In 2024, the Northern Water Problems Institute (NWPI) KarRC RAS joined the key innovative project of national importance “Unified national system for monitoring climate active substances”. The research is done by Russian scientific organization under the RITM Carbon consortium umbrella. Karelia is efficiently represented in this project by specialists from the Institute of Biology, Forest Research Institute and Department for Multidisciplinary Research KarRC RAS, who perform carbon monitoring in the republic’s terrestrial ecosystems — forests, wetlands, and man-made agricultural landscapes.
Similarly to terrestrial ecosystems, aquatic ecosystems also store carbon, which will later be released into the atmosphere. Surface waters occupy over 12% of Russia’s territory, making our country the worldwide leader in lake water reserves (30% of global resources). That is why, accurate assessment of greenhouse gas sequestration and emission by natural ecosystems is impossible without taking into account carbon fluxes in aquatic ecosystems.
— Republic of Karelia is a water abundant territory: over 61 thousand lakes and nearly 27 thousand rivers, which is why our region was chosen, together with Moscow, Siberia and the Far East, to be one of the five pioneers for working out the uniform methodological approaches, which will potentially be then extrapolated to waters in other Russian regions. Relying on the experience gained for terrestrial ecosystems, we plan to create a geographically distributed network for monitoring carbon pools and greenhouse gas fluxes in aquatic ecosystems that would cover the main representative types of water bodies and permit a reliable estimation of their capacity as greenhouse gas sinks, — tells Yulia Lukina, Research Leader, Director of the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS.
Over the course of the year, specialists in various fields - hydrochemists, hydrogeologists, hydrologists, hydrophysicists, sedimentologists, hydrobiologists, and geographers - work in the Kivach Nature Reserve on Lake Chudesnaya Lamba, the Sandalka River, and the Chechkin Brook. Scientists thoroughly investigate how much carbon is stored in the water bodies' main depositing environments: bottom sediments, water column, groundwater, biota, and estimate the rate of gas transfer along the water column so as to quantify the contribution of aquatic ecosystems to carbon emissions into the atmosphere. They have come up with original designs of sediment traps, which are necessary for the observations of the sedimentation rate, and of stationary collection chamber traps for monitoring gas emissions from sediments.
— The first project results indicate that waters of Karelia contain relatively high amounts of all forms of carbon. This provides researchers with the ground to hypothesize about the effect of boreal aquatic ecosystems on the global carbon cycle. The significance of this impact on the Earth’s climate system is yet to be evaluated, — shared Yulia Lukina.
KarRC RAS
in social media
in social media
News
June 20, 2024
Karelia among the five regions in the country developing techniques for quantifying carbon pools and fluxes in aquatic ecosystems
Our region became one of the quintet of regions where unified methodological approaches to quantifying greenhouse gas emission and sequestration by aquatic ecosystems will be worked out. The work is carried out by researchers from the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS in the Kivach Nature Reserve. The first results were obtained, which indicate that waters of Karelia contain relatively high amounts of all forms of carbon. Our colleagues told about their activities to SAMPO TV 360 crew.
Our region became one of the quintet of regions where unified methodological approaches to quantifying greenhouse gas emission and sequestration by aquatic ecosystems will be worked out. The work is carried out by researchers from the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS in the Kivach Nature Reserve. The first results were obtained, which indicate that waters of Karelia contain relatively high amounts of all forms of carbon. Our colleagues told about their activities to SAMPO TV 360 crew.
See also:
June 26, 2025
Ice-related phenomena on rivers emptying into the White Sea now last three weeks less than 60 years before
Ice on northern rivers now forms later while ice-off occurs earlier. Karelian scientists confirmed this having analyzed 64 years of marine and meteorological data from the estuaries of rivers draining into the White Sea along its western coast. Climate change has bit three weeks off the ice-covered period on these rivers. The reductions have been the most significant in the last 30 years, aligning with global warming trends in Arctic water bodies.
Ice on northern rivers now forms later while ice-off occurs earlier. Karelian scientists confirmed this having analyzed 64 years of marine and meteorological data from the estuaries of rivers draining into the White Sea along its western coast. Climate change has bit three weeks off the ice-covered period on these rivers. The reductions have been the most significant in the last 30 years, aligning with global warming trends in Arctic water bodies.
June 23, 2025
Citizen science and web technologies help researchers study insects of Karelia
More than 30 insect species not encountered in Karelia previously have been revealed by entomologists from KarRC RAS during their expeditions and using data communicated by active participants of the iNaturalist portal – an open platform for collecting biodiversity data.
More than 30 insect species not encountered in Karelia previously have been revealed by entomologists from KarRC RAS during their expeditions and using data communicated by active participants of the iNaturalist portal – an open platform for collecting biodiversity data.
June 20, 2025
Application process for 2025/2026 Doctoral Studies started at KarRC RAS
On June 20, Karelian Research Centre RAS began accepting papers from applicants for its Doctoral Courses. This year, university graduates can choose from ten academic specialties in the STEM, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
On June 20, Karelian Research Centre RAS began accepting papers from applicants for its Doctoral Courses. This year, university graduates can choose from ten academic specialties in the STEM, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
June 17, 2025
An important phase of the KarRC RAS Director General election procedure completed
The Electoral Commission has summarized the results of the voting for the election of the Director General of KarRC RAS. The turnout exceeded 80% of the Center's employees. The majority of votes, 391, were cast for Alexander Kryshen, Director of the Forest Research Institute. Acting Director General Olga Bakhmet was supported by 252 voters, and Deputy Director General Yuri Zaika received 17 votes. The Electoral Commission documented these results in its report, which will be submitted to the HR Policy Department of the Federal Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The candidacies will now undergo the procedure of approval by federal agencies, after which the employment contract will be signed with the winner of the competition.
The Electoral Commission has summarized the results of the voting for the election of the Director General of KarRC RAS. The turnout exceeded 80% of the Center's employees. The majority of votes, 391, were cast for Alexander Kryshen, Director of the Forest Research Institute. Acting Director General Olga Bakhmet was supported by 252 voters, and Deputy Director General Yuri Zaika received 17 votes. The Electoral Commission documented these results in its report, which will be submitted to the HR Policy Department of the Federal Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The candidacies will now undergo the procedure of approval by federal agencies, after which the employment contract will be signed with the winner of the competition.
June 11, 2025
Posseidon research vessel is back from this season’s first integrated expedition
Employees of the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS completed an expedition around Lake Onego on board the Posseidon research vessel. The expedition covered 19 sites in bays, Central Onego, and Kizhi Skerries region. Scientists have sampled water for chemical and biological analyses.
Employees of the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS completed an expedition around Lake Onego on board the Posseidon research vessel. The expedition covered 19 sites in bays, Central Onego, and Kizhi Skerries region. Scientists have sampled water for chemical and biological analyses.