RV Belgica 2022-22
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RV Belgica (11BE) |
| Cruise identifier | 2022-22 |
| Cruise period | 2022-09-15 — 2022-09-25 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Zeebrugge, Belgium |
| Port of return | Zeebrugge, Belgium |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | In 2018 and 2019 seismic surveys were conducted onboard RV Belgica in the wider Brown Bank area, aiming to map the late Quaternary palaeolandscape and link this to possible human presence. These surveys generated a unique dataset of unprecedented quality, and targeted sampling in 2019 resulted in the discovery of prehistoric (peat) landsurfaces, as well as several pieces of wood and flint. Owing to the vastness of the study area, further seismic/geophysical and ground truthing investigations are necessary.
The aims of the Belgica survey 2022 are to 1. fill data gaps for geomorphologic / palaeogeographic studies 2. investigate the link with the drowned 'Doggerland' 3. conduct detailed seismic investigations and seafloor sampling in well-chosen sub-areas for archaeological studies 4. construct a regional (trans-boundary) stratigraphy. As well as the sampling and surveying in the wider Brown Bank area, a first reconnaissance seismic survey will be conducted for the WALDO project (Survey 2022/30). |
| Chief scientist | Ruth Plets (Flanders Marine Institute), Tine Missiaen (Flanders Marine Institute) |
| Cruise report |  (2.28 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Sea |
| Specific | Southern North Sea |
| Track charts | (0.52 MB) |
