English version below
Es beginnt der zweite Teil unserer Forschungsreise. Wir fahren im Moment Richtung Norden in die Labradorsee. Inzwischen ist es mit einer Lufttemperatur um 4°C richtig kalt geworden. Wir sind auf dem Weg zum 53. Breitengrad. Dort liegen fest verankerte Geräte, die zum Beispiel Temperatur, Salzgehalt, Sauerstoff und Strömungsgeschwindigkeiten messen können. Man kann sich das so vorstellen, dass die Messgeräte aufgereiht sind, wie an einer langen Perlenkette. An einem Ende der „Perlenkette“ befindet sich ein Anker, der alles an einer spezifischen Position festhält. Durch Schwimmkörper, die zwischen den Messgeräten positioniert sind, bekommt die ganze Kette Auftrieb und schwebt dadurch senkrecht in der Wassersäule. Diese sogenannten Verankerungen können 2-3 km lang sein und sind das erste Ziel unserer Reise.
Seit 1997 befinden sich Teile der Verankerungen schon an dieser Stelle in der Labradorsee und werden im Abstand von 2 Jahren kontrolliert. Die Position wurde aus gutem Grund gewählt. Die Labradorsee ist ein bedeutender Ort für die Zirkulation des gesamten Ozeans, denn hier befindet sich ein Ort an dem neues Tiefenwasser gebildet wird. Aufgrund von Dichteänderungen sinkt dabei sauerstoffreiches, kaltes und salzreiches Wasser ab. Die Stelle, an der sich die Verankerungen befinden ist besonders, da sich dort ein Knotenpunkt verschiedener Strömungen befindet. Alle dichten Wassermassen des Nordatlantiks kommen hier zusammen und bilden den westlichen Randstrom, der in der Tiefe Richtung Süden fließt. Durch die lange Messreihe ist es möglich Schwankungen in dieser Bildung der Wassermassen zu dokumentieren, was zum Beispiel Schlussfolgerungen über die Stärke des Golfstroms ermöglichen kann. So können auf lange Sicht potenzielle Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf die Ozeanzirkulation abgeleitet werden.
In den nächsten Tagen werden wir die Verankerungen aus dem Wasser holen, gegebenenfalls reparieren, die Daten aus den Messgeräten auslesen und alles am Ende wieder ins Wasser werfen. Dieser Prozess läuft eigentlich immer gleich ab. Zuerst wird vom Schiff aus ein akustisches Signal ins Wasser gesendet. Dieses Signal löst die Verbindung zwischen Anker und dem Kabel mit den Messgeräten. Die Verankerung fängt dann an, zur Wasseroberfläche aufzusteigen – das liegt an den zu Anfang bereits erwähnten Schwimmkörpern. Anschließend wird von der Brücke Ausschau gehalten, wo die Verankerung genau an die Oberfläche treibt. Dann wird alles Stück für Stück an Bord geholt, gesäubert und demontiert. Erst, wenn die Messgeräte wieder mit neuen Batterien bestückt und die Daten ausgelesen sind, wird alles wieder zusammengebaut und Stück für Stück wieder ins Wasser gelassen. Als allerletztes wird der Anker ins Wasser gesetzt. Er fällt zum Meeresboden und zieht die Verankerung unaufhaltsam mit nach unten.
Abhängig von der Länge, braucht man einige Stunden für diesen Prozess. Pro Tag werden im Idealfall 1-3 Verankerungen abgefertigt. Eine wichtige Rolle spielt bei dieser Arbeit das Wetter. Drei Dinge sind hierbei wichtig: gute Sichtbedingungen, möglichst wenig Welle und Tageslicht. Im Moment ist der Nebel unser größter Gegenspieler, doch meistens verzieht er sich den Tag über und stört uns nur noch, beim Sterne oder Sonnenuntergang beobachten.
