In the middle of finding the right lab space, getting a new power line that doesn’t switch, setting up instruments et cetera, Tania and Kerstin went treasure hunting! Steve and I urgently needed adaptors for the gas bottles, which arrived on the island on tuesday- as promised- and then sat at the airport, waiting. And […]
Mesokosms Security Guards (Portuguese Man-Of-War)// Los vigilantes de seguridad de los Mesocosmos (Las carabelas portuguesas)
The Mesokosms Security Guard also asked for our accreditation before allowing us to sample! Nobody is able to touch them!! Los Guardias de Seguridad de los Mesocosmos también nos pidieron la acreditación antes de permitirnos muestrear. ¡¡Nadie se atreve a tocarlos!!
Much better than a Gym // Mucho mejor que un gimnasio
As said in Operation “Sponge Bob”: SEA IS OUR GYM!!! What do we eat? FISH, WATER, AND PHYTOPLANKTON!!! Como dirían en el Método “Bob Esponja”: ¡¡¡ EL MAR ES NUESTRO GIMNASIO !!! ¿Qué comemos? ¡¡¡ PESCADO, AGUA Y FITOPLANCTON!!!
The T-6 sampling experience // La experiencia del muestreo en el T-6
Thanks Jan for your nice way of teaching us how to use the amazing Integrated Sampler Bottle!!!. We had a great time with you and our trace-metals colleagues! Cheers, the Ecophysiology Group from University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ¡Jan! ¡¡Muchísimas gracias por enseñarnos tan bien cómo utilizar el increíble ISB!! Pasamos un día […]
Blue bottles, sharks and other challenges
„Did you see sharks“ or „Can I join you next time“ are usually the first reactions, you get to hear, when people realise you are one of the scientific divers for the KOSMOS team. We have to admit that first of all the nicest thing is the water temperature, around 1°C when we started last […]
How to set up mesocosms under water
Let´s start with the first task a diver has to do at the mesocosms, the first of many. Of course everything begins with putting the mesocosms in the water. This is not done by the divers but by a crane, we only have to be there on call, if some lines get entangled. Next is […]
Nine little large mesocosms sheltering from a storm
(sung to the tune of “Neun kleine Jaegermeister” by Die Toten Hosen) Nine little mesocosms assembled on a pier, huddling round and sitting tight for the windy weather to clear. Nine little mesocosms perched upon a quay, watching the massive swells roll by with fibre-glassy grins of glee. Nine little mesocosms sheltering from a storm, […]
Twenty-two railway wheels
Twenty-two railway wheels, in total about 9 tons of solid iron: These are the anchor weights, which will hopefully hold our mesocosms in place against all currents and waves for the next eleven weeks. Laying out these anchor weights precisely at the locations given to us by the local authorities and with even distances to […]
Unloading POSEIDON
Anchor weights, KOSMOS frames and bags, buoys, generator, deep-water collector, samplers, sensor, ropes and shekels, iron chains, hoses, cleaning rings, pumps, carts, more ropes, more weights, blinking lights, boxes, boxes and more boxes. In total over 24 tons of equipment arrived in Las Palmas with Poseidon and needed to be unloaded. Along with it came […]
POSEIDON’s arrival to Las Palmas
The first daylight accompanied the R/V POSEIDON this morning on its arrival to Las Palmas Harbour. I had the pleasure to meet the Captain and have a cup of coffee. Everything is ready for the next days: unloading the mesocosms, transfer to Taliarte, and a long etc. of hard working days that are yet to […]