The 12th Sternfahrt of the ElbeXtreme and MOSES projects took place in 2024 from September 02 to 13, within the area of the German Bight (North Sea). Its objective was to get a more systematic grid of sampling data by spatially integrated onboard sensors. Therefore, the MOSES-laboratory container was installed again. Water samples were taken from the surface with a rosette or via Niskin bottles. The first part of the cruise was conducted by the research vessel (RV) Ludwig Prandtl, starting on the 2nd of September on Heligoland. From there, the crew navigated towards Cuxhaven covering some stations from previous MOSES cruises. For the next days, the ship followed a rectangular track, shifting northward each day, heading towards Heligoland again. Due to strong winds, the sampling stations were reduced to three on the last day. On Heligoland the RV Mya II took over the laboratory container and other sampling equipment for the second part of the cruise. Persistent strong winds delayed the start of the cruise until September 11. Since most of the planned stations were already covered from the RV Ludwig Prandtl, the crew decided to expand the sampling area using a more systematic zig-zag line. With the return of Mya II in the afternoon of the 13th September 2024, the campaign was successfully finished.
This dataset contains annual oceanographic observations collected at the Helgoland underwater observatory (54°11.594′ N, 07°52.762′ E; WGS84) from 2013 onwards. Measurements include water temperature, salinity, oxygen saturation, chlorophyll-a concentration, and turbidity. The observatory is located at a water depth of approximately 10 m (± tidal variation) and is equipped with one or more sensors for each measured parameter. Observations are recorded at an hourly temporal resolution. All data have undergone quality control using the four-step plausibility and quality assurance procedure described by Waldmann et al. (2022). The cabled observatory infrastructure and sensor configuration are described in detail on the AWI COSYNA underwater observatory webpage. For comprehensive information on instrumentation, sensor deployment, calibration procedures, and data processing, please refer to the annual metadata documents entitled metadata_heluwobs_yyyy_hydrography.pdf associated with each yearly dataset.
The Sternfahrt-10 of the MOSES campaign, from 29th August until the 15th of September 2023, had two objectives. One was to follow the dispersion of pollutants transported by the Elbe water into the North Sea, previously observed during the Elbe-Freshwater and Elbe-Tidal cruises. And second the distribution of the Elbe water within the German Bight. Therefore, drifter groups were deployed to follow individual water parcels. Those drifters were followed subsequently by three ships (RV Ludwig Prandtl, RV Littorina, RV Mya II), to extend the time period of measurements. Along the tracks, water samples were taken close to the drifters, alternatively at stations from previous cruises, resulting in 12 to 24 sampling points per week. In terms to detect the concentration of a variety of nutrients and carbon compounds from the south-eastern North Sea up to the island Amrum. Additionally, basic hydrographic parameters and greenhouse gases were sampled continuously throughout the whole cruise. Those results are not part of the present dataset, but can be found here, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.971874. To ensure the comparability of the measured parameters a transportable container laboratory was passed from ship to ship always equipped with the same sensor systems. Just for specific water samples some special equipment was added. A map of the different tracks as well as information about the used sensors and data treatment, you can find in the additional material. For more detailed information about the MOSES Project and the cruise Sternfahrt-10, see the article cited in references.
The dataset contains temperature, salinity, oxygen saturation, chlorophyll a and turbidity data from the Helgoland MarGate underwater observatory from the year 2020 in a temporal resolution of 1 hour. The cabled observatory is located in 10m water depth and comprises single or multiple sensors for a specific parameter (see https://www.awi.de/en/science/biosciences/shelf-sea-system-ecology/main-research-focus/cosyna/underwater-node-helgoland.html). For a detailed description of the data see associated metadatafile "Metadata_description_heluwobs_data_2020.pdf"
In winter 2023/24 a high precipitation rate in northern and eastern Germany increased the run-off volume of the Elbe and Weser rivers tremendously. The MOSES Sternfahrt-11 was conducted during and directly after the flood event, between 28th of December 2023 and 29th of January 2024 to identify its influence on the solution of different indication parameters. On January 10th and 11th in total seven samples within the port of Hamburg and the Elbe Estuary were taken from HPS ships and the Glückstadt ferry. The last two ships Mya II and Littorina covered the outflow of the Elbe into the German Bight. Both Ships had a transportable container laboratory (MOSES container) with a sensor system (see additional metadata) on board, measuring continuously different environmental data. Mya II started sampling on the 17th of January in Cuxhaven, cruising along the northern part of the German Bight towards Büsum. The second day the crew headed west towards Helgoland. The following crew on Littorina took over for the last two days, the 28th and 29th of January, covering the western part of the German Bight between Helgoland and Cuxhaven.
The dataset contains temperature, salinity, oxygen saturation, chlorophyll a and turbidity data from the Helgoland MarGate underwater observatory from the year 2024 in a temporal resolution of 1 hour. The cabled observatory is located in 10m water depth and comprises single or multiple sensors for a specific parameter (see https://www.awi.de/en/science/biosciences/shelf-sea-system-ecology/main-research-focus/cosyna/underwater-node-helgoland.html). For a detailed description of the data see associated metadatafile metadata_heluwobs_2024_hydrography.pdf.
Previous Sternfahrten were mainly conducted in spring and summer. To cover the seasonal aspects more thoroughly, including a winter situation, Sternfahrt 13 was conducted in February 2025 (10–12 February). We used the RV Heincke (cruise HE653/2) instead of the RV Uthörn. The Heincke's draught is greater, so we could not reach all of our previous stations. Surface and bottom water samples were taken with a rosette; in the event of stratification in the water column, an additional sample was taken from the middle.
In January 2024 a river flood by the Elbe and Weser resulted in very high discharge of freshwater into the German Bight. To follow this river, plume the RV Mya II cruised from Sylt and between Helgoland, Cuxhaven, Büsum. All instruments were set up in the MOSES laboratory container. Standard hydrographic parameters were determined with a pocket ferrybox running with ship's surface water supply. In addition, dissolved methane was determined continuously. We used a degassing unit which was using surface water from the ship's water supply. The gas mixture was subsequently analysed with a Greenhouse Gas Analyzer from LosGatos. Conversion to methane concentration was performed with water samples, from which the methane content was determined with gas chromatography. Atmospheric methane concentrations were obtained from the ICOS-station Helgoland. Wind speed was obtained from the ships meteorological system. The diffusive flux was calculated as outlined in the additional meta data description.
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.
In continuation of the previous cruises (Sternfahrten) we covered a similar area with the RVs Ludwig Prandtl and Mya II. All instruments were set up in the MOSES laboratory container. Standard hydrographic parameters were determined with a pocket ferrybox running with ship's surface water supply. In addition, dissolved methane was determined continuously. We used a degassing unit which was using surface water from the ship's water supply. The gas mixture was subsequently analysed with a Greenhouse Gas Analyzer from LosGatos. Conversion to methane concentration was performed with water samples, from which the methane content was determined with gas chromatography. Atmospheric methane concentrations were obtained from the ICOS-station Helgoland. Wind speed was obtained from the ships meteorological systems. The diffusive flux was calculated as outlined in the additional meta data description.
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