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 dataset is about temporal variability of dissolved methane along the freshwater-sea continuum in northern Germany. Sensors were installed at fixed stations at in total three sites at different water depths. This dataset is from the station in Cuxhaven (53.8771 N, 8.7048 E) taken at about 2-7m depth (depending on the tide). The data was obtained between 11 April and 28 August 2021 in high frequency measurements (1 min) with a methane sensor from Kongsberg (4H Jena model CONTROS HydroC CH4). Methane concentrations were calculated according to manufacturer's instructions, based on temperature and salinity values from COSYNA Container Cuxhaven. For the quality control of the data a local range of 0.1 – 1000 nmol/L was set, a technical range for the pump power 2 – 8 Watt, a spike and gradient value of 1. Due to heavy biofouling the external pump of the sensor failed, resulting in data gaps. For a more detailed description 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 2019 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_2019_hydrography.pdf"
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"
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 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.
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-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, previously observed during the Elbe-Freshwater and Elbe-Tidal cruises, transported by the Elbe water into the North Sea. And second, on this occasion, the distribution of the Elbe water within the German Bight should be followed. To realize this, two drifter groups were deployed in the southern and, respectively, northern branch of the Elbe valley, which were continuously monitored by scientists at the Hereon institute. Further, the drifters were subsequently followed by three ships (RV Ludwig Prandtl, RV Littorina, RV Mya II), for in total three weeks, to measure hydrographic parameters multiple times along their journey. Additionally, to this stationary sampling, basic hydrographic parameters and dissolved methane were measured continuously along the tracks (content of the presented dataset). To ensure the comparability of the data from all three vessels a container was transferred from ship to ship. This "MOSES laboratory-container" was equipped with several sensors, amongst others a pocket FerryBox and a Greenhouse Gas Analyser (Los Gatos). The Ludwig Prandtl started the campaign on August 29th in Cuxhaven and deployed the drifters in the respective areas of the Elbe outflow section of the German Bight. Until the 1st of September the crew followed the drifters to sample this water body. Not all drifters could be reached every day, because it was too shallow, in this case the vessels occupied MOSES hydrographic stations from previous Sternfahrt cruises. On September 4th the vessel Littorina took over and started the second part of the campaign navigating from Cuxhaven to Heligoland covering as many drifter positions as possible. Until the 7th of September the crew sampled in the north eastern part of Heligoland up to Büsum. The handover of the container for the last episode of the cruise took place in Heligoland to the vessel Mya II. From there the crew navigated on September 12th towards west off the island Amrum. In the following days until September 14th, they sampled west off Heligoland to west off St. Peter-Ording. For more details about the exact tracks of the ships, have a look at the added map. More detailed information about the MOSES project and the Sternfahrten, see article cited in references.
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