BURSTER project aimed to investigate the hydrographic conditions and the possible gas seepage activity present in the inner part of the Kveithola glacial trough (South of Svalbard). Additionally, it aimed to study climate induced environmental changes controlling the evolution of living organisms in extreme environments. The cruise was conceived as a preliminary investigation on which results would be defined a major project to reveal the Kveithola bio-geochemical system. Specific oceanographic objectives are: 1) The study of water mass properties through hydrographical sections along key transects (synoptic CTD measurements over the area), and 2) the definition of water masses characteristics through bio-geochemical analyses of water samples. Specific geological, biological and environmental objectives are: 1) Definition of isotopic signature to assess the origin of the seeping fluids; 2) Characterization of natural seepage using geophysical and geochemical data; 3) To investigate the presence of authigenic carbonates and/or chemosynthetic communities on the seafloor (video + sampling); 4) The analyses of past and recent benthic foraminiferal communities and their resilience to oxygen depletion and methane emissions as potential indicators of variation in oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations and hydrocarbon seeps; 5) Definition of temporal variation of the benthic foraminiferal assemblages (through sediment cores) and study of living benthic foraminifera in terms of density and biodiversity; 6) Evaluation of existing and future impacts of dysoxia on pelagic and benthic ecosystems by assessment of its biogeochemical, biological and ecological consequences in the Kveithola drift (seafloor sampling); 7) Calibration of geochemical and biological proxies applied to living benthic and planktonic foraminifera in order to assess the variation in oxygen concentration and hydrocarbon emission and their impact in the biomineralization mechanisms. Proxies will be useful to interpret the fossil redox conditions; 8) To investigate high resolution centennial sedimentary records of the spatial and temporal changes in the redox conditions of the water column using inorganic and organic proxies, biomarkers, and isotopic signatures; 9) To study of the palaeoclimatic systems (from previous studies in the area) and their possible relation to oxygen depletion. EUROFLEETS2-BUSTER BURSTER Bottom Currents in a Stagnant Environment Start Expedition: 16-06-13 End Expedition: 2016-06-23 Local: Norway Age: Neogene

This dataset was produced by OGS

This dataset was produced in the context of the ITINERIS PNRR Italian project - project code No. IR0000032 - ESFRI Environment: Data harmonsation process - Rachele Franceschini - Supported by D4Science infrastructure.