Beschreibung: The MOSES Elbe 2023 experiment aims at following a water mass from the spring of the Elbe River in the Czech Republic, through the freshwater and tidal sections of the river, into the North Sea, where three ships (Mya II, Littorina, and Ludwig Prandtl) were used covering the marine environment in the German Bight (Sternfahrt 10). In order to follow the water mass from the Elbe estuary numerical simulations were performed to determine the likelihood of a variety of starting points for a drifter release experiment. At the first morning of the cruise model forecasts were used to determine the exact locations where drifters were to be released. The drifters were initially released in groups of three drifters and then supplemented at a later point of time. During the following two and a half weeks, the current drifter positions were revisited from the ships involved to take water samples.

Beschreibung: The "Sternfahrt 9" cruise was conducted from the 30th of May to the 2nd of June 2022, covering a late spring situation in the German Bight. The three participating vessels (Littorina, Uthörn and Ludwig Prandtl) covered a wide range from 7.6°E to 8.9°E and from 53.5°N to 54.8°N, following similar tracks and sampling stations like those of the "Sternfahrt 5" in September 2020. Objective of this cruise was to get new insights on the chemical transformation of Chlorophyll-a and dissolved organic matter from the Elbe, Tide-Elbe and North Sea. Therefore, each ship was continuously measuring different hydrographic parameters and greenhouse gases along their tracks (not included in the present dataset, please see article(s) 'related to'). Additionally, each day eight stations were run by the crews along their respective track (for a more detailed description see 'file description'). Thus, delivering discrete water samples for later analyses of DIC, TA, DOC, methane, nutrients and explosive metals. Due to partly bad weather not always all stations could be realized. While the vessel Littorina covered the south eastern part of the German Bight, the Ludwig Prandtl went further North until the small island Amrum. The Uthörn instead sampled on one side in the north of Heligoland and on the other side in the south and south-west towards Cuxhaven (see map in 'additional metadata'). For more detailed information about the MOSEShx campaign and the cruise Sternfahrt 9, see article cited in references.

Beschreibung: As the previous cruises were mainly conducted in August / September, this cruise was set up to cover a late spring situation in the German Bight. The cruise track and positions of the stations were similar to Sternfahrt_5 in September 2020, thus covering a wide range from 7.6°E to 8.9°E and from 53.5°N to 54.8°N. Continuous sampling for Chlorophyll-a and dissolved organic matter from the Elbe, Tide-Elbe and North Sea and subsequent detailed analysis at the UFZ will give new insights on the chemical transformations of these compounds. The southern North Sea (German Bight) is influenced by the water flowing into the Tide-Elbe area and how it is further modified. For a better understanding of the different branches of relevant events it is necessary to investigate the main impacting factors for the terrestrial and coastal water quality. Therefore, during different cruises between 2019 and 2022 a group of parameters was continuously traced from the Elbe River basin (Czech/German border) to Tide-Elbe and Elbe estuary (Hamburg, Germany) until the German Bight. The vessel Littorina started already on the 29th of May in Kiel heading to the assembly point Cuxhaven and setting up the sensor systems. On May 30th all ships began the cruise traveling to Heligoland, nevertheless only the Ludwig Prandtl and Littorina could realize the first inter-calibration station (see file description) in front of Cuxhaven. An inter-calibration with all ships was conducted the next morning (31st of May) in front of Heligoland, before they went separate ways. While the Littorina crew covered the eastern part of the sampling area going towards Büsum, the scientists from Ludwig Prandtl headed further North to the island Amrum and the Uthörn covered the western part (see map in additional metadata). Littorina followed on the way to Büsum a more direct track, while on its way back to Heligoland on June 1st, the crew took a different route to extend the area further north. On the 2nd of June they travelled straight back to Cuxhaven to the last joined station with all three vessels. Instead, Ludwig Prandtl stayed the third and fourth day around Amrum, where they had to start sampling early in the morning (03:44h, 03:30h), due to the tide dependent entrance to the port. From there they headed directly back to Cuxhaven. The vessel Uthörn made a circuit north of Heligoland on the second day. On the third day the crew navigated from Heligoland to Cuxhaven and back to Heligoland in a triangle form. The last day the vessel headed back to Bremerhaven with a detour in Cuxhaven. Thus, all vessels closed the survey on the 2nd of June with a last inter-calibration station off Cuxhaven at about 10h. Additional information about the whole campaign and different cruises can be found in the article(s) cited, see also 'related to'.

