Digitizing Krasnoyarsk’s Atmosphere to Solve the Mystery of the Ice-Free Yenisei
Scientists in Russia are set to build a digital model of Krasnoyarsk’s atmosphere to understand how the ice-free Yenisei River affects air quality
Russian scientists are developing a digital simulation system that will analyze air conditions in Krasnoyarsk and forecast the city’s environmental situation. In effect, researchers are creating a “digital atmospheric twin” of the city.
The project is expected to show how the ice-free Yenisei River and dense urban development affect air quality. The work is estimated at nearly 32.2 million rubles (approx. $386,000). The project is commissioned by the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The modeling is being carried out by the Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Novosibirsk.
The system will analyze air flows, weather changes and the spread of pollutants.
Modeling Pollution and Emissions
The digital twin will generate maps of air pollution, identify emission sources and track how industrial facilities and urban infrastructure affect the city’s overall environmental situation.
Researchers also plan to study the influence of the ice-free Yenisei River. After the construction of the Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric dam, the river no longer freezes within the city in winter. This affects air circulation and the formation of smog.
The model will also take into account all factors influencing air movement and the accumulation of pollutants, including dense development and terrain features.
The Digital Model Will Recommend Solutions
The research is not purely academic. Based on the results, specialists are expected to present recommendations to improve the environmental situation.
Researchers plan to prepare the core of the digital model by August 2026. The full simulation system is expected to be finalized and tested by August 2027.
Debate Around the Yenisei
The question of how the ice-free Yenisei affects the environment has been discussed for several years. In 2024 specialists addressed the issue during a meeting of the scientific and technical council under the regional government.
Scientists remain divided. Some proposed considering artificial freezing of the river in winter, while others argue that such a measure would not significantly affect the environmental situation in Krasnoyarsk. The city’s digital twin may now help clarify the issue.
