Innovative Methodologies in Arctic Research (2) Future Activities Scheduled at AWI

• Main Authors: Sauter, Eberhard, Jokat, Wilfried, Stein, Rüdiger, Fütterer, Dieter, Klages, Michael, Fahrbach, Eberhard, Boebel, Olaf, Gersonde, Rainer, Thiede, Jörn
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2002
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Gakkel Ridge; Kara Sea; Alfred Wegener Institute; Iceberg*
• Online Access: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/6228/; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.16779

Being one of the leading polar research organizations in Europe, the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) acts as a motor for the development of polar research technologies. A couple of scheduled Arctic projects has been selected out of a large variety of future activities to be presented here:1) Subsequent to the AMORE expedition to the Gakkel Ridge jointly performed in 2001 by the two research icebreakers USCGC ?Healy? and RV ?Polarstern? a further two ship mission is scheduled for 2004. AWI will participate again with RV ?Polarstern? and will host the remotely operating vessel (ROV) ?Victor6000?. The main focus will be laid on a detailed sampling of the Gakkel Ridge system by means of the ROV which is well appropriate for visual and experimental investigations of ridge structures. The vehicle will take samples at sites surveyed and pre-investigated by geophysical techniques in 2001. Besides, it is also envisaged to conduct ROV-based experiments and sampling on the Siberian Shelf. Based on the results of the joint Russian-German project on "Siberian River Run-off (SIRRO) the river fans of Ob and Yenesei are targeted. Geological, geochemical and biological processes relevant for the understanding of the input of fresh water, sediments, and organic matter from the rivers to the Kara Sea and the adjacent Arctic Ocean will be subject to ROV investigations.2) AWI is currently purchasing an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for under-ice research, seafloor and water column surveys. Equipped with acoustic tools like side scan sonar, sub-bottom profiler, swath bathymetry as well as with visual imaging systems the vessel shall perform e.g. autonomous pre-site surveys for future Arctic drill campaigns and further seismic investigations at Arctic ridge systems. Moreover, the AUV is planned to be used for surveying arctic sediment and fauna distribution and tracks of grounded icebergs. In addition, special payload modules capable to trace geochemical parameters in the water column will be ...