{"id":1482,"date":"2025-04-06T14:41:58","date_gmt":"2025-04-06T14:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/?p=1482"},"modified":"2025-04-07T10:54:04","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T10:54:04","slug":"the-long-awaited-encounter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/2025\/04\/06\/the-long-awaited-encounter\/","title":{"rendered":"The long-awaited encounter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Things got serious for us on the morning of 1 April. It was slowly getting light on the Cabo Verdean island of Sao Vicente, the local trade wind from the north-east was pushing waves into the bay of Mindelo as a research vessel turned around the corner after many months of its expedition in the Antarctic. It was POLARSTERN, which had been lying in the roadstead as planned and especially for us. No April Fool&#8217;s joke. We had all been working towards and eagerly awaiting this moment of encounter for months and years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(<em>German version below)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-0 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We are 26 scientists, students and one pupil from 15 different countries in West Africa, Southeast Asia and Central Europe. We conduct research and learn together on board the POLARSTERN and call it the \u2018Floating University\u2019. It is an essential part of the Master&#8217;s research programme \u2018Climate Change and Marine Sciences\u2019 on Cabo Verde, one of several training programmes in WASCAL, the BMBF-funded West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For six days, we have been experiencing the many facets of marine research as (un)experienced seafarers: working together in a confined space (which never stands still), laying out measuring systems (which every student learns to operate), taking water samples (which we analyse),&nbsp;filtering and counting biological organisms (which are fascinating) and recording scientific data (which we discuss). All participants are doing well and have now familiarised themselves with the many paths and work processes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/2025-04-04_PS147-2_workstudents_tobias-hahn-IMG_7369-small-1-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/2025-04-04_PS147-2_workstudents_tobias-hahn-IMG_7369-small-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1489\"\/><\/a><figcaption>During the WASCAL Floating University, we are also taking water samples for oxygen measurements. (c) Tobias Hahn, GEOMAR<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For the students, it is not just a 14-day practical experience on the high seas. This year&#8217;s Floating University in WASCAL already included an intensive preparatory seminar at the Ocean Science Centre Mindelo (OSCM) and involves the essential cooperation of international partner institutions from Cabo Verde, Senegal, Denmark and Germany. This approach is already enabling the students to grow into independent marine researchers within the global network of Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/2025_03_28_PS147-2_Pre-Seminar_Tag1_paula-baierlein-10-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/2025_03_28_PS147-2_Pre-Seminar_Tag1_paula-baierlein-10-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1488\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/2025_03_28_PS147-2_Pre-Seminar_Tag1_paula-baierlein-10-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/?attachment_id=1488#main\" class=\"wp-image-1488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/2025_03_28_PS147-2_Pre-Seminar_Tag1_paula-baierlein-10-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/2025_03_28_PS147-2_Pre-Seminar_Tag1_paula-baierlein-10-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/2025_03_28_PS147-2_Pre-Seminar_Tag1_paula-baierlein-10-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/2025_03_28_PS147-2_Pre-Seminar_Tag1_paula-baierlein-10-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/2025_03_28_PS147-2_Pre-Seminar_Tag1_paula-baierlein-10-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">We held a larger preparatory seminar at the Ocean Science Centre Mindelo (OSCM) prior to onbarding research vessel POLARSTERN. (c) Paula Baierlein, GEOMAR<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>All our efforts and enthusiasm contribute to understanding the ocean and how it is changing due to human-made climate change in our respective countries. It is warming, expanding, eroding coasts. It is changing as a habitat for small zooplankton or large fish, a basis for several hundred million people, not only, but especially in West Africa. It is losing biodiversity or oxygen, the basis for life on our planet. We are contributing a piece of the puzzle to understanding these major changes, which we are investigating more