The DHI in the years 1974 and 1975
133
In the German sea areas and tidal flats of the North Sea a particularly narrow
spaced large-scale synoptical survey (about 4 300 square kilo
metres) extending from the island of Romo to the Elbe Mouth was undertaken
for the first time in 1974; it was continued in 1975 in the sea area off the East
Frisian islands. This large-scale survey is not only of benefit to shipping and
fishery but also to coastal protection and to the planning of the necessary con
struction work.
The vessels „КОМЕТ" and „SUDEROOG" ran a total of about 30 000
nautical miles of sounding lines in the North Sea and the Baltic. " A T A I R "
and „WEGA" examined 175 known wrecks and searched 85 positions for
underwater obstacles. During these operations they found 35 wrecks that had
been unknown so far.
29 cruises in the North Sea and the Baltic undertaken by the survey and
research vessel "GAUSS" mainly served the purpose of monitoring marine
pollution, of sediment studies, of current and diffusion measurements and of the
type testing of radio navigational equipment.
Furthermore, the survey and research vessel "КОМЕТ" took numerous
water samples from the North Sea, the Skagerrak and the Kattegat in June 1974
and in spring 1975 which were studied for their content of radioactive isotopes;
this permits conclusions on the movements of water masses in these sea areas
(Radiological North Sea Programme, RANOSP). In autumn 1975 the "КОМЕТ"
undertook a cruise to the sea area south of Iceland for geophysical surveys which,
among other objectives, served for the preparation of the IPOD Programme
(International Phase of Ocean Drilling) in which the Federal Republic of Germany
is participating.
In the two years under review the research vessel "METEOR" (Deutsche
Forschungsgememschaft, DFG, and DHI) undertook seven cruises: from mid-
January until early in April 1974 the DHI made radiological oceanographic
measurements in the Northeast Atlantic and in the western Mediterranean
whilst geophysical-geological investigations were carried out by the DFG in
the eastern Mediterranean. From early in June until early in October the
"METEOR" participated, in conjunction with two further German research
vessels, in the GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment (GATE); this major interna
tional experiment (39 ships, 13 research aircraft) was part of a multiyear pro
gramme for a worldwide investigation of the atmosphere (Global Atmospheric
Research Programme, GARP). The third cruise in 1974 was a contribution to the
afore mentioned Radiological North Sea Programme (RANOSP).
Early in 1975 the research work in the area of nutrient upwelling water off the
Northwest African coast was continued. In April and May the " METEOR"
participated in the preparatory work for the international programme for the
investigation of the Baltic Sea pollution which is to begin in 1976. In June and
July the DHI undertook geological and geophysical investigations in the area
of the Iceland/Faeroes Ridge. The second part of this cruise (August and Sep
tember) led to the Northern North Sea and served for preparatory investiga
tions for the international expedition "FLEX '76": It is the objective of this
"Fladenground Experiment" to gain insight into the influences of currents, mix-
