Last wednesday after weeks of statistics and modelling, we (that is 7 students from GEOMAR) were kind of fed up with dry theory. So we got ourselves a bus + driver and headed north to experience science in action.
After a one day trip we arrived at the marine station and found the whole KOSMOS team already buzzing like a bee hive.

We didn’t know exactly what to expect – several Albert Einsteins pouring acid into the Fjord? Nerds in rubber boots operating high tech machines?

Needless to say we were quite surprised to find out that the most urgent task to the proper scientists was the installation of a gigantic jacuzzi on site. This we later found out was not for the wellbeing of the scientists (for this we have the sauna…) but to mix the water columns of the mesocosms:

We were told that the water in the mesocosms had separated into different layers and this would cause problems for the experiment. So the solution was to lower a long garden hose to the bottom of the mesocosms. Through this hose air was pumped which then bubbled to the surface. This would mix the water and pave the way for the proceeding of the experiment.

Preparation for the mixing. Air will soon leave these tanks to bubble through the mesocosms.

The best part of this was of course that we could get directly involved in the action. So, after hearing so many tales about the scientist’s life we finally get to know the feeling of actually standing on a shaking boat and holding damn expensive measurement devices…
And guess what – it’s pretty cool 🙂

Jenny is enthusiastic about her first direct student – mesocosm contact