GoNorth 2022 Cruise Report

The Norwegian part of the Arctic, including Svalbard, is undergoing major climatic changes, affecting sea ice, the ocean, and marine life. Yet substantial knowledge gaps remain, particularly in the central Arctic Ocean, where accessibility is limited and conducting research activities requires specialised equipment. On longer time scales, the Arctic Ocean has also undergone major geological changes. Evolving from being an isolated, partly freshwater basin, the Arctic Ocean is now an integrated part of the global ocean. When and how this transition occurred is still unclear, largely due to limited geological and geophysical data. The GoNorth project aims to reduce these knowledge gaps through four multidisciplinary cruises onboard of RV Kronprins Haakon between 2022 and 2025. The project will also provide extensive training opportunities and will help build Arctic research capacity. The first GoNorth cruise took place from 14 October to 19 November 2022 and was divided into two legs. The first leg (14 October–3 November 2022) started and ended in Longyearbyen including 29 scientists and research engineers from nine institutions. The study area lay north of Nordaustlandet and Kvitøya, from the continental shelf to the Nansen Basin, where water depths approach 4000 metres. A total of 539 km of seismic data was acquired to investigate the geological evolution of this part of the Arctic Ocean. Sediment samples were collected from the seabed for analyses of both present‑day environmental conditions and longer‑term environmental changes. Seawater and sea ice samples were analised for identification of organisms in sea ice ecosystems. Measurements of vessel icing, georeferenced imagery during ice operations, and continuous monitoring of methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas, were also part of the activities. As part of this expedition, new technologies were tested, including a seafloor rig and an autonomous drifting platform, both recording ocean measurements during this first cruise. Some of the seismic measurements were conducted using seafloor nodes deployed by an underwater robot—techniques not previously applied in this area. The second leg (4–19 November 2022) focused on the Knipovich Ridge, a segment of the mid‑ocean spreading ridge in deep water west of Svalbard. Twenty‑three scientists and research engineers took part on this second leg. The objectives were: 1) to locate, map, and sample hydrothermal mineral deposits, and 2) to map and sample seabed areas with manganese crusts. This report presents an overview of the activities conducted during the first GoNorth cruise. This work is expected to provide a foundation for future research and for educating new scientists with expertise in this strategically important region of the Kingdom of Norway.