GoNorth is a consortium of 13 Norwegian research and education institutions that have promoted a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary program for investigations of the Arctic Ocean realm. GoNorth aims to obtain new, essential knowledge from the Arctic subsea geology, seafloor, and water column.
Motivated by Norway's strategic interest in the Arctic, GoNorth focuses on key geological questions, climate history, and developing new polar technologies. The project uses a series of research cruises to gather essential data, integrating findings from both marine and terrestrial environments.
The GoNorth initiative was inspired by the United Nations' Continental Shelf Commission's 2009 decision to support Norway's claim for an extended continental shelf north of Svalbard, into the Nansen Basin. This led to a focus on understanding the region's unique geology and geophysics.
Key scientific questions include the narrowness of the continental margin north of Svalbard, hydrothermal activity along the Gakkel Ridge, and the Arctic's climatic and oceanographic history over the past 65 million years. The project's scientific objectives are organized into seven work packages, covering geological, oceanographic, marine biological research, polar technology development, and geo-politics. The Yermak Plateau, Gakkel Ridge, and northern Svalbard margin are primary study areas, with onshore-oWshore linkages providing a comprehensive understanding of the region's structural features and basin development.
The GoNorth program will also study the greenhouse-icehouse evolution of the Arctic and the interplay of tectonic, magmatic, and sedimentary processes shaping the region. Research will involve advanced data acquisition methods, including seismic, gravimetric, magnetic, and heat flow measurements, as well as sediment coring. By enhancing our understanding of the Arctic's geosciences, the GoNorth project aims to support sustainable development and inform strategic policies for Norway and the broader international community.
