We ended the cruise in the Trondheimsfjord. After completing the program in the Vestbrona Volcanic Province with the discovery of a new cold vent with gas flares, carbonate crusts, and bacterial mats, there was nothing more to achieve than enjoy the scenery of Norway’s landscape.
Text and photos: Jochen Knies, Chief Scientist.
So, I decided to realize the back-up plan and core the sediments in Stjørnfjorden, outer Trondheimfjorden (Picture 1). The purpose of this activity was to retrieve a climate record for the last 5000 years to study the controlling factors for submarine slide deposits in the Trondheimfjord. One hypothesis is that natural climate variability including changes in atmospheric circulations, increased precipitation and floods may have triggered these slides.
The cores from Stjørnfjorden will help to answer this question since they are completely undisturbed and will provide the record of past changes of atmospheric circulation in Mid-Norway.
The team worked hard to retrieve three sediment cores and finally with the mid-night sun in place, we ended the work on deck.
I would like to thank the captain and crew on board RV “G.O. Sars” and my team of scientists for all their efforts and hard work during this intensive week. Special thanks go to Stig Vågenes and his ROV team for all their support during 14 long ROV dives!
Best, Jochen.
