Plattform Platform	Reise-Nr. Cruise-No.	Zeitraum Period	Projekt Project	Arbeitsgebiet Working area
Maria S. Merian	MSM02-03	31.07.2006 - 18.08.2006		North Pole Barents Sea NE Atlantic (Limit 40?W)

Fahrtleiter Chief Scientist	Institut Institute	Auslaufhafen Port of departure	Einlaufhafen Port of return	Stationskarte Station map	Schiffsroute Trackchart
Freiwald Andre	Friedrich-Alexander Universitat Erlangen	Longyearbyen	Longyearbyen

Ziel der Reise / Objectives of Cruise:

Aim of this MERIAN cruise was to analyse environmental controls and post-glacial climate variability of biosedimentary systems on the shelves around Svalbard. Special emphasis was laid on the evolution of polar carbonates ' the least known system of non-tropical carbonate factories ' and their potential as palaeo-environment recorder. The major working tool was the manned submersible JAGO which operated in topographic complex submarine terrains which are difficult to sample with conventional gear. The major objective was to study the composition and function of keyspecies in sediment-forming polar benthic habitats with an integrated ecosystem approach. The results will be compared with the better-known ecosystems of the lower latitudes. We intend to budget the benthic carbonate production and accumulation rates and the taphonomy of polar carbonates. Selected long-living calcareous organisms will be analysed for historical fluctuations of climate change and the data may improve existing knowledge of the current Arctic warming. The study sites covered a broad range of oceanographically different situations. A special purpose of this cruise was to collect first data of the seawater carbonate chemistry with a focus on carbonate saturation. The cruise objectives also included a polar-historical component'the fate of the Deutsche Arktis Expedition failed in 1912 as well as the rescue expedition in 1913.

Messungen / Measurements

Verankerungen / Moorings