Activity log of JC2-2 Arctic Basin cruise, The Nansen Legacy

Abstract

The Nansen Legacy (NL) JC2-2 cruise extends the NL study area into the central Arctic Ocean. JC2-2 addresses objectives of the research foci RF1, RF2 and RF3 by jointly collecting interdisciplinary samples and data at five process (P) stations, extending northward from the previously northernmost station P7. We have a special focus on sea ice and upper ocean work as well as connectivity to the mid and deep water column and underlying sediments in early autumn. In addition, JC2-2 explores the role of transport of elements and organisms from the Siberian shelves through the Transpolar Drift, thus will enter the Amundsen Basin. In situ and lab experiments are an important part of the cruise and are designed to measure and quantify processes and their rates. We collect samples and data to contrast the conditions in the deep Nansen Basin (P8, P11) and in the Amundsen Basin (P10) as well as over the separating Gakkel Ridge (P9) with the earlier Nansen Legacy cruises (Q3, Q1, Q2, Q4, JC1-2, JC2-1) in the northern Barents Sea. Thus, the Nansen Legacy process station P7 is the southernmost station on this expedition. We follow the routines established on earlier Nansen Legacy cruises and continue to improve routines for collaboration, and interdisciplinary research. The overarching project objectives are summarized in the project proposal and implementation plan and we follow procedures summarized in protocol version 9. This cruise is also a Norwegian contribution to the international Synoptic Arctic Survey (SAS) and takes place at the same time when the Swedish icebreaker Oden is on their SAS expedition in the nearby region between Northeast Greenland and the North Pole.