fgmg 2020 TR TF2 NS05 celle001 B — Sand dunes at a depth of 40 meters on Spitsbergenbanken, formed by strong bottom currents. The resolution is one meter grid (1 meter intermediate depth points). Terrain model: Kartverket / Mareano
Photo: Kartverket/Mareano

MAREANO Annual Report 2020

This report gives an overview of conducted mapping surveys and programme results/deliverables of the MAREANO programme in 2020. A summary in English is included, the rest of the report is in Norwegian.

Published: 05.07.2021 Author: Mareano-programmet

MAREANO is a national, interdisciplinary programme which objective is mapping the Norwegian ocean floor. The mapping data includes bathymetry, seabed substrate, biodiversity, natural habitats and sediment contamination, and supplies up-to-date knowledge tomanagement agencies, industry, academia and the general public.

To date a total of c. 287660 km² of bathymetry data have been acquired by MAREANO. Additionally, bathymetry from external parties have been used. The bathymetry forms the basis for the planning of sampling cruises and the mapping of the geological, biological and chemical environmental conditions of the seafloor. Up until now, a total of 229613 km² of seafloor have been sampled in the field regarding its geology, biology and chemistry. High resolution bathymetry data are also important for the modelling of nature types and biotopes, as well as potential occurrences of cold-water coral reefs.

Surveys and sampling in 2020

Bathymetry surveys:

The Spitsbergenbanki the BarentsSea: 3708 km²
SUM of bathymetry surveys 3 708 km²

Geological, biological and chemical sampling:

Frøyabanken (1536 km²)
Sula trekant (218 km²)
Sula-Halten (353 km²)
Haltenbanken (2680 km²)
Halten-Iverryggen (125 km²)
Sklinnabanken (635 km²)
Sklinnadjupet (900 km²)
Sklinna vest (1312 km²)
Transekt NS-E-W, deler a-e (1818 km²)
Trænadjupet (595 km²)
Trænabanken (1161 km²)
SUM of geo-bio-chem-sampling Norskehavet 11 333 km²

New in 2020

Based on the results of the contamination study (reported in 2019) the traditional sampling tubes have been replacedwith steel tubes especially developed for microplasticsampling.

Potential coral mounds: The method was further developed in 2020 and now includes a semi-automatic step that extracts areasfor further analysis, increasing the efficiency of the method.