Geophysical processes and biosphere: article

Аnnotation: The article analyzes the development of ideas about the seismicity of the western sector of the Rus-sian Arctic, which is directly related to the peculiarities of the development of instrumental observations in the region. The current ideas about the seismicity of the western sector of the Russian Arctic are generalized. Throughout the 20th century, the development of instrumental observations in the Eurasian Arctic, of which the western sector of the Russian Arctic is a part, has been slow and une-ven both in time and space. In the Eurasian Arctic, seismically active regions, such as mid-ocean ridges, the Spitsbergen archipelago, the Laptev Sea shelf, and the Taimyr Peninsula, became the object of study. On the contrary, the central and eastern parts of the Barents-Kara region, which are part of the western sector of the Russian Arctic, have always had poor instrumental representation and, accordingly, poor seismic knowledge. The intensive development of instrumental observations in the Eurasian Arctic in the 21st century has made it possible to significantly expand our under-standing of the seismicity of the western sector of the Russian Arctic. The greatest seismicity is manifested within the transition zone «continent–ocean» and Kvitøya (Bely) island, Novaya Zemlya and Severnaya Zemlya archipelagos. The shelf of the Barents and Kara Seas itself is characterized by rare and scattered seismicity. However, the existing network of seismic stations is insufficient for detailed studies of spatio-temporal variations in seismicity of individual seismically active zones and for a more correct understanding of its relationship with the geological structure of the region and the geodynamic processes developing within it. Long-term studies with bottom seismometers are needed.