Description: The MSM89 expedition of Maria S Merian was a contribution to the international research initiative EUREC4A (www.eurec4a.eu). The cruise was carried out in concert with the M161 campaign on RV METEOR (Germany) and the EUREC4A-OA campaign on NO L’ATALANTE (France). Airplane and drone operations as well as well as continuous observations from the ground-based site on the Island of Barbados (BCO) were considered during the MSM89 campaign. Moreover, the cruise was coordinated with ships and Saildrone© operations in the context of the US American ATOMIC project. The overall goal of the EUREC4A field campaign was to collect observational data that will enable research on dynamic and thermodynamic processes in the atmosphere and ocean that will bring the understanding of the role of clouds in the climate system to a new level. MSM89 had its focus on the ocean/atmosphere coupling across ocean mesoscale vortices. For this purpose, both ocean and atmosphere profile measurements were carried out to observe the temporal evolution and spatial heterogeneity of the atmospheric and oceanic boundary layer. Autonomous observing platforms (underwater glider) and a ship towed platform (Cloudkite) augmented the ship-based observations. Incubation experiments were performed to determine Nitrogen fixation rates, the gas exchange for carbon dioxide and oxygen uptake.

Description: Dates of Cruise: 05.10. to 07.10.2005; Projects: Student course in physical oceanography Port Call: Warnem¨unde (05.10.)

Description: Dates of Cruise: 11.10. to 14.10.2004 Projects: BASEWECS and Student course in physical oceanography; Port Call: Warnemünde (11.10.)

Description: Dates of Cruise: 29.06. to 02.07.2004 Projects: BASEWECS and Student course in physical oceanography Port Calls: Warnemünde (29.06.; 01.07) and Sassnitz (30.06.)

Description: Dates of Cruise: 13. September to 19. September 2011 Projects: Student course in physical oceanography. Areas of Research: Physical oceanography Port call: Kiel – Warnemünde – Kiel

Description: Cruise M160 is part of concerted MOSES/REEBUS Eddy Study featuring three major research expeditions (M156, M160, MSM104). It aims to develop both a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the role of physical-chemical-biological coupling in eddies for the biological pump. The study is part of the MOSES “Ocean Eddies” event chain, which follows three major hypotheses to be addressed by the MOSES/REEBUS field campaigns: (1) Mesoscale and sub-mesoscale eddies play an important role in transferring energy along the energy cascade from the large-scale circulation to dissipation at the molecular level. (2) Mesoscale and sub-mesoscale eddies are important drivers in determining onset, magnitude and characteristics of biological productivity in the ocean and contribute significantly to global primary production and particle export and transfer to the deep ocean. (3) Mesoscale and sub-mesoscale eddies are important for shaping extreme biogeochemical environments (e.g., pH, oxygen) in the oceans, thus acting as a source/sink function for greenhouse gases. In contrast to the other two legs, MOSES Eddy Study II during M160 did not include any benthic work but focused entirely on the pelagic dynamics within eddies. It accomplished a multi-disciplinary, multi-parameter and multi-platform study of two discrete cyclonic eddies in an unprecedented complexity. The pre-cruise search for discrete eddies suitable for detailed study during M160 had already started a few months prior to the cruise. Remote sensing data products (sea surface height, sea surface temperature, ocean color/chlorophyll a) were used in combination with eddy detection algorithms and numerical modelling to identify and track eddies in the entire eddy field off West Africa. In addition, 2 gliders and 1 waveglider had been set out from Mindelo/Cabo Verde for pre-cruise mapping of the potential working area north of the Cabo Verdean archipelago. At the start of M160, a few suitable eddies – mostly of cyclonic type – had been identified, some of which were outside the safe operation range of the motorglider plane. As technical problems delayed the flight operations, the first eddy (center at 14.5°N/25°W) for detailed study was chosen to the southwest of the island of Fogo. It was decided to carry out a first hydrographic survey there followed by the deployment of a suite of instruments (gliders, waveglider, floats, drifter short-term mooring). Such instrumented, we left this first eddy and transited – via a strong anticyclonic feature southwest of the island of Santiago – to the region northeast of the island of Sal, i.e. in the working range of the glider plane. During the transit, a full suite of underway measurements as well as CTD/RO section along 22°W (16°-18.5°N) were carried in search for sub-surface expressions of anticyclonic eddy features. In the northeast, we had identified the second strong cyclonic eddy (center at 18°N/22.5°W) which was chosen for detailed study starting with a complete hydrographic survey (ADCP, CTD/RO, other routine station work). After completion of the mesoscale work program, we identified a strong frontal region at the southwestern rim of the cyclonic eddy, which was chosen for the first sub-mesoscale study with aerial observation component. There, the first dye release experiment was carried out which consisted of the dye release itself followed by an intense multi-platforms study of the vertical and horizontal spreading of the initial dye streak. This work was METEOR-Berichte, Cruise M160, Mindelo – Mindelo, 23.11.2019 4 – 20.12.2019 supported and partly guided by aerial observation of the research motorglider Stemme, which was still somewhat compromised by technical issues and meteorological conditions (high cloud cover, Saharan dust event). Nevertheless, this first dye release experiment was successful and showed rapid movement of the dynamic meandering front. After completion of work on this second eddy and execution of a focused sampling program at the Cape Verde Ocean Observation, RV METEOR returned to the first eddy for continuation of the work started there in the beginning of the cruise. This was accompanied by a relocation of the airbase of Stemme from the international airport of Sal to the domestic airport of Fogo. The further execution of the eddy study at this first eddy, which again included a complete hydrographic survey followed by a mesoscale eddy study with dye release, was therefore possible with aerial observations providing important guidance for work on RV METEOR. Overall, M160 accomplished an extremely intense and complex work program with 212 instrument deployments during station work, 137 h of observation with towed instruments and a wide range of underway measurements throughout the cruise. Up to about 30 individually tracked platforms (Seadrones, glider, wavegliders, drifters, floats) were in the water at the same time providing unprecedented and orchestrated observation capabilities in an eddy. All planned work components were achieved and all working groups acquired the expected numbers of instrument deployments and sampling opportunities.

Description: The main goal of cruise MSM61 was to install an autonomous multidisciplinary observatory at the summit of Senghor Seamount off the Cape Verdean archipelago. A suite of different mobile and moored instrument platforms equipped with physical, biological and biogeochemical instruments was deployed during the cruise in order to investigate spatio-temporal variability of physical and biogeochemical conditions and how these affect the local ecosystem at this openocean seamount. The research program further included hydrographic work, biological and biogeochemical sampling as well as video transects in the meso- and bathypelagic zones both at Senghor Seamount and at the Cape Verde Ocean Observatory (CVOO).

Description: SPNA transport 2020 The scientific program of the MARIA S. MERIAN MSM94 expedition was dedicated to studies on the intensity of water mass transformation and the transport of water masses in the boundary current systems off Labrador and at the southwestern tip of Greenland. During the expedition we redeployed 11 moorings and recovered 1 bottom lander. Measurements of the vertical structure of temperature, salinity, density, oxygen, optical properties and the flow along selected sections have been surveyed during the MSM94 expedition. Close to the surface, permanent registrations are carried out with the thermosalinograph (temperature, salinity) and meteorological data are continuously collected. Flow measurements up to 1000m depth are performed with the ships installed ADCPs. Argo floats (IFREMER, BSH) and surface drifter (NOC, UK) were also deployed. The expedition is a contribution to international projects (OSNAP, Blue Action, EuroSea). The expedition was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic and modifications to the science program had to be applied (e.g. Start/end-port Emden, Germany, reduced science crew and respective cut’s in data acquisition).