Deutsches Ozeanographisches
Datenzentrum Inventur der Polarstern-Reise ARK-XXVII/3 (DOD-Ref-No.20120319)
Inventory of Polarstern Cruise ARK-XXVII/3 (DOD-Ref-No.20120319)

Plattform
Platform
Reise-Nr.
Cruise-No.
Zeitraum
Period
Projekt
Project
Arbeitsgebiet
Working area
Polarstern ARK-XXVII/3 02.08.2012 - 08.10.2012   Arctic Ocean  

Fahrtleiter
Chief Scientist
Institut
Institute
Auslaufhafen
Port of departure
Einlaufhafen
Port of return
Stationskarte
Station map
Schiffsroute
Trackchart
Boetius Antje Alfred-Wegener-Institut fur Polar- und Meeresforschung Troms? Bremerhaven   

Ziel der Reise / Objectives of Cruise:

The expedition ARK-XXVII/3 "IceArc" (Sea ice - ocean - seafloor interactions in the changing Arctic) started 2 August 2012 in Troms?, Norwegen. 54 international scientists and technical teams investigated the biology, chemistry and physics of sea ice and the impact of sea ice loss on the entire Arctic Ocean system. The expedition IceArc has focused on the interactions between hydrography, ice physics, biogeochemistry and biodiversity in the Arctic system, from the sea ice to the deep-sea floor, using a number of new technologies for under ice research. By integrated process studies, sites in the central Arctic with varying ice cover were compared. Ice-, ocean- and seafloor moorings were deployed to observe sea ice thickness, circulation of Atlantic water and corresponding particle flux throughout the year. RV Polarstern traveled 12,000 kilometers and completed 306 stations during the mission. Many of the measurements carried out dealt with the consequences of the shrinking sea ice forming a new minimum in summer 2012. Surveys with the EM Bird system of 3500 km sea ice showed that not only the ice cover has further declined but also ice thickness. The entire Laptev Sea area was ice free in July 2012. Accordingly the surface waters showed a considerable proportion of melt water. A new under ice trawl was used to study the distribution of ice-associated fauna like the polar cod. An under ice ROV recorded light and energy transmission as well as oceanographic parameters and the distribution of sub-ice algal communities. Dense sub-ice aggregations of the diatom Melosira arctica were found for the first time also under first year ice in the Central Arctic basins. Deep-sea photo- and video-surveys showed that these algae had sedimented to the seafloor as a consequence of the large ice melt in 2012. Measurements with benthic landers under the ice showed high respiration rates fueled by the fresh algal deposits, and aggregations of mobile megafauna feeding on the algae, including ophiurids and holothurians. Oceanographic transects found a further warming and salting of deep Atlantic water. The warm atmospheric temperatures, sea ice decline and increasing light availability had shifted the productive period to earlier in the year, as indicated by sediment traps recovered with long term moorings. Because of the substantial sea ice retreat, RV Polarstern was able to operate far north in September, supporting measurements of the freeze-up of thin, new ice, which will form a significant proportion of the future Arctic sea ice. Results of the expedition IceArc will help to better understand and quantify the effects of changes in sea ice cover on the Arctic Ocean and its ecosystems. The expedition ended 8 October 2012 in Bremerhaven.

Messungen / Measurements

Institut
Institute
Wissenschaftler
Scientist
Anzahl
Number
Einheit
Unit
Typ der Messungen
Type of measurements
Kommentar
Comments
Daten im DOD
Data in DOD
MPIMHB Boetius Antje 3 stations B90
Other biological / fishery measurements
ROV survey with full video documentation no
MPIMHB Boetius Antje 28 stations B90
Other biological / fishery measurements
TV-Multicorer no
MPIMHB Boetius Antje 63 stations G90
Other geological or geophysical measurements
Head Flow no
MPIMHB Boetius Antje 65 km G90
Other geological or geophysical measurements
Parasound no
MPIMHB Boetius Antje 2 stations H10
CTD-Stations
CTD with water samples no
MPIMHB Boetius Antje 6 deployment H90
Other chemical oceanographic measurements
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle no
MPIMHB Boetius Antje 7 stations H90
Other chemical oceanographic measurements
Bottom Lander no
23.3.2024