The direct Atlantic transect from Punta Arenas to Bremerhaven is utilized for a continuous investigation of marine and atmospheric properties as well as the energy and material fluxes between ocean and atmosphere. Short daily stations are carried out to measure light availability and the concentration of phytoplancton. A deep CTD will be performed in the Vema channel in order to contribute to a long-term time series of Antarctic deep water measurements.

In the framework of the Leibniz-network OCEANET (http://www.ifm-geomar.de/~oceanet) the expertises of IFM-GEOMAR (CO2-/O2-fluxes, photosynthesis, energy budget, remote sensing), the GKSS Research Center („ferry box“ and remote sensing of marine biology), and the AWI-Bremerhaven (CO2-system, marine infrastructure of Polarstern) are bundled to improve the monitoring of material and energy exchange between ocean and atmosphere, The long-term goal is to develop an autonomous observatory that can be operated on board available research vessels. As of 2009, the project partner Leibniz-Institute for Tropospheric Research IfT will contribute with active remote sensing of the atmosphere by means of a lidar system.

For direct sun conditions, the aerosol optical thickness in the atmospheric column will be observed every 30 minutes to contribute to the marine aerosol network of the NASA (http://aeronet.gsfc.nasa.gov/new_web/maritime_aerosol_network.html). The scientific goal is to investigate aerosol-cloud interactions and to explore the meridional gradient of tropospheric aerosol.

Spectrally high resolved measurements of the atmospheric transmissivity are performed in order to detect atmospheric trace gases.

Ship based ADCP-measurements of the equatorial current-system improve the availability of current-sections and thus enable the investigation of the intra seasonal to seasonal variability of the transport along the main current branches.

The combination of remote sensing and in-situ measurements of the ocean optics improves the estimation of of the global marine primary production as well as the distribution of the main functional groups of phytoplankton, the productivity and composition of phytoplankton, and the particulate organic carbon.

Most of the parameters that are continuously observed during this cruise also serve for the validation of satellite based remote sensing of the ocean and the atmosphere.

Itinerary 

18 April 2008: Departure Cape Town

20 May 2008: Arrival Bremerhaven

Chief Scientist:
Andreas Macke

Where is Polarstern