Weekly Reports Polarstern
The Expedition PS119 Punta Arenas - Port Stanley
During R/V POLARSTERN cruise PS119 we are planning to investigate hydrothermal vents and potential cold seeps at the Sandwich micro-plate using the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) MARUM-QUEST. The planned research is based on the discovery of unique hydrothermal vent ecosystems at the back-arc spreading East Scotia Ridge as well as at submarine volcanoes of the South Sandwich Island Arc. The overarching theme of the project is to study in a comparative way the geological settings of geofuel emissions at the seafloor with their associated ecological hot spots. In a cross-disciplinary approach, we intend to study aspects of geology, geochemistry, microbiology, symbiont-host relationships as well as eukaryotic biogeography in an international research consortium combining experts in their respective field of sciences. Addition investigations of the South Sandwich volcanoes as well as the distribution of wales are further topics of the research cruise PS119.
PS118 - Weekly Report No. 8 | 1 - 7 April 2019
End of work and journey home
During the past week, we finished our work in the Powell Basin, collected another glider and started our homeward journey to Punta Arenas. By now, we have reached the Strait of Magellan. Tomorrow morning, we will pick up the pilot for the passage through the Magellan Strait and into Punta Arenas where we should arrive in the afternoon.
PS118 - Weekly Report No. 7 | 25 - 31 March 2019
Western South Scotia Ridge
During the past week, science has focused on bathymetry, oceanography and heat flow/geology transects along the western end of the South Scotia Ridge between the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Orkney Plateau. Our work was only briefly interrupted by a gale-force storm that passed through our area.
PS118 - Weekly Report No. 6 | 18 - 24 March 2019
Powell Basin
Out of the heavy sea ice of the Weddell Sea, we have spent the past week in open water and loose sea ice in the Powell Basin. So far, we have conducted a short bathymetric survey, deployed a lander, completed an oceanographic transect and collected geological and biological samples.
PS118 - Weekly Report No. 5 | 11 - 17 March 2019
Further to the North and two more stations
During the last week, we continued our northward travel to the Erebus and Terror Gulf completing two more stations. Another highlight were curtesy visits between the Polarstern and the Argentinian vessel Almirante Irizar.
PS118 - Weekly Report No. 4 | 4 - 10 March 2019
Northward journey and the first station
During the last week, we travelled for more than 60 nautical miles to the north and only stopped our journey for the first sampling station where we deployed most of our scientific equipment. Since then, we are busy to analyse water, sediment and benthos samples or to preserve them for later onshore analyses.
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