomously for a few months.

Besides this, it is planned to set up research stations in the area of ​​the Bovanenkovo ​​field and the Port of Sabetta as well as an Arctic research ground in the vicinity of Nadym under the aegis of the Institute of Ecology and Natural Resource Management of the Tyumen State University and the Institute of the Earth's Cryosphere SB RAS. Thus, the study of processes occurring in the Arctic region will cover territories where the development of natural resources is under way and where it is just expected. This will allow assessing the subsequent effects of the industrialization over time and avoiding the mistakes made during the first wave of industrial development of the YNAO.