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SO163-1, 6th and last weekly report, April 15 to 20, 2002

In the morning of 19 April at 09:15 h FS SONNE moored at pier 3 in port of Caldera, Costa Rica. Thus, the first part of cruise SO-163 ended after 37 days at sea. Finally, there were some highlights as a reward for the efforts made in the course of the preceding weeks. The results obtained from OFOS, used twice in the area of the Quepos-slide, confirmed that bacterio mats cover a large surface at the basis of the landslide edge, as had been observed on cruise SO-144. Using the TV-guided grap, samples were taken from this area. Although no bacterio mat was found in the TVG, the sediment, containing large amounts of sulphide, allows the conclusion that anaerobic methane oxidation is the predominant geochemical process.

Work continued on Monday and Tuesday; sidescan sonar DTS-1 was deployed above the Parrita Scarps and faults caused by an uplift could be mapped well. Then OFOS was again deployed several times north of the Parrita Scarps. A small mound of about 30 m height showed clear signs of active fluid-venting. Here, the same species occur as had been found previously, however, throughout a by far larger surface. In an area of about 150 m carbonates occur massively. Wherever there is an interruption in carbonates, several meters are covered with shells and pogonophoran tubeworms. This gigantic seep area is excellently suitable for future investigation. On Wednesday, we spontaneously decided to operate DTS-1 for high-resolution mapping in 410 kHz-operation to record the expansion of this structure. Due to the limited time only one profile could be recorded since a ship's turn to obtain another profile would have lasted too long. Owing to the joint efforts of the work groups and the Captain's bridge the mound could be measured successfully.

Further OFOS operations were made at Jaco Scarp during Wednesday night. In the course of Thursday the TVG was used twice. Measurement by means of Simrad EM-120 on the passage to Caldera terminated the scientific programme at 2.00 h a.m. of 19 April.

All work groups are busily saving data and packing the equipment and the samples. On Sunday, a press conference will take place and the German Embassy will attend a reception on board to terminate the cruise.

All scientists would like to thank the Captain and his crew for their continuous professional support enabling the success of research work of this cruise.

On behalf of all aboard
Wilhelm Weinrebe

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