The Mission

Fire + Ice: Exploring for Volcanoes Beneath the Arctic
The Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge Expedition
July 31 - October 3, 2001

Charles Langmuir discusses the Healy's voyage to the Gakkel Ridge.

On July 27, 2001, scientists from five nations converged in northern Norway, ready to depart for the Arctic. They are undertaking the first major sampling of the Gakkel Ridge, three miles below the Arctic icecap. A new U.S. icebreaker, the Healy, will be on its maiden voyage, accompanied by the flagship German icebreaker Polar Stern. It appears likely that Healy will make an attempt for the North Pole. If ice conditions permit, it will become the first U.S. surface vessel to make it to the pole under its own ice-breaking power.

As molten rock, called magma, rises through the Earth crust, it gives birth to volcanoes, volcanic eruptions, and new landforms. Recent seismic wave activity suggests that this process, or volcanism, is taking place beneath the ocean, on the Gakkel Ridge. Hydrothermal activity, involving heated ocean water, may host deep oases of life.

This expedition is out to find the young, underwater volcanoes. It will search the deepest, most remote portion of the global system of ocean ridges. It may discover new species as it explores the unknown of the Arctic deep.

On this voyage, it has become the first U.S. surface vessel to make it to the North Pole under its own ice-breaking power. It arrived at the Pole on Thursday, September 6, at 11 A.M. G.M.T. This region has not been accessible before because of limited ice-breaking capability by U.S. research vessels, and it was not known how the Healy would perform in complex scientific operations on her maiden scientific voyage in the ice. In fact, the mighty Healy has performed superbly, and the expedition has already been a major scientific success.