This dataset contains carbonate chemistry speciation data of the 2023 KOSMOS mesocosm study on Helgoland, Germany. This study tested the effects of ocean alkalinity enhancement simulating lime additions on pelagic ecosystem functioning during a spring bloom. Carbonate chemistry speciation (fCO2, pHT, calcium carbonate saturation state) was generally calculated from measurements of total alkalinity (TA) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in depth-integrated water samples. There were 12 mesocosms in total and in 6 of them an alkalinity gradient of up to +1250 umol/kg was established in steps of 250 umol/kg. In the remaining 6 the same amount of alkalinity was added only to the upper portion of the mesocosms, resulting in twice the alkalinity increase there, before being mixed in after 48 hours. The two treatments simulated the immediate dilution of TA after ship deployment as well as a delayed one from a point source.
The data presented herein originates from a mesocosm study conducted as part of the BMBF CDRmare, Retake project (grant agreement no. 03F0895A), aimed at investigating the ecological ramifications of ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE). Twelve mesocosms were deployed in Helgoland South Harbor, Germany, and systematically sampled using integrated water samplers over the period spanning from March 12th to April 20th, 2023. Six alkalinity levels under two dilution scenarios were established to differentiate between localized and uniform OAE additions. Alkalinity was increased stepwise to ΔTAmax = 1250 μmol kg-1 (250 μmol TA kg-1 increments) using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with calcium chloride (CaCl2) to simulate cation release during calcium-based mineral dissolution, causing strong carbonate chemistry perturbations (e.g., pHT > 9.25). The dataset encompasses a spectrum of sediment trap particle flux data, water column biogeochemistry including pigment variables, inorganic nutrients, carbonate chemistry parameters. The study and data set offer insights into impacts of alkalinity enhancement on marine ecosystems and their associated biogeochemistry.