Art and Science
[23.11.04] In earlier days, science depended on artists to illustrate and visualise its results and convey these not only to other scientists but also to the general public. During the era of the great scientific expeditions, the role played by art and artists was of vital importance for scientists’ ability to get the message across, as well as their credibility. During the MAR-ECO expedition 2004, this relationship was revitalized. |  |
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Deep-sea School day on the web
[26.11.05] A group of pupils from different European countries, who are partneres in the Comenius-network, met MAR-ECO-scientists online - in a netmeeting Thursday November 25th 2004. Biology and various questions about being a MAR-ECO scientist was among the topics. See the questions and answers! |  |
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Junior scientists in Bergen
[10.12.04] A squid made of knitting wool – that was one of the creative products of the MAR-ECO school project during the Science Week in Bergen, when two classes with pupils at the age of 11 dived into the mysteries of the deep sea. |  |
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Communication prize to Bergstad and MAR-ECO
[12.11.04]MAR-ECO’s project leader, Odd Aksel Bergstad, has been awarded the Research Council of Norway’s 2004 prize for outstanding communication of research. The jury was both impressed and inspired by the diversity and professionalism that were features of the MAR-ECO public outreach programme. |  |
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Deep-sea art
[09.11.04] When the Norwegian research vessel “G.O. Sars” set out on June 3 on its expedition to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Ørnulf Opdahl was on the crew list as ship’s artist, together with the international team of MAR-ECO scientists. His first works from the cruise are currently on display in the Henie-Onstad Art Center at Høvikodden, near Oslo. |  |
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Hydroacoustic recording of marine life to 2000-3000m depth
[06.08.2004] Highlights from the cruise nr. 1: During the MAR-ECO cruise we used a SIMRAD EK-60 18 kHz scientific echosounder. We were surprised by the geographical extent of layers recorded at about 1500 and 2300 m depth that were composed of fish without swimbladders. |  |
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New squid species
[06.08.2004] Highlights from the cruise nr. 3: All the 45-50 different species of cephalopods we captured will contribute to our understanding of their ecology, taxonomy, life history and biology. Two squid, however, stand out in their potential impact. |  |
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Fish fauna, and new or unusual findings
[06.08.2004] Highlights from the cruise nr. 4: More than 80,000 specimens were collected. Further analyses are required to determine if any of these represent new species to science, but some candidate are a ceratioid anglerfish, an ophidiiform fish and Aphyonus gelatinosus, a peculiar fish caught only rarely in the North Atlantic. |  |
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Spectacular bottom fauna
[06.08.2004] Highlights from the cruise nr. 6: On one of the ROV dives on the seamount north of the Azores at the depth around 2000 m we observed a great number of traces left by an unknown animal. It's our new deep-sea mystery... |  |
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Beautiful gelatinous zooplankton
06.08.2004] Highlights from the cruise nr. 7: Each time we splashed into the sea with an ROV we encountered wondrous and apparently undescribed animals that behave in unexpected ways. We’ve learned that jellyfish segregate in layers with regard to depth. Animals like comb jellies and medusae are often numerous in a zone 300 to 600 m below the surface and were most diverse just north of the Azores. |  |
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Assistance from the Norwegian air force
[23.07.2004] One of the Orion-planes from the 333 Squadron of the Norwegian air force carried out an unusual mission Wednesday July 21. They assisted MAR-ECO by flying out six canisters with necessary equipment to a remotedly operated vehicle (ROV) on RV G. O. Sars, which at this point had reached the Carlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone in the northern mid-Atlantic. |  |
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Unusual sampler catches unusual creatures
[20.07.2004] Onboard RV G.O. Sars one day, the CTD was hauled with a 2,1 m long Pyrosoma colony wrapped around its top! "I have read about this drifter but in 30 years of going to sea I never saw one intact and up close", writes Marsh Youngbluth from Harbour Branch Oceanographic Institution, USA. |  |
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The coffee-cup test
[27.06.2004] In the deep ocean, the pressure is much higher than on the surface. In order to illustrate this, researchers onboard RV G.O. Sars put a coffee cup into the trawl and brought it down to 2300 meters depth... |  |
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Finds inspiration onboard
[15.06.2004] - All expectations have been exceeded so fahr, says the painter Ørnulf Opdahl after ten days onboard RV G.O Sars. The well-known Norwegian painter has been invited to join the MAR-ECO cruise, and has his own atelier in one of the laboratories onboard the ship. In a video from the cruise he shows his fresh paintings. |  |
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Deep-water secrets
Stuffed deep-water species from the mid-Atlantic can be seen at an exhibition which opened this summer at The Atlantic Sea Park in Aalesund, Norway. |  |
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Setting sail aboard the G.O. Sars
[03.06.2004] One of the world’s most advanced research vessels, the new Norwegian RV, the G.O. Sars, sets out 5 June for a two-month expedition along the mid-Atlantic Ridge between Iceland and the Azores. Scientists from the international research project, MAR-ECO, will use the latest technology to learn more about what is living in this remote and relatively unexplored deep sea environment. |  |
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Secrets of the Deep Sea
[28.04.2004] On Wednesday 2 June 2004 Bergen Museum opens the exhibition Secrets of the Deep Sea at the Natural History Collections. The exhibition have a dual function. It represents portions of what is known about life in the deep sea at the same time as it also also addresses ongoing research. The exhibition is linked to the MAR-ECO project which launches its main cruise on 5 June 2004. |  |
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Technology tests onboard G.O. Sars
[06.05.2004] Application of modern technology is considered one of the most critical factors for success in the challenging investigations MAR-ECO is aiming for. Substantial effort has therefore been invested in fitting RV G.O. Sars properly. In the end of April a test cruise was carried out onboard RV G.O. Sars. |  |
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Longliner MS Loran chartered
[05.05.2004] To enhance sampling capability on rough ground, MAR-ECO charters the Norwegian commercial longliner MS Loran - which operates longlines, traps and nets Substantial support from Norwegian fishing industry partners and public agencies/authorities facilitated this operation. MS Loran will work alongside RV G.O.Sars in July 2004. |  |
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A two-months deep-sea exploration
[01.04.04] What lives in the deep sea and how do topographical features and ocean current systems affect the distribution of these marine organisms? The two-month cruise by MAR-ECO researchers aboard the new Norwegian research vessel, G.O. Sars, during the summer of 2004 hopes to find some answers to these questions. |  |
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Landing on the ridge
[01.04.04] The University of Aberdeen’s Oceanlab has constructed a fleet of landers to investigate the deep-sea with the intention of expanding our understanding of its inhabitants and their role within our oceans. |  |
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Population substructuring in deep-sea fishes
[01.04.04] A comparative molecular genetic study, based on hyper-variable, so-called microsatellite DNA, has been initiated. The intention is to quantify patterns and levels of population substructure in five key deep-sea fishes along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and adjacent continental slope waters. |  |
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Only four months left
[17.02.04] Plans for this summer's research cruise aboard the G.O. Sars are being finalised. |  |
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List of fishes
[10.01.04] Andrej Dolgov, from the PINRO Institute in Russia has prepared a list of fishes, landed in the trawl catches during the RV Smolensk cruise to the Irminger Sea summer 2003. The list contents the latin names and photos of the fishes. |  |
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Should we be eating Orange Roughy?
[26.01.04] This popular gourmet restaurant fish, is also a fragile deep-sea resource. Its fishery was the subject of an extensive WWF report, published autumn 2003. |  |
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![News: Analysis Phase [2009 - 10]](/__lib/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
News: Field Phase [2004]
