by Riel Carlo O. Ingeniero
Due to an unforeseen event (see cruise report for more details), we have to cut our research expedition short and head back to Singapore. The R/V Sonne has been docked at the Singapore Cruise Centre at the HarbourFront in Singapore for a week now. Today, we will be disembarking from the ship and some of us will be flying back to Germany and Denmark.
Over the past weeks, on my second research expedition on board the Sonne, I have witnessed the passion and enthusiasm of my fellow scientists loving the work they do. For instance, when our chief scientist Hermann showed me a hand-drawn plot of the secondary nitrite peak we observed in our CTD sample, he asked me what it meant, and he was eager to discuss its implications— particularly its potential link to denitrification. There was also a buzz of excitement when we observed extremely low oxygen levels in the water column from around 100 m depth and the secondary chlorophyll maximum peak.
I also had the pleasure of having short conversations with young scientists just beginning their careers or finishing their masters; some are planning to pursue a doctorate. I also enjoyed talking with Shravan and learning about the measurement techniques for studying aerosol and atmospheric pollutants or with Theresa, an early postdoc researcher who is trying to apply for a small internal grant from GEOMAR for a future cruise. I am inspired by their dedication and enthusiasm.
Listening to the oral presentations from various groups over the past few days has deepened my appreciation for the interconnected nature of our work. Despite our diverse fields of study, our research is intricately linked, ultimately aiming to further understand the marine biogeochemistry of the Bay of Bengal, a region known for its pronounced oxygen minimum zone. This interconnectedness is why I am passionate about marine biogeochemistry: observing how different parameters interact and relate to each other. From the famous Redfield ratio that dictates nutrient limitation in the ocean to the clear patterns between oxygen, chlorophyll a, and pH values in CTD profiles down to 4000 meters, we strive to uncover order and patterns in the complexity of the marine environment.
This cruise differed from my previous one (which was also a memorable cruise for me), as I had more time to spend time with my fellow scientists and enjoy stargazing with Mats, playing Tischfußball with Albert and Antoine, playing Nintendo Switch with Jon and Qing, or movie watching and card games with Clara, Kira, Leandro, and Leon. I successfully deployed our submersible pump system for sampling nitric oxide in deeper water, thanks to the help of so many people who made it possible, such as Tjark, Marcel, Isabel, Kira, Jannis, Shravan, Hermann, Albert, Gesa, and Ina.
I also had the time to take snapshots and photos of some of our research activities during this cruise. One of my favorite photos from the cruise is of an orange buoy during a mooring deployment. This buoy, deployed by the Physical Oceanography team, reminds me of the famous Pale Blue Dot photograph taken by Voyager 1 in February 1990. Our bright orange buoy is a small speck in the vast ocean, contributing to our understanding of ocean processes. These mooring, equipped with sensors that autonomously record data such as temperature, salinity, and current speed and direction over extended periods, provide invaluable long-term records. Our contribution to ocean science, though seemingly small like the buoy in the vast ocean, is vital for understanding the bigger picture. I eagerly anticipate the publications that will emerge from this expedition and the new insights they will bring.
P.S. We would like to thank the captain and crew of SO305 for their assistance and cooperation during this cruise.