Mooring works
The second part of our research journey begins. We are currently heading north to the Labrador Sea. In the meantime, it has become really cold with an air temperature around 4°C. We are on our way to the 53rd latitude. This is the location of permanently anchored measurement devices that can measure, for example, temperature, salinity, oxygen and flow velocities. One can imagine that the measuring instruments are lined up, as if on a long chain of beads. At one end of the “pearl chain” there is an anchor that holds everything in a specific position. With the help of floating devices positioned between the measuring instruments, the entire chain receives buoyancy and thus floats vertically in the water column. These so-called moorings can be 2-3 km long and are the first destination of our trip.
Since 1997, parts of the moorings have been located at this point in the Labrador Sea and are checked at intervals of 2 years. The position was chosen for good reason. The Labrador Sea is an important place for the circulation of the entire ocean, because here is a place where new deep water is formed. Due to changes in density, oxygen-rich, cold and salt-rich water sinks. The location where the moorings are located is special, since there is a junction of different currents. All the dense water masses of the North Atlantic come together here and form the deep western boundary current, which flows in depth southward. Due to the long series of measurements, it is possible to document fluctuations in this formation of the water masses, which can, for example, allow conclusions about the strength of the Gulf Stream. In this way, in the long term, potential effects of climate change on ocean circulation can be deduced.
Over the next few days we will take the moorings out of the water, repair them if necessary, read the data from the measuring devices and finally throw everything back into the water. This process is usually always the same. First, an acoustic signal is sent into the water from the ship. This signal breaks the connection between the anchor and the cable with the measuring devices. The mooring then begins to rise to the water surface – this is due to the floats mentioned at the beginning. Then we look out from the bridge to see exactly where the mooring is floating to the surface. Then everything is brought on board piece by piece, cleaned and dismantled. Only when the measuring devices have been fitted with new batteries and the data has been read out will everything be reassembled and put back into the water piece by piece. The very last thing to do is to put the anchor in the water. It falls to the seabed and inexorably pulls the mooring down with it.
Depending on the length of the mooring, this process takes several hours. Ideally, 1-3 anchorings are completed per day. The weather plays an important role in this work. Three things are important here: good visibility, as little waves as possible and daylight. At the moment the fog is our biggest opponent, but it usually disappears during the day and only disturbs us when we are watching the stars or the sunset.
Between all the scientific work, we celebrated Easter on board, although the weather had other plans for us. Due to rough conditions, we weren’t able to carry out any CTD casts.
Easter itself was spent in a mix of rest and small celebrations. Some of us enjoyed a long Easter breakfast with traditional Easter bread, while others took the opportunity to sleep in. In the evening, we gathered with both crew and scientists for a small celebration. The ship’s cook even organized a quiz, and those who answered correctly were rewarded with Easter chocolate.
The next day, the weather improved, and we began early with the recovery of K1, a 3,495-meter-long mooring in the middle of the Labrador Sea.
We joined the nautical officers on the bridge before sunrise to search for it. Fortunately, K1 has a floating buoy with a light, so we were able to spot it even in the dark. The actual recovery started at first light, and it began to snow while we were working.
Amid all the CTDs and mooring operations, there was also a personal highlight: my (Sarah’s) birthday. Although I’ve spent birthdays away from home before, this one felt especially unique, being so far out at sea, with only limited internet contact.
Normally, I work the 4-8 shift, but my incredibly kind shift team gave me the morning off. That meant I could sleep in and even find time to call family and friends back home. In the afternoon, I was surprised with my favourite cake, baked by Julia.
Our work continued with the mooring array at 53°N, which consists of seven moorings. So far, we have recovered five (K7, K8, K9, DSOW1 and DSOW2), and three of them have already been redeployed (K7, K8 and DSOW1,).
Deploying K7 turned out to be particularly tricky. On our first attempt, sea ice drifted toward us faster than expected, forcing us to recover nearly half of the mooring again. While the ship itself can handle drifting ice, deploying a mooring is much more delicate: a long cable with instruments and floats is released behind the ship before the anchor is dropped, allowing the system to sink into place.
