The Impact of Volcanism on River Runoff: Fieldwork by the POI FEB RAS expedition in Kamchatka has been completed

The field team from the Hydrochemistry Laboratory of the POI FEB RAS has completed route work on the Kamchatka Peninsula as part of the 15th expedition, covering 1,600 km, from the sources to the mouths of Kamchatka's rivers. Water samples were collected at all planned sites.

This is the fourth year of monitoring research in Kamchatka's volcanic watersheds, following a long hiatus in systematic observations since the 1970s. This year has seen unprecedented amounts of snowfall and frequent eruptions at Shiveluch and other volcanoes. Consequently, the expedition was tasked with assessing the variability of river water chemistry under the influence of ash fallout and determining the extent of the impact of continental runoff on the ecosystem of the adjacent Pacific Ocean.

The collected samples were delivered to the laboratories of the Institute for further analysis. The data obtained will be compared with the results of Cruise No. 82 of the research vessel Akademik Oparin, which was previously conducted in the waters of Kamchatka, Kronotsky, and Avacha Bays, as well as off the western coast of Kamchatka. This will provide a comprehensive analysis of the relationships between volcanic activity, river runoff, and ocean processes.