Director of the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences Olga Solomin during a press conference dedicated to the Day of the Geographer, celebrated in Russia on August 18, said that from 2014 to 2023, a significant decrease in ice reserves was recorded on the Arctic archipelages belonging to Russia.
According to Solomina, especially the active reduction of glaciers was observed in the period from 2014 to 2023. This fact is confirmed by the data of satellite observations, according to which, over the specified period, the annual loss of ice mass reached 25 gigatons. In previous years, this indicator was only 8 gigatons.
In addition, Solomin noted that in the Arctic region, icebergs that have broken off from glaciers are particularly dangerous. They are dangerous for both shipping and the functioning of oil platforms.
Solomin also said that for the period from 1997 to 2017, the volume of glaciers on Mount Elbrus decreased by 23%. She described this situation as “catastrophic”.
