The Maria S. Merian glides through the caldera of Santorini, framed by the island’s iconic volcanic landscape, steep cliffs, and whitewashed houses. While this breathtaking scenery captures the imagination, it also serves as a central area of research for the MULTI-MAREX project. In the caldera, the new MOLA Landers (MOLA stands for Modular Ocean Lander […]
from SO308-Geotraces G107 Blog
Creativity at sea
All research cruises are a lot of work. This one, for many of us, is especially taxing, with CTD casts and sampling of surface water at all hours of the day and night. We make good use of the time, money, and energy expended to do good science—but we also like to let our more […]
from SO308-Geotraces G107 Blog
Tuning in to phytoplankton rhythms
We have discussed phytoplankton quite a bit on this blog, from their part in marine snow creation to their potential reactions to ocean alkalinity enhancement. Their importance to the ocean—and the planet—is hard to overstate, and there are many aspects of their lives (and deaths) to explore. While our schedules have been chaotic this cruise, […]
from SO308-Geotraces G107 Blog
Can the ocean help us fight climate change?
The ocean has always been one of Earth’s best defences in the fight against anthropogenic climate change. It absorbs about 25% of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) we emit, acting as a giant sponge for greenhouse gases. This carbon sink comes at a cost—this extra CO2 is making the ocean more acidic, and ocean acidification limits […]
from SO308-Geotraces G107 Blog
Catching some rays
On a summer day in the south Indian Ocean, it can seem like the sunlight supply is endless. But even on the brightest day, most of the ocean stays dark. Only the upper layer of the ocean receives enough light for phytoplankton to perform photosynthesis, a process that uses light energy to convert the inorganic […]
Geology in motion: Research in the Aegean’s Columbo volcanic field
The sun rises over the Aegean and bathes the sea in a warm light. A new day begins on the Maria S. Merian, the research vessel that navigates through this geologically active region. Researchers and crew are preparing for the next stage of an expedition that will provide insights into the dynamic processes beneath the […]
MULTI-MAREX sets sail: research data and advent calendar
The majestic Mount Etna rises on the horizon as the Maria S. Merian leaves the port of Catania on 3 December. The coastline of Sicily slowly disappears from view and the research vessel sets course for the Aegean Sea. On board: an international team of 22 scientists and 24 crew members, determined to uncover the […]
from SO308-Geotraces G107 Blog
Announcing some turbulence
In addition to their CTD duties described in the previous post, Kiel University-GEOMAR Climate Physics masters students Hannah Melzer and Paula Damke are always busy with something, from reading physics books for fun to creating beautiful artwork. Another task under their purview is measuring upper ocean turbulence using a microstructure profiler. The microstructure profiler is […]
from Ocean Voices Blog
A geological sleigh ride with Santa
“Peppy! Did you know…?” Oh, crinkly candy, here we go again. We were hours into Christmas night on our way back north, somewhere over the African Atlantic Coast and the Boss kept talking about geology. Listening to Santa Claus rambling was one of the many perks not mentioned in the job description of the prestigious […]
from SO308-Geotraces G107 Blog
The mighty CTD
Behold the mighty conductivity temperature depth (CTD) rosette! This is one of the workhorses of ocean research. Sensors measure conductivity (a proxy for salinity), temperature, light level, and other environmental parameters as they change with depth. These sensors are attached to a circular frame called a rosette that holds an array of sampling bottles that […]