By the end of the 19th century, scientific communities in polar countries had realised the necessity of systematising the results of climate studies and weather records. Scientists came up with the idea to establish a chain of observatories in circumpolar areas and begin collaboration between meteorologists living in these countries for the benefit of science.
In October 1879, the participants of the international conference from Austria-Hungary, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, France and Sweden made a decision to conduct the First International Polar Expedition from 1882 to 1884, which, essentially, was a series of coordinated national observational expeditions involving scientists from various countries.
Under the programme, the expedition was to make atmospheric, geophysical and hydrological observations every hour according to a single plan, using uniform methods and, preferably, similar instruments so that they could compare their results afterwards. Members of the expedition were also recommended to conduct botanical, zoological and geological studies and collect samples that might facilitate research in various fields of science.
The participation of the Russian team in the First International Polar Expedition was organised and managed by the Russian Geographical Society (RGS), as it had the best equipment to carry out this research and establish research stations. The research programme was drawn up by members of the society, including famous Russian scholars at the time Alexander Voyeikov, Mikhail Rykachyov, Feodosy Veselago, Vladimir Sreznevsky, Emily Lents, Ferdinand Miller and Ferdinand Wrangel.
Later in 1880, Academician Heinrich von Wild, a prominent member of the RGS, who at the time was chairman of the International Polar Commission representing Russia, led the effort to prepare and conduct the First International Polar Expedition and analyse its results.
During the expedition, two research stations were established: one in the Lena delta and the other in Malye Karmakuly in the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago. The Russian research station in the Lena delta was established on Sagastyr Island by an expedition led by a full member of the Russian Geographical Society, Cpt. N. Jurgens, Navy Navigators Corps. Due to harsh climate conditions and the long distance the Lena Expedition was considered to be the most difficult one. Researchers at the station surveyed the Lena delta and made a detailed map of the area. Records, reports, observation tables, photographs, drawings and other documents brought from the expedition have been preserved and kept in the Russian Geographical Society's archives and are of great value today. Some scientists believe that the plethora of findings obtained in those days have yet to be analysed in full.
The First International Polar Expedition laid the foundations for the subsequent comprehensive exploration of the Arctic.