The Gakkel Ridge
Fire
+ Ice: Exploring for Volcanoes Beneath the Arctic
The Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge Expedition
July 31 - October 3, 2001
The Gakkel Ridge is a very special part of the global mid-ocean ridge system, which is the plate tectonics boundary where oceanic crust is created. It is the slowest example of seafloor spreading at a mid-ocean ridge, its basalt crust is extremely thin, and it has an exceptionally deep and straight rift axis. Mantle rocks might be widely exposed at the surface. There is recent volcanic activity at 90°E on Gakkel Ridge, and there may be hydrothermal vents there. With all of these unique features, it is quite a special place in the global spectrum of mid-ocean ridges! It remains the last geologically unsampled mid-ocean ridge only because it is so difficult to get there.
The mission is a joint effort between the United States and Germany. A main goal of the expedition will be collecting rock samples from Gakkel Ridge’s axis. Dr. Peter Michael from the University of Tulsa will be the principal investigator on Healy for this task. For part of the cruise, Healy will be breaking the ice and leading the way for Polarstern, who will be shooting an airgun and towing a seismic wave streamer to make an image of the rock layers beneath the seafloor. Together, the scientists on both icebreakers will collect data and samples that will lead to a better understanding of how spreading rate influences the melting of mantle, the production of new oceanic crust, and the tectonics of seafloor spreading.
Further Resources
AHA-NEMO2: Arctic data resources
The Big Chill: Another Arctic research project
Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research: Global, environmental research
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