Description: A new seismostratigraphic model has been established within the Arctic Ocean adjacent to the East Siberian Shelf on the basis of multichannel seismic reflection data acquired along a transect at 81°N. Ages for the sedimentary units were estimated via links to seismic lines and drill site data of the US Chukchi Shelf, the Lomonosov Ridge, and the adjacent Laptev Shelf. Two distinct seismic units were mapped throughout the area and are the constraints for dating the remaining strata. The lower marker unit, a pronounced high-amplitude reflector sequence (HARS), is the most striking stratigraphic feature over large parts of the Arctic Ocean. It indicates a strong and widespread change in deposition conditions. Probably, it developed during Oligocene times when a reorientation of Arctic Plates took place, accompanied by the gradual opening of the Fram Strait, and a widespread regression of sea level. The top of the HARS likely marks the end of Oligocene/early Miocene (23Ma). An age estimate for the base of the sequence is less clear but likely corresponds to base of Eocene (˜56Ma). The second marked unit detected on the seismic lines parallels the seafloor with a thickness of about 200ms two-way travel time (160 m). Its base is marked by a change from a partly transparent sequence with weak amplitude reflections below to a set of continuous high-amplitude reflectors above. This interface likely marks the transition to large-scale glaciation of the northern hemisphere and therefore is ascribed to the top Miocene (5.3 Ma).

Description: The interpretation of seismic refraction and gravity data acquired in 2010 gives new insights into the crustal structure of the West Greenland coast and the adjacent deep central Baffin Bay basin. Underneath Melville Bay, the depth of the Moho varies between 26 to 17 km. Stretched continental crust with a thickness of 25 to 14 km and deep sedimentary basins are present in this area. The deep Melville Bay Graben contains an up to ~11km thick infill of consolidated and unconsolidated sediments with velocities of 1.6 to 4.9 km/s. Seawards, at the ~60 km wide transition between oceanic and stretched continental crust, a mount-shaped magmatic structure is observed, which most likely formed prior to the initial formation of oceanic crust. The up to 4 km high magmatic structure is underlain by a ~2 km thick and ~50 km wide high velocity lower crust. More to the west, in the oceanic part of the Baffin Bay basin, we identify a 2-layered, 3.5 to 6 km thin igneous oceanic crust with increasing thickness toward the shelf. Beneath the oceanic crust, the depth of the Moho ranges between 11.5 and 13.5 km. In the western part of the profile, oceanic layer 3 is unusually thin (~1.5 km) A possible explanation for the thin crust is accretion due to slow spreading, although the basement is notably smooth compared to the basement of other regions formed by ultra-slow spreading. The oceanic crust is underlain by partly serpentinized upper mantle with velocities of 7.6 to 7.8 km/s.

Description: In the last decades, several geophysical research expeditions have led to a significant growth of the seismic database in the Central Arctic Ocean. In particular, the combination of seismic data with results of scientific deep drilling in 2004 have dramatically changed the view on the Arctic climate evolution. Since then, several proposals have been submitted to the Integrated Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP) to solve certain scientific problems through deep drilling. Seismic data are crucial to foster any progress regarding these proposals in the Arctic, in order to justify the selection of the drill sites. This contribution reviews the current distribution of seismic reflection data, especially in the High Arctic. This study will focus on various areas of the High Arctic and briefly address the scientific questions for these specific regions.