Ruselectronics experts have developed a joint system for monitoring the Northern Sea Route ice situation from space satellites, TASS said, quoting the corporate press service.

"Experts from the St. Petersburg-based Television Research and Development Institute, part of the holding company Ruselectronics, have developed a comprehensive system for monitoring the Northern Sea Route ice situation. The system features stations for receiving, registering and processing space satellite data and that from Toros radio-meteorological centers. It also includes a joint data collection center and a communications satellite cluster for high-speed data exchanges between the system's elements," Ruselectronics sources noted.

Currently, Arctic navigation conditions are simultaneously monitored by all available spacecraft despite their various systems. However, this satellite cluster does not cover the entire Northern Sea Route and submits multi-format data. This slows down the monitoring process. In addition to this, satellite data is relayed to Barentsburg in Spitsbergen (Svalbard) and St. Petersburg which are located far away from each other.

"Data acquisition stations and the data storage center will operate 24 hours a day in a joint data environment and in line with standard methods, making it possible to map the Northern Sea Route ice situation. An online meteorological photo will be compiled and pegged to the coordinate grid; ice-formation boundaries, cities and ports will also be superimposed on it," Ruselectronics sources explained.

The stations can operate using single-phase 220-volt AC outlets and 24-volt DC storage batteries. The latter can be plugged in by means of adapters. Rated power consumption does not exceed 600 watt, and each station has a seven-year service life. The system for monitoring the Northern Sea Route ice situation will be unveiled at the Arctic: Territory of Dialogue International Arctic Forum scheduled to be held March 29-30 in Arkhangelsk.