| Plattform Platform |
Reise-Nr. Cruise-No. |
Zeitraum Period |
Projekt Project |
Arbeitsgebiet Working area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maria S. Merian | MSM122 | 19.10.2023 - 09.11.2023 | North Atlantic Ocean |
| Fahrtleiter Chief Scientist | Institut Institute | Auslaufhafen Port of departure | Einlaufhafen Port of return | Stationskarte Station map | Schiffsroute Trackchart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grevemeyer Ingo | Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR) | Ponta Delgada | Halifax |
Ziel der Reise / Objectives of Cruise:
Oceanic transform faults (OTF) are one of three major types of plate boundaries of plate tectonics. Yet, plate tectonics predicted a rather simple geometry for OTFs and consequently their structure and "modus operandi" attracted reasonable little attention. However, recent evidence suggests that the traditional concept of transform faults as being conservative (non-accretionary) plate boundary faults might be wrong. Instead, numerical modelling results suggest that (i) transform faults seem to suffer from extensional tectonics below their strike-slip surface fault zone and a global compilation of legacy bathymetric data suggests that (ii) ridge-transform intersections seem to be settings of magmatic activity, modifying the lithosphere and burying the transform valley before it passes into the fracture zone region. During MSM122, we like to test both hypotheses at the Oceanographer OTF to the south of the Azores by (i) revealing the displacement of the strike-slip fault using seafloor geodesy (direct path ranging) and (ii) studying the micro-seismicity and its relation to tectonic elements of the OTF (transform valley, strike-slip fault trace, bounding walls) with a network of long-term OBS. Further, (iii) magnetic gradiometry will be used to obtain the magnetisation of the basement of both the OTF and fracture zones, testing the newly proposed model of crustal accretion at OTFs. During the survey MSM122 we deployed 21 ocean-bottom-seismometers and 6 seafloor geodetic stations. Instruments will remain for one year on the seafloor, being recovered during METEOR m204 in 2024. In addition, we recorded about 6000 line kilometers of magnetic data.
Messungen / Measurements
| Institut Institute |
Wissenschaftler Scientist |
Anzahl Number |
Einheit Unit |
Typ der Messungen Type of measurements |
Kommentar Comments |
Daten im DOD Data in DOD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRIRE | Briese Schifffahrts GmbH & Co. WTD | 1 | n miles | D71 Current profiler (e.g. ADCP) |
VMADCP38+75 kHz | yes |
| GEOMAH | Grevemeyer Ingo | 6000 | km | G28 Magnetic measurements |
Mapping of the Oceanographer transform fault, the Hayes transform fault and during the transit betwwen both areas and approaching HAlifax outside the Canadian EEZ. | no |
| BRIRE | Briese Schifffahrts GmbH & Co. WTD | 1 | n miles | G90 Other geological or geophysical measurements |
EM122, Parasound, SVP | yes |
| GEOMAH | Grevemeyer Ingo | 38 | stations | H00 Stations |
- | yes |
| BRIRE | Briese Schifffahrts GmbH & Co. WTD | 1 | n miles | H80 Other physical measurements |
Underway measurements during the whole trip such as coordinates, depth, meteorological parameter and so on | yes |
Verankerungen / Moorings
| Institut Institute |
Wissenschaftler Scientist |
Typ der Messungen Type of measurements |
Kommentar Comments |
geogr.Breite Latitude |
geogr.Länge Longitude |
Daten im DOD Data in DOD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEOMAH | Grevemeyer Ingo | G72 | Deployment of 21 Ocean-bottom-seismometers along the Oceanographer transform fault on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; imstuments will stay of one year on the ocean floor | 35° 0.0' N | 35° 0.0' W | - |
| GEOMAH | Grevemeyer Ingo | G72 | Deployment of a seafloor geodetic network of 6 stations using direct path ranging. Instruments are installed at the Oceanographer transform fault | 35° 9.0' N | 35° 42.0' W | - |