The Heat Beneath Your Feet

My name is Florian Neumann, I’m a research scientist at MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen, Germany. This is my second journey to the Southern Ocean, the first being close to the southern Shetland Islands, north of the Antarctic Peninsula in 2021. Originally from southern Germany, I spent 14 years in northern Mexico, where I earned my Master's and PhD in marine geophysics. On the RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer, I’ll be conducting heat flow measurements in the sediments of the Ross Sea. Marine heat flow is the transfer of heat from the Earth's interior to the ocean floor, driven by the decay of radioactive elements and residual heat from Earth's formation. This heat escapes through the seafloor, influencing ocean circulation, underwater ecosystems, and even plate tectonics. By measuring marine heat flow, scientists gain insights into Earth's thermal structure, volcanic activity, and the processes shaping the ocean basins. This research reveals deep connections between the Earth's interior and the ocean, playing a key role in climate and geological studies.

Stay tuned for our first measurement and a closer look at the equipment we’re using on board!

Dr. Florian Neumann
MARUM, University of Bremen