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The Nansen Legacy Joint Cruise 2, part 1 (JC2-1) 12-29 July 2021, continued the investigation of the interannual variability during the late summer season. At the same time will the cruise provide a late summer reference for the seasonal investigation that was separated to late summer and polar night 2019, and winter and spring 2021. The transect represents an environmental gradient going through the northern Barents Sea, and included 7 process stations (P1-P7) lasting 10-39 hrs. Additional CTD stations (NLEG) were taken between the process stations to increase the hydrographic resolution on the transect. The work started at 76°N at the open Atlantic Water dominated station P1, was sea ice covered from station P4 at 79 45.00 °N and included deep water stations at the P7 station at 82°N in the Nansen Basin. The program included measurements and sampling from the atmosphere, sea ice, ocean and sea floor. Data collected includes several disciplines to map the physical environment, the chemical characterization and biological communities. Key parameters from the Nansen Legacy joint cruises were selected and included in this reduced sampling program, compared to the other joint cruises. An important aim was to characterize the northern Barents Sea to map the interannual variability, but also to see how the proceeding winter and spring conditions has impacted the environment and conditions this year. A third task is to carry out a shelf investigation that can complement the investigations in the deep Arctic Basin starting in late August. Tests and improvements of a modified pelagic trawl (Harstad) were carried out as preparations for the Arctic Basin cruise in late August 2021.