Beschreibung: The MOSES Elbe 2023 experiment aims at following a water mass from the spring of the Elbe River in the Czech Republic, through the freshwater and tidal sections of the river, into the North Sea, where three ships (Mya II, Littorina, and Ludwig Prandtl) were used covering the marine environment in the German Bight (Sternfahrt 10). In order to follow the water mass from the Elbe estuary numerical simulations were performed to determine the likelihood of a variety of starting points for a drifter release experiment. At the first morning of the cruise model forecasts were used to determine the exact locations where drifters were to be released. The drifters were initially released in groups of three drifters and then supplemented at a later point of time. During the following two and a half weeks, the current drifter positions were revisited from the ships involved to take water samples.

Beschreibung: The MOSES Elbe 2023 experiment aims at following a water mass from the spring of the Elbe River in the Czech Republic, through the freshwater and tidal sections of the river, into the North Sea, where three ships (Mya II, Littorina, and Ludwig Prandtl) were used covering the marine environment in the German Bight (Sternfahrt 10). In order to follow the water mass from the Elbe estuary numerical simulations were performed to determine the likelihood of a variety of starting points for a drifter release experiment. At the first morning of the cruise model forecasts were used to determine the exact locations where drifters were to be released. The drifters were initially released in groups of three drifters and then supplemented at a later point of time. During the following two and a half weeks, the current drifter positions were revisited from the ships involved to take water samples.

Beschreibung: The MOSES Elbe 2023 experiment aims at following a water mass from the spring of the Elbe River in the Czech Republic, through the freshwater and tidal sections of the river, into the North Sea, where three ships (Mya II, Littorina, and Ludwig Prandtl) were used covering the marine environment in the German Bight (Sternfahrt 10). In order to follow the water mass from the Elbe estuary numerical simulations were performed to determine the likelihood of a variety of starting points for a drifter release experiment. At the first morning of the cruise model forecasts were used to determine the exact locations where drifters were to be released. The drifters were initially released in groups of three drifters and then supplemented at a later point of time. During the following two and a half weeks, the current drifter positions were revisited from the ships involved to take water samples.

Beschreibung: The MOSES Elbe 2023 experiment aims at following a water mass from the spring of the Elbe River in the Czech Republic, through the freshwater and tidal sections of the river, into the North Sea, where three ships (Mya II, Littorina, and Ludwig Prandtl) were used covering the marine environment in the German Bight (Sternfahrt 10). In order to follow the water mass from the Elbe estuary numerical simulations were performed to determine the likelihood of a variety of starting points for a drifter release experiment. At the first morning of the cruise model forecasts were used to determine the exact locations where drifters were to be released. The drifters were initially released in groups of three drifters and then supplemented at a later point of time. During the following two and a half weeks, the current drifter positions were revisited from the ships involved to take water samples.

Beschreibung: The MOSES Elbe 2023 experiment aims at following a water mass from the spring of the Elbe River in the Czech Republic, through the freshwater and tidal sections of the river, into the North Sea, where three ships (Mya II, Littorina, and Ludwig Prandtl) were used covering the marine environment in the German Bight (Sternfahrt 10). In order to follow the water mass from the Elbe estuary numerical simulations were performed to determine the likelihood of a variety of starting points for a drifter release experiment. At the first morning of the cruise model forecasts were used to determine the exact locations where drifters were to be released. The drifters were initially released in groups of three drifters and then supplemented at a later point of time. During the following two and a half weeks, the current drifter positions were revisited from the ships involved to take water samples.

Beschreibung: The MOSES Elbe 2023 experiment aims at following a water mass from the spring of the Elbe River in the Czech Republic, through the freshwater and tidal sections of the river, into the North Sea, where three ships (Mya II, Littorina, and Ludwig Prandtl) were used covering the marine environment in the German Bight (Sternfahrt 10). In order to follow the water mass from the Elbe estuary numerical simulations were performed to determine the likelihood of a variety of starting points for a drifter release experiment. At the first morning of the cruise model forecasts were used to determine the exact locations where drifters were to be released. The drifters were initially released in groups of three drifters and then supplemented at a later point of time. During the following two and a half weeks, the current drifter positions were revisited from the ships involved to take water samples.

Beschreibung: The MOSES Elbe 2023 experiment aims at following a water mass from the spring of the Elbe River in the Czech Republic, through the freshwater and tidal sections of the river, into the North Sea, where three ships (Mya II, Littorina, and Ludwig Prandtl) were used covering the marine environment in the German Bight (Sternfahrt 10). In order to follow the water mass from the Elbe estuary numerical simulations were performed to determine the likelihood of a variety of starting points for a drifter release experiment. At the first morning of the cruise model forecasts were used to determine the exact locations where drifters were to be released. The drifters were initially released in groups of three drifters and then supplemented at a later point of time. During the following two and a half weeks, the current drifter positions were revisited from the ships involved to take water samples.