- 1UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Department of Geosciences, Tromsø, Norway (giuliana.panieri@uit.no)
- 2Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, 20126, Italy
- 3Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, 5006, Bergen, Norway
- 4Norwegian Offshore Directorate, 9406 Harstad, Norway
- 5Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Biology Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
- 6WHOI, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
- 7National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom
- 8Ocean Census, Begbroke Science Park, Oxfordshire, OX5 1PF, United Kingdom
- 9Reservoir Technology Department, Institute for Energy Technology, 2007, Kjeller, Norway
- 11LIttoral ENvironnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), La Rochelle Université, Bâtiment ILE, La 17000 Rochelle, France
Borealis is a newly identified underwater mud volcano located in the Polar North Atlantic, distinct from the many methane emissions previously found in the area. In this study, we present direct observations from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), documenting the emission of warm (11.5°C) Neogene sediments and methane-laden fluids from a gryphon at Borealis. The seafloor around the mud volcano is covered with extensive carbonate formations, suggesting a long history of diffuse methane flow. Our sampling and imagery indicate that Borealis hosts unique ecosystems adapted to low-oxygen environments near methane seeps. Furthermore, the irregular carbonate formations may provide natural protection against bottom trawling, offer a surface for stationary marine life, and act as breeding grounds for endangered fish species. This finding highlights the ecological importance of cold seep ecosystems in the Polar North Atlantic, emphasizing their contribution to biodiversity by providing refuges for marine life and stressing the importance of their preservation.
The authors thank the projects AKMA (287869), HOTMUD (288299), NCS2030 (331644), WELLFATE (344447), and EMAN7 ( 320100),the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, and REV Ocean.
How to cite: Panieri, G., Argentino, C., Savini, A., Ferre, B., Hemmateenejad, F., H. Eilertsen, M., Mattingsdal, R., P. Ramalho, S., Michel, A. M., Rogers, A., Polteau, S., Mazzini, A., Barrenechea Angeles, I., Buenz, S., and Kalenitchenko, D.: The Borealis Mud Volcano is a sanctuary for vulnerable Arctic species, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13139, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13139, 2025.
