We are very pleased to inform you that the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute (PGI-NRI) has signed an executive contract with Ocean Floor Geophysics Inc. (Canada) to conduct the research cruise to the Atlantic Ocean.
The survey will be carried out in the area of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge covered by the contract between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for the exploration of massive polymetallic sulphides. During the 5-week research expedition aboard the r/v Ocean Titan, an international team of scientists will subject the entire 10,000 square kilometre area to regional exploration.
The main objective of the research is a high-resolution bathymetric and morphological analysis of the seabed features, as well as identification and recognition of areas of potential hydrothermal activity using a wide range of sensors analyzing anomalies of the water column.
The results will be used to determine prospective areas for massive sulphide occurrences, which shall be subjected to detailed studies during the next expeditions.
The scientific team, in addition to experienced OFG experts and PGI-NRI specialists, includes a representative of the Ministry of Climate and Environment and researchers from Polish partner institutions: Maritime University of Szczecin, the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Oceanography of the University of Gdansk and the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, who will support the exploration and interpretation process. What's more, the expedition will be attended by two trainees from Tanzania and Bangladesh designated by the International Seabed Authority, which is an important aspect of capacity building.
The realization of the planned work will provide a range of unique data that will contribute to the understanding of the geological settings and processes taking place in the areas of spreading zones and shall be an important contribution to the achievements of deep-sea research in Poland.
Source: Tomczak, M. (2022, August). We are very pleased to inform you that the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute (PGI-NRI) has signed an executive contract [Thumbnail with link attached] [Post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/michal-tomczak-noble84_pigpib-podpisa%C5%82-umow%C4%99-wykonawcz%C4%85-z-firm%C4%85-activity-6958448657096425473-ALeE?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop