In the stormy „Furious Fifties“ we succeeded for the first time to recover ocean bottom seismometers after a recording period of one year (expedition SWEAP of RV Polarstern).  Reliable weather and sea state forecasts and the excellent poor-weather performance of RV Polarstern allow to sucessfully work in such areas. Our records of thousands of small earthquakes originating at the Southwest Indian Ridge now provide unprecedented insight into the formation of new ocean lithosphere.

Following prototype tests in summer 2014 (expedition AURORA of RV Polarstern), we now have specially modified ocean bottom seismometers in routine use. The devices can also be used under sea ice at great water depths and can be successfully recovered when the ice cover is almost 100% (Expedition PS137 of RV Polarstern). The data show that the Arctic Ocean offers good recording conditions for earthquakes due to the unprecedentedly low seismic noise.