New data on plastics in the South Pacific

(deutsche Version unten) I came on board research vessel SONNE as a national observer from Chile. As we are sampling on national Chilean waters, I was inspecting that everything was done according to the permits, and I also have the responsibility to send a daily report to Chilean authorities. Besides that, the chief scientist offered […]

Sailing on RV SONNE – a dream came true

(Deutsche Version unten) It all started in the hallway of the ICBM in Oldenburg. I studied environmental sciences in my bachelors and spent large amounts of my time in the building of the ICBM (Institute for Marine Chemistry and Biology). And there, in the hallway, I saw it. A small replica of the RV SONNE. […]

Tracing particles through natural radioactivity

(deutsche Version unten) But to what do I personally lose my sleep exactly? Sinking particles! More exactly, determining the flux of particles, thereby transporting carbon down into the deep of the ocean. Relying on available nutrients and sunlight, phytoplankton flourishes in the upper layers of the ocean by converting CO2 in organic molecules such as […]

All aboard SO289!

(deutsche Version unten) With 33 scientists and 32 crew members on board, on the 22nd of February 2022 the Sonne expedition SO289 left Talcahuano, Chile, to conduct a South Pacific section as a part of the International GEOTRACES Program for assessing sources, sinks, distributions and internal cycling of trace elements and their isotopes in the […]