Schmidt, Mark, Al-Farawati, Radwan, Al-Aidaroos, Ali and Kürten, Benjamin, eds. (2013) RV PELAGIA Fahrtbericht / Cruise Report 64PE350/64PE351 – JEDDAH-TRANSECT ; 08.03. – 05.04.2012 Jeddah - Jeddah, 06.04 - 22.04.2012 Jeddah - Duba. . GEOMAR Report, N. Ser. 005 . GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung, Kiel, Germany, 154 pp. DOI 10.3289/GEOMAR_REP_NS_5_2013.

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Abstract

The multidisciplinary research cruise 64PE350 was conducted in the central part of the
Red Sea to strengthen our understanding of volcanism and tectonics and related hydrothermal
processes in this young rifting system. Therefore we extended our intense multibeam mapping
campaign, which had started during the PO408 cruise in 2011, by mainly focusing on the
hydrothermally active “Multi Deep” area. Detailed geological mapping was performed by selective
rock sampling (dredging, coring) in areas of special interest (i.e. fresh basalt flows, or zones
with signals of recent volcanic activities).

Moreover, a geochemical sampling campaign (i.e. gravity coring, Niskin water sampling) was
conducted in brine-filled Red Sea deeps where variable hydrothermal activity is expected. The
geochemical characteristics of sediment (pore water and mineral composition) and brine will help to
identify sources and sinks relative to hydrothermal activity (e.g. hydrocarbon inflow, heavy metal
concentrations in brine and sediment, etc.). Transport and degradation processes (biogeochemical
cycles) at the brine- seawater interfaces were investigated by high-resolution water sampling
and subsequent onboard membrane inlet mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and major and trace
element sampling. Biomarker studies are being performed by sampling/ filtering water column and
brine to decipher allochthonous from autochthonous organic matter input to the Red Sea Deeps.
Moreover, microbiological studies will be performed on selected brine and sediment samples.

Hydrocarbon seepage at the pockmark area was investigated by hydroacoustic and geophysical methods
(water column imaging, sparker reflection seismics). Additionally, sediment cores were retrieved
from selected pockmark structures to investigate gas/ fluid seepage activities during Holocene.

The recently described subsea salt glacier phenomenon was investigated by seismic reflection
studies and comparative multibeam profiling (salt glacier flow velocities will
be calculated).

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