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 "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.
The cruise Sternfahrt_8 was a continuation of the previous Sternfahrten (1-7). This time the aim was to assess not only the spatial variability but also the temporal variance of chemical, physical and greenhouse gases in the German Bight (North Sea). Therefore, three ships with different tracks repeated the same track with the same stations for four days (GPS-Positions see metadata). One Ship (Uthörn) covered the western part of our study area, the second ship (Littorina) covered the northern part (Büsum – Heligoland) and the third ship (Ludwig Prandtl) was supposed to take the middle part (Cuxhaven – Heligoland), but due to vandalism damage in the beginning of the cruise this ship was not able to participate in the cruise. Apart from continuously measurements six CTD stations were run each day delivering discrete water samples for DIC, TA, DOC, methane, nutrients and explosive metals. This dataset contains the results from the latter water samples. For more detailed information about the MOSEShx campaign and the cruise Sternfahrt_8 respectively see article cited in references.