Reykjavik – Bremerhaven, 27 September - 3 October 2010

On Sunday morning at 6:00 a.m. the streamer was deployed on time to measure the last seismic line of the working programme. This profile extends a seismic line, which was measured during a previous survey in 2008 towards the Greenland continental margin and terminates close to the coast of Disko Island. The line started in the vicinity of an area which is already licensed to oil companies for exploration and drilling operations. Not far away several exploration and supply vessels were passed, among them the special vessel STENA FORTH which is under contract of the Scottish oil company Cairn Energy and successfully drilled a first exploration well here some weeks ago. Seismic data acquisition along the last profile was completed exactly 24 hours after beginning and stopped a few miles off the Greenland coast. There was no further seismic surveying planned because of the limitation given by the exploration activities in the area. The whole survey programme was completed and all outboard equipment was retrieved. Unfortunately, the cable of the magnetic sensor was twisted with the seismic streamer and it took longer than expected to get all equipment onboard while R/V POLARSTERN was sailing along the east side of Disko Island and heading for Ilulissat. The last obligation before heading home was to drop off the marine mammal observer Sarah Stelter of RPS Energy, UK. She was carried ashore by helicopter well in time to return home to the US as per schedule the following day.

After R/V POLARSTERN navigated through the channel between Disko Island and the mainland and between numerous icebergs for the whole day the vessel got into more ice free seas in the evening. The numerous icebergs emerging the Ilulissat Ice fiord were produced by the Jakobshavn Glacier, one of the most active glaciers in the World with flow velocities between 20 and 50 m per day. From now on R/V POLARSTERN returns directly home. The following days until the day of arrival are filled up with data interpretation, processing of sampling material, writing the necessary expedition reports and packing all instruments and equipment.

According to the preliminary results the Greenland part of the Baffin Bay is a typical passive continental margin with seaward facing faults and deep basin structures with thick sediment infill. Based on the new findings some segments of the margin were obviously influenced by volcanic activity associated with the opening of the Baffin Bay. The seismic data point to several rift phases and allow for better definition of the continent-ocean boundary along the Greenland margin.

The 10-weeks research cruise is almost completed. After 17 years break BGR was given the opportunity to use again R/V POLARSTERN for a marine geoscientific research project in the polar regions. We experienced an excellent cooperation with the ship’s master and crew, were perfectly assisted during our research operations and made use of an exemplary service. Many thanks go to the master and crew of R/V POLARSTERN for their support to complete our research programme successfully and for making our stay onboard convenient and comfortable. All colleagues send greeting home

Volkmar Damm
October 3rd,  2010,  West of Cape Farvel,  5°C