Norwegian Sea-Expedition 1969

In July, August and September 1969 a joint German-Icelandic-Norwegian-Expedition investigated time- and space-dependent oceanographic processes in the Norwegian Sea (fig. 1) and in the waters east of theIcelandic Shelf as weil as the geological and geophysical structure of the Norwegian continental slope, the Norwegian Basin and the Jan-Mayen-Ridge. The participating research vessels were "Hafthor" from Iceland, "Helland-Hansen" from Norway, "Anton Dohrn" and "Planet" from the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and as shooting vessel "Nordkapp" from Norway. "Meteor" (FRG) was eliminated from the measuring programme because of engine trouble shortly before begin. Due to the prolonged activity of "Planet" the originally planned investigations were almost entirely able to be carried out. The measuring programme and the preliminary results of the geological and geophysical working groups are dealt with separately (Closs et al. 1972). Systematic sounding from "Planet" in the main working area between 62° and 63° N, and 3° 25' and 4° 50' E forms the basis for a special contour map (see supplement). As a result of improved mooring technique in the course of the expedition's oceanographic measuring programme an almost one hundred percental retrieval of instruments was achieved and herewith 49 current and 55 continuous temperature recordings over 12 to 45 days in depths between 10 and 800 m were obtained. Hydrographie sections, nine anchor- and driftstations as well as one in five days six times successively passed through triangular course gave information over stratification and its periodic changes. The distribution of stations and the position of the moored self-contained instruments in the main working area is found in figure 2. Figure 3 gives insight into the registration period and depth of the instruments of the by "Planet" in cross formation moored systems I to VI. Parallel to the work clone off Norway observations were made as to variability of physical and chemical parameters in east Iceland waters