Proof for Kai: The tradition was carried on – 25 ml of mesocosm water were added

Last sampling …

It’s an old tradition in German oceanographic research that the last sampler brings up a very special sample. Well, in the case of KOSMOS-GC2 it was Tequilla Sunrise. Actually, it was rum instead of tequilla and the sunrise was kind of upside down. But Paul prepared an excellent mix and we had a great time on Wassermann and Leader in Taliarte harbour that night.

Last-sampler-party on Wassermann and Leader in Taliarte harbour.

Last box ….

At some point we gave up counting. I think only Andrea knows how many boxes were stored away in our six containers going back to Kiel.

Last sampling in Gando Bay. It feels like fall has finally arrived on GC.

Last day …

The past 11 weeks here on Gran Canaria have been a remarkable experience for all of us. The joy of finishing up after so many weeks of hard work mixes with sadness of leaving this place and the people here, who have grown so much into our hearts.

We are grateful for all the support we have received from our friends and colleagues at PLOCAN and at the University of Las Palmas during KOSMOS-GC1 and GC2 and we are thankful for the wonderful friendships, which have developed during this time and which I am sure will last a lifetime.

I would like to extend my thanks to everyone involved in this memorable study. This was a true team effort. A big thank-you to all of you. You were an incredible team!!!

KOSMOS frames back on land and ready for cleaning (Photo: Marika Fiedler)

Last but not least we are grateful to the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMFB) for supporting us to repeat this campaign after the storm-related failure in the spring. I can assure, it will be worth every Euro, as we will bring home an unprecedented data set on the impacts of ocean acidification in an oligotrophic pelagic ecosystem – a key piece of the puzzle, which was urgently needed the get a more complete picture of how the ocean will respond to global change.

To all our friends and colleagues on Gran Canaria – WE WILL COME AGAIN!!