Scheduled Cruises in 2003

Summary of a recent cruise on margins research (RU.031)

Location :   Norwegian margin (Leg 1)

Research ship :   Professor Logachev

Sails :   Copenhagen, Denmark. 14 Jul 2003

Docks :   Tromsø, Norway. 30 Jul 2003

Scientific objectives :

Areas 1 and 2 :   To study several diapir fields within the Vøring Plateau area of the Norwegian margin. They are of different sizes and surface expressions and their origin is unknown. As a continuation of earlier work, seismic and acoustic studies and bottom sampling are planned on the Vivian and Vigrid Fields, located on the Vøring Marginal High and Vøring Basin, respectively, to study the diapirs' morphology, the structural control of their location and distribution and the possible relationship to fluid-venting through the seafloor.

Area 3 :   The Traenadjupet Slide off the northern part of Norway covers an area of about 12000 km². It originated on the continental slope and has a well-defined termination on the lower continental rise. The distal part of the slide will be studied to elucidate the sediment failure processes and their ages. The sedimentary processes, stratigraphy and sediment rate/flux of the deep-sea fan deposited in the Lofoten Basin at the mouth of the Lofoten Basin Channel are also planned to be studied with a high-resolution side-scan sonar, seismics and bottom sampling.

Area 4 :   The Andøya Slide is a large-scale slide on the northern Norwegian continental margin. It covers an area of about 9700 km². No dated cores are available from the slide-affected area. The cruise will use high-resolution side-scan sonar, seismics and coring to date the base of the sediments overlying the slide sediments and thus getting the latest age for the slide event. Also, the Andøya Slide is located close to a large canyon, the Andøya Canyon. Side-scan sonar data is necessary in order to identify the origin of the sediments to be cored and make sure that these originate from the Andøya Slide.