A geomorphological approach to assessing the environmental sensitivity of the barents sea coasts to oil spills
https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2026-4501
Abstract
The prospects for the development of offshore fields and the growth in the volume of transportation of petroleum products along the Northern Sea Route inevitably increase the risks of accidental spills in the Barents Sea region. This determines the relevance of research on seashores as the most sensitive to oil pollution and difficult to clean up natural ecosystems. The article presents results of geomorphological classification and segmentation of the coastline of the Russian sector of the Barents Sea with a total length of over 13,900 km and assesses their environmental sensitivity to oil spills using the international Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI). A comprehensive geomorphological analysis was carried out using data from the authors’ expedition studies, published literature, cartographic and satellite imagery data, and available photographic materials. The assessment of the environmental sensitivity of the coasts to oil spills resulted in the development of special forecast and assessment maps that illustrate the degree of possible oil pollution (pollution safety, difficulty of cleaning) of individual coastal areas, identify areas of priority protection, and are an important part of oil spill prevention and response plans. The developed maps provide a basis for characterizing the regional geomorphological structure of the coast and can be used to predict environmental risks and the activation of hazardous processes associated with the expansion of oil-production and transportation infrastructure.
Supporting agencies: This study was conducted under the state assigments of Lomonosov Moscow State University #126042920506-7 and #126042220304-6. The authors express their gratitude to the Center of Collective Usage “Geoportal, Lomonosov Moscow State University” for providing the satellite images used in the research of Barents Sea coastal mapping and software for its analysis. The authors express their gratitude to P.M. Glazov, D.S. Nikitin, and O.V. Kokin for providing field photographs of the Barents Sea coast.
About the Authors
Alexander A. Ermolov
Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Leninskie Gory 1, 119991, Moscow
Alexander I. Kizyakov
Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Leninskie Gory 1, 119991, Moscow
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Review
For citations:
Ermolov A.A., Kizyakov A.I. A geomorphological approach to assessing the environmental sensitivity of the barents sea coasts to oil spills. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2026;19(3):77-86. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2026-4501
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