On May 22nd 2024 at South Cape. a mooring was deployed from the Research Vessel Kronprins Haakon which will remain there for a year. There, pingos were found to release very large quantities of methane gas into the water column as visually observed during ROV dives. The aim of the mooring is to monitor this methane release and observe how it might vary with regard to the environment setting. Two methane sensors, several CTDs and an ADCP looking up should help understand how and where the methane propagates through the water column.
Picture: Deployment of the mooring south of Svalbard. The release as well as the cage containing a CTD, a methane sensor and its associated battery are visible. Credits: Benedicte Ferre
Author: Benedicte Ferre