Basic research lines

Natural development of the Beloe [White] Sea, the lake-river systems and ground waters located in North-Western Russia, study of their stability and variability with regard to climatic and anthropogenic factors.

Scientific assessment of the state and forecast of water ecosystems; development of measures on nature conservation and restoration.

Assessment of water ecological potential; development of the scientific basis for sustainable management of water resources within European North of Russia.

Optimization of use, conservation and restoration of water resources of Karelia.

Theory of lake-river and sea systems development.

Water resources and vital functions of population.

NWPI is conducting the scientific investigations in the region situated in the North-West of Russia and rich of water bodies with numerous lake-river systems (in Karelia – 60 000 lakes and 27 000 rivers, in Kola and Arkhangelsk districts – about 100 000 water bodies), ground waters resources, near the largest European lakes, Ladoga and Onega, and the Beloe [White] Sea.

Main achievements for the last ten years

Typical features of water systems of different types in Russian North, their tolerance to the impact of climatic and anthropogenic factors have been studied.

The investigations of the Beloe [White] Sea and its catchment area as the socio-ecologo-economic system were conducted and the scenarios of its development under the climatic and anthropogenic factors have been formulated.

Water resources of Russian North were estimated; the GIS “Water bodies of Republic of Karelia” has been developed and the catalogue “Karelian lakes and rivers and hydrotechnical constructions” was published.

Main features of acidification and eutrophication of lakes in Northwestern Russia, including Lake Onega and Lake Ladoga were defined. The theory of acidic-alkali balance of surface waters in humic zone useful for anthropogenic acidification assessment of the water bodies.

Eastern Fennoscandia climate changes in terms of intra- and inter-century variability were formulated.

The methods of the water balance transformation in the taiga zone under climatic and anthropogenic factors
assessment were developed.

Scientific potential of NWPI

80 employees, including 34 PhDs and 6 Dr.S., technical personnel and crew of R/V “Ecolog”.

The laboratories of hydrophysics, hydrobiology and hydrochemistry with modern analytical equipment, current and temperature measurement devices, multi-parameter sondes, etc.

Scientific-research vessel “Ecolog” of river-sea class with two laboratories, flowing water system, wide nautical capacities, modern navigation equipment

Field base on Lake Vendyurskoe

Intranet/Internet capacities, licensed software (ArcViewGIS, MapInfo, ERDAS, IDRISI, etc.), internet site.

Accreditation of Science and Technologies Ministry

Accreditation of Gosstandard and license for water monitoring (Laboratory of hydrochemistry and hydrogeology)

License on educational activities, doctoral studentship

Research-Educational Center “Karelian water bodies and methods of their investigation””

International co-operation

NWPI has a long-term co-operation with universities in Bergen (Norway); Lund and Uppsala (Sweden); Helsinki, Joensuu, Tampere, Oulu and Kuopio (Finland); Ministry of Environment, Finland, with its regional centers in Helsinki, Joensuu, Kajanu, Kuopio, Tampere.

NWPI also has strong links with scientific institutions in Canada, USA, Switzerland, Germany.

NWPI is a co-founder of Nansen International Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre- NIERSC.

In last ten years, NWPI took part in many national and international projects, including those under TACIS, INTERREG, INTAS and INCO-COPERNICUS initiatives.