PP Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences: history and features

The Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russian Academy of Sciences) is popular and known in scientific circles. And what do we know about him ?! Why did they create it? What is studied in it? Who was his first director? These and other facts from the history of the Institute you will find in our article.

Brief information

Institute of Oceanology. P.P. Shirshov RAS is the oldest and largest research center in our country in the field of ocean science. It was named after its first director, Petr Petrovich Shirshov, who at one time was a Soviet statesman, hydrobiologist and polar explorer. The Institute of Oceanology named after Shirshov was founded on the order of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union on January 31, 1946. It is located in the city of Moscow at the address: Nakhimovsky Avenue, house 36.

At the head of Shirshov, scientists such as S.V. Bruevich, V.B. Shtokman, A.D. Dobrovolsky, L.A. Zenkevich and others. Today under the wing of the center there are 38 scientific research laboratories. A total of 1,267 people, including 98 doctors of science and 220 candidates of various sciences. In the structure of the scientific institution there is a Center for Marine Expeditions and Research.

Branch, which contains the Institute of Oceanology Shirshov

The research center has seven branches in different cities throughout Russia:

• Kaliningrad Atlantic;
• Gelendzhik southern;
• Arkhangelsk North-West;
• Astrakhan Caspian branch;
• St. Petersburg branch;
• Kaliningrad Atlantic Fleet Base;
• Vladivostok Pacific Fleet Base.

Activities of oceanographers

Institute of Oceanology. P.P. Shirshov RAS deals with 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 research center does and what its main activity is.

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 sea ecosystems due to climatic and anthropogenic factors, ecology and biology of oceans and seas;
• Geophysics, chemistry, dynamics, geology, minerals, sedimentogenesis of the oceans;
• Seismology of the seas, as well as electro- and seismic sounding of the Earth's crust;
• The dangerous phenomena occurring in the World Ocean, and natural disasters;
• The creation of equipment and instruments for the study of oceans and seas;
• Heat exchange 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. Shirshov RAS carries out scientific research projects, which are mainly financed by scientific foundations, as well as by foreign and international organizations. In addition, the scientific center organizes and conducts surveys of sea 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 geodesic, hydrometeorological, ecological and geological surveys.

On the basis of the center, divers provide scientific and technical work, provide services for inspection of underwater hazardous objects in Russian waters. The newest technologies of ocean observation are being developed, preparation for GSO and attestation is being carried out. Within the walls of the Institute, technical and scientific programs, research and design works, and profile projects are being examined.

The direction of oceans physics

When they founded the Institute of Oceanology. P.P. Shirshov RAS, the first thing they did was open a school for ocean physicists. It carried out fundamental research, and made world discoveries in the field of ocean currents. V.B. Shtokman led theoretical research, and A.D. Dobrovolsky - experimental. Thanks to these two researchers, accurate maps of currents in the oceans have been constructed.

Geology of the seas and oceans

Work in this direction began at the Institute a year after the opening - in 1947. The group of scientists was small - only five employees, headed by professors V.P. Zenkevich and PL Bezrukovym. Today, more than 350 senior and junior research workers work there. They have 17 provided laboratories. They study tectonics, geochemistry, geomorphology, and mineralogy. Scientists are investigating water, ice and air suspensions. Recently, researchers have been closely watching micropaleontology, minerals, shores and shelves.

For its entire existence, the Institute conducted more than 150 expeditions in the oceans of our state. In one flight involved about 65-70 professionals, which are divided into 10 units. Each squad is a representative from the organization in their profile. Swimming takes 90 days, or 3 months, not counting the time for preparation. On-board processing of samples is carried out. Abroad this type of expedition is only just beginning to be mastered and applied.

Marine and oceanic ecology

Within the walls of the Institute there are extensive studies of 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, as well as areas where commercial fish feed.