Preface The expedition ARK XIX/3 with the German icebreaking RV ...

Working with the ROV "Victor 6000" allowed us to study the geology, geophysics,
geochemistry, and biology of the HMMV by in situ as well as ex situ targeted sampling
approaches. We focused on a North-South transect across the HMMV to investigate
the different zones such as the centre, the bacterial mats, and the Pogonophora
fields. The search for methane emission causing the large plume was successful and
3 bubble sites were identified. In addition, we were able to use a variety of free falling
and winch operated instruments for our geochemical and biological investigations,
some of which obtained the first in situ measurements of methane turnover rates at
this polar cold seep. A series of gravity corer deployments resulted in the recovery of
5-6 m long cores with warm gassy fluidised mud from the centre, and gas hydrates
from the outer rim of the mud volcano. The first results of all these multidisciplinary
measurements are presented in the following chapters.
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