Arctic Deep – Voyage Update #3

These habitats have been documented starting at around 150 metres, but it is not known what their maximum depth may be.  They are characterised by the escape of hydrocarbon-rich fluids into the water column, primarily methane and hydrogen sulphide. Unlike the heated environments of hydrothermal vents, the fluids at cold seeps are cooler, yet may still be warmer than the surrounding deep ocean water.

These seeps are not only hotspots of biodiversity, but they also play a crucial role in understanding the global carbon cycle, some house gas hydrates that could potentially affect climate change dynamics. The stability and nutrient supply provided by these seeps make them invaluable for studying life’s adaptability and the ecological balance of deep-sea environments

Environmental DNA sampling also played a crucial role in our expedition, allowing us to detect the presence of species through their genetic material found in water samples. This non-intrusive method is particularly effective in the deep sea, providing a broad snapshot of biodiversity without the need for unnecessary physical specimen collection.

At the completion of ROV and sampling operations and halfway back to Tromsø we made a short stopover to visit the bleak and desolate Bear Island (Bjørnøya). Located in the Barents Sea, halfway between North Cape and Spitsbergen. Discovered by Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz in 1596, the island has served variously as a whaling base, a coal mining site, and a strategic weather station. Today, its significant bird colonies and dramatic cliffs make it an essential haven for Arctic wildlife, and its weather station continues to provide valuable data for climate change research.

As the expedition concluded in Tromsø, our team began the comprehensive analysis of collected data and samples. The insights gleaned are expected to deepen our understanding of the Arctic’s deep-sea ecosystems, particularly in relation to how life forms adapt to extreme environments. Our ship for the cruise, the Kronprins Haakon, proved to be the most capable platform imaginable for this kind of expedition. A vessel like this is nothing without its crew, and the men and women of the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research who hosted and supported this mission were outstanding in both their professionalism and welcoming spirit. Expeditions to the extremes for multiple weeks can test the working relationships of any dynamic, but the crew excelled in their seamless integration with our operations.

This expedition not only underscored the dedication of the scientists and crew but also highlighted the critical role of international scientific collaboration in expanding our knowledge of one of the planet’s most remote and least understood regions. The true species diversity of samples collected will be revealed in the coming months, as we work towards the follow-up Taxonomic workshop in Tromsø in October. The resulting curated collection will remain in the UiT museum, Tromsø.

Check out the Arctic Deep Voyage Update #1, Arctic Deep Voyage Update #2 if you missed it.

Thanks to Jack for sharing this voyage update. This expedition is led by The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census Alliance, UiT (The Arctic University of Norway), and REV Ocean.

Image Credits: Ocean Census