Expedition on board the RV “Papanin” from 16 to 23 August, 2022

From 16 to 23 August, 2022, the expedition was carried out on board the RV “Papanin” within the program “Study of the impact of seasonal and long-term fluctuations in the level of Baikal on the biotic and abiotic compounds of the littoral zone of the lake and zones of mixing of the river and lake waters” (project № 0279-2021-0016) (led by A. Fedotov).

The expedition was aimed to assess the geomorphological characteristics of the Yarki bara-island, Angarsky Sor Bay, and the Verkhnyaya Angara river bed (Northern Baikal) to identify patterns of their transformation under the changing level of Lake Baikal.

During the expeditionary works, the vertical aerial survey, horizontal low-altitude aerial survey and perspective low-altitude (view) survey were carried out. Unmanned vehicles of airplane and helicopter types were used to perform the works. The aerial photography enabled to make a high-resolution digital map of the Yarki bara-island and Angarsky Sor Bay in the delta area of the Verkhnyaya Angara river.

At the same time water samples were taken to assess the suspended solid concentrations in the bay of the Yarki bara-island and in the channels connecting the lake and the bay.

The obtained data will allow in the future interpret in more details the satellite images especially in the areas of the coastal zone and sometime flooded areas of Lake Baikal.