As a reminder, KarRC RAS provides training for academic and professoriate staff at the Doctoral School in eight areas of education. Training is conducted by highly qualified professors, and doctoral research is supervised by scientists with extensive experience.
KarRC RAS Director General Olga Bakhmet and Junior Researcher at the Institute of Geology KarRC RAS Grigory Rodionov
As part of the main agenda, a presentation was made by Cand. Sci. in Geology and Mineralogy, Leading Researcher at the Geophysics Laboratory of the Institute of Geology KarRC RAS Pavel Ryazantsev. He told about a study focusing on the search and assessment of traces of seismic catastrophes that occurred in the territory of Karelia some 12,000 years ago. Perturbations with a magnitude of up to 8 points were associated with deglaciation processes as ice sheets were receding from the territory. A thick layer of ice towered three kilometers over Fennoscandian land surface. The removal of such a colossal load triggered a whole series of events in the Earth's crust: faults were activated, rocks were eroded and deformed, landslides and rockslides occurred.
– Any seismic events are recorded in the bottom sediments of water bodies. Even distant earthquakes can be reflected in the sedimentary silt column, and we can later detect this with a ground penetrating radar, - explained the researcher about his work.
Using geophysical methods scientists can collect data faster, accomplish a broader range of tasks, all that at a low cost.
Leading Researcher at the Geophysics Laboratory of the Institute of Geology KarRC RAS Pavel Ryazantsev
According to the scientist, studies of post-glacial seismicity are still relevant since modern glaciers are now in the process of melting.
Pavel Ryazantsev described the known major paleoseismic events in the Karelian-Kola region. They were studied in Zaonezhsky Peninsula by well-known Karelian scientist Anatoly Lukashov. At present, postglacial events are studied by Tatyana Shelekhova, Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Geochemistry, Quaternary Geology and Geoecology of the Institute of Geology KarRC RAS. Commenting on her colleague's presentation, she noted that the work meets modern world standards.
– These activities are quite promising. We have recently spotted traces of earthquakes in the Pudozh District and in the Ladoga area, which can be verified by the same methods. And there are still quite a few such unexplored sites in Karelia, - said Tatiana Shelekhova.
The presentation was commented on by Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Geochemistry, Quaternary Geology and Geoecology of the Institute of Geology KarRC RAS Tatyana Shelekhova
KarRC RAS Director General Olga Bakhmet, in her turn, stressed the importance of the multidisciplinary approach in reconstructing past events.
– GPR tools are used also by Karelian mire scientists to analyze peat deposits. Geologists are developing the methodologies together with specialists from the Northern Water Problems Institute, Institute of Biology KarRC RAS, and other organizations. It's important to support these endeavors, - she emphazised.
The latest achievements in the field of geology and the importance of their popularization were highlighted at the Learned Council session by Director of the Institute of Geology KarRC RAS Ñåðãåé Ñâåòîâ. In this talk, he presented the new development concept for the Museum of Precambrian Geology of IG KarRC RAS. The museum collection comprises more than six thousand specimens and is regularly supplemented through continuous work of researchers and cooperation with the largest mineralogical museums of Russia. In addition to scientific and collection work, the museum is actively engaged in educational activities. The exhibition is in demand among residents and guests of the city, as evidenced by the visitor statistics: the museum has more than three thousand visitors a year. Changes in the exhibition are expected in the near future.
Speaking: Director of the Institute of Geology KarRC RAS Sergey Svetov
– The museum needs to reflect the modern phase in the development of geology, to preserve and promote scientific knowledge about the Earth. In recent decades, approaches to determining the age of rocks have changed in geology, the stratigraphic scale has been refined, and great changes have occurred in the theory of lithospheric plate motion. We would like to demonstrate the possibilities of the new methods of rock research, to use the scientific collection to visualize the evolution of the structure, state and composition of geospheres and biospheres of the Earth in the Precambrian in interactive form, - Sergey Svetov informed.
The plan, among other things, is to supply the renovated exhibition with interactive panels and globes. One of the future sections will tell visitors about the discoveries of Karelian scientists and the role of the Institute of Geology KarRC RAS in promoting world science.
The participants of the meeting marked the importance of the awareness-building and tourism-promotion activities conducted by the institute in the region. Members of the Learned Council endorsed the renovation of the Museum of Precambrian Geology of IG KarRC RAS.
