Russian-Chinese conference on climate change

Leading climate scientists from the Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences arrived in Khanty-Mansiysk. YuSU became a venue for the 15th Russian-Chinese conference on climate change, including in the Arctic zone. The university hosted a Russian-Chinese seminar on atmospheric physics, climate and environment.

Rector of YUSU Roman Kuchin welcomed the scientific delegations. He noted that today much attention is paid to the development of research projects with Asia.

"We work within the framework of the Russian-Asian Arctic Research Consortium, thanks to which our university interacts with the Ocean University of China. At the Eastern Economic Forum we summarized the results of our work and noted very great successes in the study of the climate agenda. As a co-chair of Russian-Asian Arctic Research Consortium, I propose to consider the possibility of participation in this interaction of colleagues from both Russia and China", - said Roman Kuchin.

The rector also reminded that YuSU participates in the federal project of the Ministry of Education and Science "Carbon Polygons", the federal scientific and technical program on the climate of the Russian Federation until 2030, as well as implements a regional project to create a "Carbon Data Center".

Boris Peychev, Head of Competition Development Division of the Yugra Department of Economic Development, also welcomed the scientific delegations. He added that Carbon Data Center will further accumulate competencies of Yugra, monitor carbon flows, analyze data and form a pool of technologies for commercialization of carbon footprint.

In his turn, Professor Riyu Lu, Deputy Director of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at CAS, noted that recent studies show that climate change in the Arctic is also affecting the climate in China: "We hope to better understand these processes and establish scientific cooperation. YuSU has a strong network of international cooperation, and we hope to join this partnership so that it will be mutually beneficial.

YuSU scientists presented their reports at the conference. Thus, Evgeny Zarov, senior researcher of the Youth Laboratory of Geoinformatics of Ecosystems, reported on the history of "Mukhrino", the main directions of research conducted on the territory of the research station. He also told about the directions of training of students, their involvement in the work, the availability of such an effective tool for training as field practice. In addition, he noted that in the summer of 2024 the next symposium "West Siberian peatlands and the carbon cycle" will be held in Yugra, and that we publish a scientific journal "Environmental Dynamics and Global Climate Change".

Danil Ilyasov, Head of the Youth Laboratory of Geoinformatics of Ecosystems told about the directions, goals and objectives, objects, methods and the first results of the laboratory's work in 2023. He also described the context of its functioning: it appeared as a component of the Major innovative project of national significance project. For simplicity, he used one of the official names "Carbon Rhythm". He also mentioned the objectives of the laboratory, among which, in addition to scientific, there is, for example, educational - training of young personnel in the field of ecology and geographic information systems".

Alexander Sabrekov, a researcher at the Laboratory of Ecosystem-Atmospheric Connections of Forest-Swamp Complexes, told about the source of methane in the floodplains of our region's rivers: "In 2020-2021, we traveled the entire county and sampled water and gas from these outlets."

Tomorrow, delegations of scientists from Russia and China will travel to the international station (carbon polygon) "Mukhrino", where they will get acquainted in detail with the infrastructure, measuring instruments and the nature that YuSU researchers are studying. We would like to add that "Mukhrino" is one of the five monitoring points that will unite the "Carbon Data Center" being created in Yugra. It is aimed at obtaining reliable scientific data on greenhouse gas emissions and the absorption capacity of the ecosystem. The project is being implemented thanks to the joint efforts of YuSU, the Yugra government and fuel and energy companies.