Our Constructor University team (Adrienne, Natasha and Polina) is focused on collecting size-fractionated data for trace metals and metal-binding ligands. Specifically, we are collecting samples for high field-strength elements (HFSE), oxyanions, metal-binding organic ligands (Cu, Fe, Ni) and Cr and V speciation. Of these parameters, I am personally the most interested in organic ligands, which […]
The research cruise SO298 is part of the International GEOTRACES Programme as a section cruise. The cruise will cross the equatorial Pacific Ocean (EPO) along 0°S from Guayaquil (Ecuador) to Townsville (Australia), with a focus on trace element biogeochemistry and chemical oceanography but also including physical and biological oceanographic components. The research topic of the […]
The sorting and sampling of fish larvae is one of the main tasks on our research cruises. Every year we cover a specific grid of 45 stations in the Bornholm Basin and since last year we also sample 35 stations on a grid in the western Baltic Sea. On each of these stations, sampling consists […]
Time at sea is limited and thus precious and there is so much to be done on a scientific cruise. To get the best possible snapshot of life in the Baltic Sea during our 12-day journey, we therefore try to sample as many locations as we can along the way to increase the resolution of […]
Hello from Bornholm Basin in the central Baltic Sea! With a team of 12 scientists and 11 permanent crew, we are currently operating in Baltic waters with research vessel Alkor to improve understanding of this beautiful but also heavily impacted and rapidly changing system. For this purpose, we measure physical and chemical parameters (temperature, salinity […]
Welcome to the SONNE SO298 expedition blog! While the participants are busy preparing for the start of their expedition, you can find some background information on the “About” page. // Willkommen auf dem Blog der SONNE SO298 Expedition! Während die Teilnehmenden den Start ihrer Expedition vorbereiten, können Sie auf der Seite “About” einige Hintergrundinformationen finden.
Saturday 4th March 2023 The sixth and final week of research cruise M187. On 27.02 we had our last station at the most western point of our cruise transect (5 °W, 26.7 °S), in the highly oligotrophic waters of the South Atlantic subtropical gyre. These seawaters are strongly depleted in bioavailable nitrogen, which limits phytoplankton […]
6th weekly report (19.02.2023 – 25.02.2023) Saturday 25th February 2023 The fifth week of the research expedition M187: we have been making progress with the transect we are conducting outwards into the South Atlantic subtropical gyre. We plan a total of 11 stations along this section, starting from where we finished the two filament studies […]
4th weekly report (12.02.2023 – 18.02.2023) Saturday 18th February 2023 In our fourth week we continued our study of the second filament located west of Lüderitz, conducting daily stations to sample the water column and then using the remainder of the day and night for intensive underway sampling of surface seawaters. We are studying the […]
3rd weekly report (05.02.2023 – 11.02.2023) Saturday 11th February 2023 The start of the week began in Walvis Bay port as we waited for a replacement crew member to arrive. The scientists used the time to organize their labs and catch up with paperwork. We also had science seminars each day where initial results from […]