North Pole 5

North Pole-5 (SP-5) - Soviet research drift station . Opened April 21, 1955 . Evacuated on October 5, 1956 .

The SP-5 station was called upon to change the SP-3 station that had completed the drift. The base station, as in the case of "SP-3", was the city of Tiksi . On April 21, 1955, landing on the ice floe and equipment of the camp began. The grand opening of the station took place on May 1, 1955 . ^[one]

The research program developed by the Arctic Institute has been significantly expanded compared to previous ones. In addition to regular oceanographic stations (every 30 miles of drift) and systematic hydrobiological stations, remote stations were carried out on a Mi-4 helicopter . With the help of automatic recorders, continuous recording of currents was carried out at various horizons, from the surface to a depth of 1000 m. Ice research included the study of the thermals of ice and snow using semiconductor thermometers (thermists). Aerometeorological observations included temperature and wind sounding of the atmosphere through the daily release of two weather balloons to the maximum height (20-30 km). To study the physical characteristics of atmospheric processes twice a month, a series of more frequent releases of radiosondes and pilot balls was performed. Actinometric, magnetic, and special observations were also made of the state of the ionosphere and of the passage of radio waves. A number of methodological studies were planned. ^[2]

On April 20, 1956, a change of wintering watch was carried out.

On October 5, 1956, at the station, its coordinates were determined for the last time (84 ° 20 'N, 63 ° 20' E) and the latest weather report from SP-5 was transmitted. ^[2]

The head of the station was Nikolai Alexandrovich Volkov. His deputy chief and head of the hydrological unit was 3. M. Gudkovich. ^[2]

During the drift of the station, the doctor T. P. Solovyov successfully performed the operation to remove the appendix from the navigator of the helicopter A. P. Gromchevsky. ^[2]