Deep water testing prior to Arctic Expedition

The only deep water contact between the Arctic Ocean and the World Oceans is found west of Svalbard, in the Fram Strait around latitude 79°N. Since 1999 scientists at AWI (Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung) in Bremerhaven have annually visited the area. Long-Term Ecological Research Observatory HAUSGARTEN consists of 21 permanent stations at 300–5500 metres depth. In June-July 2016 marine biologists, marine chemists and physical oceanographers will participate in an expedition to the Fram Strait with ice-breaking research vessel Polarstern.

26-28 April Thomas Soltwedel, Eduard Bauerfeind and Normen Lochthofen have tested new equipment in the Koster fjord. An instrument moored on the bottom has been floating up and sinking down in the water column, continuously measuring salinity, temperature, fluorescence, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Those parameters help the scientists to understand how the water is moving and what is going on in the water, for instance climate changes. After some initial technical problems the equipment is now adjusted and works properly.

Equipment with instruments which will be used in the Fram Strait during summer. The yellow part profiles, which means it continuously measures while moving up and down in the water.

– We are happy to get the opportunity to come to the Lovén Centre Tjärnö, says Dr. Thomas Soltwedel, cruise leader on Polarstern to the Fram Strait during summer. Unlike conditions outside Bremerhaven we here reach larger depths in the Koster fjord, and only within 15 minutes from the Lovén Centre. The research vessel Nereus is suitable for this testing and the crew is very experienced, Thomas Soltwedel concludes.

Eduard Bauerfeind, Norman Lochthofen and Thomas Soltwedel from AWI in Bremerhaven.