Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Interdisciplinary studies of the slowest spreading mid-ocean ridge on earth: The eastern Gakkel Ridge  (AMORE East)

Outline
Ongoing work at mid-ocean ridges in the Atlantic, Indian and Arctic Oceans demonstrated that there is a previously unrecognized ultraslow class of ocean ridges, with unique tectonic and magmatic features. Tectonic plates form at these ridges with thin or missing crust, extraordinary hydrothermal activity, and a new class of plate boundary structure. This has sparked great interest in their further study. Yet the eastern half of Gakkel Ridge, where spreading is the slowest on Earth, remains unmapped and unsampled. We propose an international expedition to study the eastern 1000 km of Gakkel ridge and DeLong archipelago using icebreakers. The expedition would map the ridge using sonar and geophysics, and collect samples of rocks, sediments, hydrothermal waters and organisms. Gakkel Ridge extends eastward into the Laptev Margin where Russian scientists are studying volcanism produced by the ridge at the De Long archipelago. Concurrently, scientists from Germany and the United States are studying the petrology, geochemistry hydrothermal activity and tectonics of western Gakkel Ridge using data and samples from the international Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge Expedition (AMORE) of 2001 and the 1998-99 U.S. SCICEX submarine cruise. Surprising variations were discovered in the lavas and tectonics along the length of western Gakkel ridge, including a distinctive boundary in both mantle geochemistry and ridge morphology. It is not clear whether the variations are related to the proximity of the Greenland-Norway continent, or are an inherent feature of the mantle north of Iceland, and to what extent they reflect the decrease in spreading rate. The eastern Gakkel Ridge also approaches the Asian continent, so would provide material to test these hypotheses. Comparison of basalts from eastern Gakkel Ridge with those from the DeLong Archipelago would allow geoscientists to understand the relationship between active Arctic volcanoes on the ocean floor and those on the continents. The recent explorations of the western Gakkel Ridge and Laptev Sea show that this ridge is very active hydrothermally, with the potential that there may be large massive sulphide deposits and long-lived hot springs up and down its length. The sediment fill of the eastern Gakkel Ridge presents the possibility of unique biologic communities in this region. The proximity to a continent might also allow provide a testing ground to see if species that have evolved in shallow water can migrate over long time scales and evolve to live at hydrothermal vents in deeper water.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The cruise will directly address Theme 4, New Frontiers. Ultraslow-spreading Arctic ridges are relatively unexplored and may hold the key to early life on Earth. Eastern Gakkel and Laptev Sea may host both shallow benthic fauna of the photic zone and deep hydrothermal fauna in close proximity. Theme 5 - Vantage point—the Arctic is essential to the study of mantle dynamics. Theme 3, polar -global linkages—faunal ecology developing on Arctic hydrothermal vents may be linked to vents in other oceans. Theme 1 and 2 are related if one thinks of “environment” broadly as including vent communities.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
A group of scientists from U.S. and Russia have been discussing the exciting scientific discoveries and accomplishments that would result from study of eastern Gakkel Ridge. We have considered how an expedition could be implemented. Further international collaboration is expected, likely including Germany, Norway, Japan and Italy which will be coordinated at a planned InterRidge-R2K workshop on Ultra-Slow Ridges. q2_1_Location : 1. At sea: Eastern Gakkel Ridge: A box: 87°N 60°E -- 85°N 60°E – 79°N 135°E – 79°115°E 2. DeLong Islands around 77°N 155°E

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
1. At sea: Eastern Gakkel Ridge: A box: 87°N 60°E -- 85°N 60°E – 79°N 135°E – 79°115°E 2. DeLong Islands around 77°N 155°E

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 07-09/2007      07-09/2008      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
1 or 2 Polar class icebreakers with dredging, sonar, and CTD capability; helicopters; Possibly an AUV if an ice-capable AUV operation is demonstrated by that time.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
A sonar map of the seafloor; collection of rock samples; water column surveys, all of which will aid tremendously in future studies of the Arctic Ocean and its seafloor. Potentially benthic and/or hydrothermal organisms. This data will be archived at the Ridge data base at Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory while samples will be archived at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Core/Dredge curatorial facillity.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own national polar operator
Another national polar operator

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
In progress: A Ridge2000 and InterRidge workshop on ultraslow ridges will occur late 2005. A major task is to coordinate international efforts to map and sample eastern Gakkel Ridge by assembling international partners and resources. The importance of ultraslow ridges has been endorsed by InterRidge, who have formed an International Working Group for this purpose.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
New

Mid-ocean ridge studies are interrelated on a global scale. The Ultraslow Ridge Workshop represents an ongoing activity of Ridge 2000 and InterRidge to stage international meetings that inform the community of oceanic ridge research (state of the science) and foster collaboration among nations and disciplines. There are ongoing studies of western Gakkel Ridge: SCICEX, AMORE 2001, other NSF-funded projects; Russian studies of DeLong archipelago. This proposal strikes out into uncharted territory: eastern Gakkel Ridge. )

How will the project be organised and managed?
US activities will be under the direction of the Chief Scientist , Henry Dick of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, in collaboration with Co-chief scientists Peter Michael of the University of Tulsa and James Cochran of Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory. International organization and management will be agreed upon at the upcoming InterRidge/R2K Workshop on Ultraslow Ridges.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The project will work in close collaboration with Ridge2000 and InterRidge orgnizations that have well-established and staffed E&O programs. Ridge 2000 has an active US education program for middle and high school students (www.Ridge2000.org/SEAS/). It will also involve a teacher participation at sea as part of the NSF OPP’s program. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Information office will assist in outreach and in management of additional outreach and communication.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Ridge 2000 research is governed by a comprehensive data management plan developed by the science community, endorsed by U.S.N.S.F, and maintained by the Ridge 2000 Data Management Office at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (USA). The international community is beginning to consider similar plans, to make data available broadly in a timely manner.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding will be secured through peer-reviewed proposals to the U.S. National Science Foundation and to science funding agencies of other participating nations. Contributions may come in the form of logistic support: e.g., utilization of an icebreaker.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
This Expression of Intent should be linked with the one submitted by Ridge2000 that gives the details of the international planning workshop that will initiate this project. Products from that workshop will include a white paper, “The Future of Polar Ridge Research,” an abstract volume for posters presented at the workshop, and an InterRidge Polar Year Working Group Report, “Ridge Activities in the IPY 2007/2008.” The workshop is expected to draw approximately 200 international participants.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Henry Dick
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Marine Geology & Geophysics Department
Woods Hole, MA
O2543-1539
USA

Tel: 01-508-289-2590
Mobile: no
Fax: 508-457-2183
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation