Plattform Platform	Reise-Nr. Cruise-No.	Zeitraum Period	Projekt Project	Arbeitsgebiet Working area
Polarstern	PS86 ARK-XXVIII_3	07.07.2014 - 03.08.2014		Arctic Ocean Norwegian Sea

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?	Troms?

Ziel der Reise / Objectives of Cruise:

The Polarstern expedition PS86 AURORA (ARK-XXVIII/3) aimed at studying geophysical, geological, geochemical and biological processes at hydrothermal vents of the Arctic Gakkel Ridge. Ultraslow spreading occurs at Gakkel Ridge and at the Southwest Indian Ridge, both are known to be seismically active, but little is known about their hydrothermal vent systems. Because of the remoteness and challenging climatic conditions of these study areas, the tectonic, magmatic and biogeochemical processes are poorly understood. The PS86 expedition targeted the Aurora hydrothermal vent field, which was discovered in 2001 during the AMORE expedition with the two icebreakers RV Polarstern and USCGC Healy. The Aurora vent field is located near the southern end of the Western Volcanic Zone (82?53'N, 6?15'W) at over 4000m water depth. The AMORE expedition detected the presence of hydrothermal fluids in the water column, recovered a fresh sulfide chimney by dredging, and recorded interesting video footage of the seabed, which indicate active hydrothermalism as well as the occurrence of vent ecosystems. Since 2001, this promising study area has not been further investigated because of its remoteness and the technical challenges of a thick ice cover. The program of the AURORA mission aimed at investigating the morphology, seismic activity, geophysics, biogeochemistry, petrology and the faunal composition of the AURORA field. A significant part of the proposed research contributes to the program "Geosphere-Biosphere Interaction" of the Cluster of Excellence MARUM at the University of Bremen. We were a team of 47 scientists and technicians from eight different countries working together to investigate the previously unknown hydrothermal vent systems of the Gakkel Ridge as well as the condition and change of the sea ice cover in this region north of Greenland. Moreover, a part of the program of this expedition was dedicated to the implementation of under-ice marine robotics, using the new hybrid robot of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI, USA) for the first time. The ROV NUI was built to collect physical, chemical and biological observations directly under the ice floes and over great distances from the vessel.

Messungen / Measurements

Verankerungen / Moorings