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 […]
Meanwhile, at the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands
The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) is a multi-purpose service centre composed of a set of large infrastructures to support research, technology and innovation in the marine and maritime sector in the North-East Central-Atlantic Ocean. The mission of the centre is to promote long-term observation and sustainability of the ocean. The research facilities […]
Setting up the mesocosms
Because there was too little space onboard POSEIDON, three mesocosms had to be dismantled and brought to Gran Canaria in a container. Ralf Schwarz and Mario Deckelnick from GEOMAR’s Technology and Logistics Centre flew in a couple of days ago to put them together again and attach ropes and weights. They were glad about the […]
English channel
The mesocosms were passing the North Sea and the English channel during the last couple of days. Consistent westerly winds created some waves. These, and strong currents slowed us down. We were running with only two knots on friday evening but were are back to normal now. Solid 8 knots while entering the Biskaya. We […]
kiel canal
Feels great to be on the way to our upcoming KOSMOS campaign. It’s been dead calm today. We’ll see what happens when we leave the Elbe estuary and enter more saline water.
Off to Gran Canaria
Today, POSEIDON left Kiel for Gran Canaria. Keep your fingers crossed for a smooth sailing and follow her route here. All pictures by Maike Nicolai, GEOMAR