Arctic Ocean Mega Project : Paper 1 - Data collection

• Main Authors: Nikishin, A.M., Petrov, E.I., Cloetingh, S., Korniychuk, A.V., Morozov, A.F., Petrov, O.V., Poselov, V.A., Beziazykov, A.V., Skolotnev, S.G., Malyshev, N.A., Verzhbitsky, V.E., Posamentier, H.W., Freiman, S.I., Rodina, E.A., Startseva, K.F., Zhukov, N.N.
• Other Authors: Tectonics
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Eurasia Basin; Mendeleev Rise
• Online Access: https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/411956

Over a period of the past 15–20 years, the Russian Government implemented the Arctic Mega Project for geological and comprehensive study of the Arctic Ocean. In this paper we discuss the methods that were used in the implementation of this project. In the course of several expeditions, multiple types of data were acquired, which included: (1) seismic data of different types, (2) subbottom profiler data, (3) geological sampling on slopes of the Mendeleev Rise with the use of special equipment, (4) borehole drilling, (5) gravity and magnetic anomalies, (6) offshore geodetic data, (7) multi-beam bathymetry surveys, and (8) field surveys on multiple Arctic islands. Several nuclear icebreakers and a scientific research submarine were deployed in these operations. Specifically, more than 23,000 km of 2D multi-channel seismic lines and more than 4000 km of wide-angle refraction/reflection seismic lines were acquired, in addition to subbottom profiles for the Eurasia Basin and new bathymetric data of the Arctic Ocean. The new database is intended to facilitate the development of new insights into Arctic geology and geodynamics and contribute to a better understanding of the structure and tectonic evolution of the Arctic Ocean as a whole.