closely from the Atlantic to the North Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Further reports from our research trip can be found here and on GEOMAR&#8217;s social media channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tobias Hahn<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Co-Cruise leader of PS147\/2<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Das lang ersehnte Aufeinandertreffen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Am Morgen des 1. April wurde es ernst f\u00fcr uns. Auf der kapverdischen Insel Sao Vicente wurde es langsam hell, der hiesige Passatwind aus Nordost dr\u00fcckte Wellen in die Bucht von Mindelo, als ein Forschungsschiff nach vielen Monaten Expedition in der Antarktis um die Ecke bog. Es war die POLARSTERN, die sich planm\u00e4\u00dfig und extra f\u00fcr uns auf Reede legte. Kein Aprilscherz. Auf diesen Moment des Aufeinandertreffens haben wir alle seit Monaten und Jahren hingearbeitet und hin gefiebert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wir, das sind 26 Wissenschaftler:innen, Studierende und ein Sch\u00fcler aus 15 verschiedenen L\u00e4ndern in Westafrika, S\u00fcdostasien und Mitteleuropa. Wir forschen und lernen gemeinsam an Bord der POLARSTERN, und nennen es \u201eSchwimmende Universit\u00e4t\u201c. Sie ist ein essentieller Bestandteil des Masterstudiengangs \u201eClimate Change and Marine Sciences\u201c auf Cabo Verde, eines von mehreren Ausbildungsprogrammen in WASCAL, dem vom BMBF gef\u00f6rderten West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seit sechs Tagen erleben wir als (un)erfahrene Seeleute die vielen Facetten der Meeresforschung: Zusammenarbeiten auf engstem Raum (der nie stillsteht), Auslegen von Messsystemen (die jeder Studierende bedienen lernt), Abf\u00fcllen von Wasserproben (die wir analysieren), Filtrieren und Z\u00e4hlen von biologischen Organismen (die faszinieren) und Aufnehmen von wissenschaftlichen Daten (die wir diskutieren). Alle Teilnehmenden sind wohlauf und haben sich mittlerweile in die vielen Wege und Arbeitsabl\u00e4ufe eingefuchst.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>F\u00fcr die Studierenden ist es nicht nur eine 14-t\u00e4gige Praxiserfahrung auf hoher See. Die diesj\u00e4hrige Schwimmende Universit\u00e4t in WASCAL umfasste bereits ein intensives Vorbereitungsseminar am Ocean Science Centre Mindelo (OSCM) und beinhaltet die essentielle Zusammenarbeit von internationalen Partnerinstitutionen aus Cabo Verde, Senegal, D\u00e4nemark und Deutschland. Dieser Ansatz l\u00e4sst die Studierenden bereits jetzt zu eigenst\u00e4ndigen Meeresforschenden im weltweiten Netzwerk der Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) heranwachsen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All unsere Anstrengung und Begeisterung tr\u00e4gt dazu bei, den Ozean und dessen Ver\u00e4nderungen durch den menschengemachten Klimawandel in unseren jeweiligen L\u00e4ndern zu verstehen. Er erw\u00e4rmt sich, dehnt sich aus, tr\u00e4gt K\u00fcsten ab. Er ver\u00e4ndert sich als Lebensraum f\u00fcr kleines Zooplankton oder gro\u00dfe Fische, eine Grundlage f\u00fcr mehrere Hundert Millionen Menschen, nicht nur, doch insbesondere in Westafrika. Er verliert an Biodiversit\u00e4t oder Sauerstoff, die Grundlage f\u00fcr Leben auf unserer Erde. Gro\u00dfe Ver\u00e4nderungen, zu deren Verst\u00e4ndnis wir ein Puzzle St\u00fcck beitragen und die wir im Atlantik bis zur Nordsee genauer untersuchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Weitere Berichte unserer Forschungsreise gibt es hier und auf den GEOMAR Kan\u00e4len in den Sozialen Medien.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tobias Hahn<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Co-Fahrtleiter der PS147\/2<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Things got serious for us on the morning of 1 April. It was slowly getting light on the Cabo Verdean island of Sao Vicente, the local trade wind from the north-east was pushing waves into the bay of Mindelo as a research vessel turned around the corner after many months of its expedition in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":244,"featured_media":1487,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,15,12,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ocean-and-climate","category-ocean-observation","category-ozean-und-klima","category-ozeanbeobachtung"],"geo":{"latitude":31.0703468,"longitude":-14.5118685,"description":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/244"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1482"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1504,"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1482\/revisions\/1504"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1487"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanblogs.org\/capeverde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}