Short Cruise Report - R/V MARIA S. MERIAN, MSM95 (GPF 19-2_05)

• Main Author: Purser, Autun
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: University of Hamburg 2020
• Subjects: Arctic; Svalbard; Svalbard Archipelago; Fram Strait; Iceberg*
• Online Access: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/53364/; https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/53364/1/scr-msm95.pdf; https://www.ldf.uni-hamburg.de/merian/wochenberichte/wochenberichte-merian/msm94-msm97-2/scr-msm95.pdf; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.25a5a3b6-1d0a-4076-9926-dff54e08d454; https://hdl.handle.net/

The main aim of the MSM95 research expedition was to investigate and map physical impacts on the arctic seafloor in two distinct and contrasting Arctic areas (The Svalbard shelf edge and the HAUSGARTEN time series stations in the FRAM strait) with a range of research equipment. A ‘nested’ data approach was conducted in each research area, with broad seafloor mapping conducted initially with the MARIA S. MERIAN onboard acoustic systems (The EM122 and EM712 bathymetric systems), followed by focused subsequent mapping conducted by PAUL 3000 automated underwater vehicle (AUV) sidescan and camera deployments, Ocean Floor Observation and Bathymetry System (OFOBS) towed sidescan and camera trawls and finally with very high resolution investigations conducted with a new mini-ROV launched directly from the OFOBS for close seafloor visual analysis. These data will be used to produce spatial distribution maps of iceberg and fishery impacts on the seafloor at three locations to the north, south and west of the Svalbard Archipelago, as well as maps of drop stone and topography variations across several of the HAUSGARTEN stations.