Two days later, we tried again and this time, the deployment was successful.
Afterwards, we moved closer to the sea ice, which was a highlight for many of us. Seeing the ice up close and even spotting a seal swimming nearby, made the experience unforgettable.
Due to the continuing harsh weather, the decision was made to return to K1 and make use of an upcoming weather window for deployment the following day.
German:
Zwischen Stürmen und Wissenschaft: Ostern in der Labradorsee (04.04.26 – 13.04.26)
Zwischen all der wissenschaftlichen Arbeit haben wir Ostern an Bord gefeiert, auch wenn das Wetter andere Pläne für uns hatte. Aufgrund der rauen Bedingungen konnten wir keine CTD-Messungen durchführen (Messungen von Leitfähigkeit, Temperatur und Tiefe im Ozean).
Ostern selbst war eine Mischung aus Erholung und kleinen Feierlichkeiten. Einige von uns genossen ein ausgedehntes Osterfrühstück mit traditionellem Osterbrot, während andere die Gelegenheit nutzten, etwas länger zu schlafen. Am Abend kamen Crew und Wissenschaftler*innen zu einer kleinen Feier zusammen. Der Koch organisierte sogar ein Quiz, und wer die Fragen richtig beantwortete, wurde mit Oster-Schokolade belohnt.
Am nächsten Tag besserte sich das Wetter, und wir begannen früh mit der Bergung von K1, einer 3.495 Meter langen Verankerung mitten in der Labradorsee. (Eine Verankerung ist eine lange, am Meeresboden befestigter Draht, der mit Instrumenten ausgestattet ist, um über längere Zeit Ozeandaten zu messen.)
Noch vor Sonnenaufgang gingen wir mit den nautischen Offizieren auf die Brücke, um nach ihr Ausschau zu halten. Glücklicherweise verfügt K1 über eine schwimmende Boje mit Licht, sodass wir sie bereits im Dunkeln entdecken konnten. Die eigentliche Bergung begann bei Tagesanbruch und es begann sogar zu schneien.
Zwischen all den CTD-Einsätzen und Verankerungsarbeiten gab es auch ein persönliches Highlight: meinen (Sarahs) Geburtstag. Obwohl ich schon öfter Geburtstage fernab von zu Hause verbracht habe, war dieser besonders, so weit draußen auf dem Meer und mit nur eingeschränktem Internetkontakt.
Normalerweise arbeite ich in der 4-8 Uhr Schicht, aber mein unglaublich nettes Schichtteam hat mir den Morgendienst freigegeben. So konnte ich etwas länger schlafen und hatte sogar Zeit, mit Familie und Freunden zu Hause zu telefonieren. Am Nachmittag wurde ich dann noch mit meinem Lieblingskuchen überrascht, den Julia für mich gebacken hat.
Unsere Arbeit ging weiter mit dem Verankerungs-Array bei 53°, das aus sieben Verankerungen besteht. Bisher haben wir fünf geborgen (DSOW1, DSOW2, K7, K8 und K9), von denen drei bereits wieder ausgebracht wurden (DSOW1, K7 und K8).
Das Ausbringen von K7 erwies sich als besonders schwierig. Beim ersten Versuch trieb das Meereis schneller auf uns zu als erwartet, sodass wir fast die Hälfte der Verankerung wieder einholen mussten. Obwohl das Schiff selbst gut durch treibendes Eis navigieren kann, ist das Ausbringen einer Verankerung deutlich anspruchsvoller: Dabei wird ein langer Draht mit Messinstrumenten und Auftriebskörpern hinter dem Schiff ausgesetzt, bevor am Ende der Anker gelöst wird und das gesamte System absinkt.
Zwei Tage später versuchten wir es erneut, diesmal mit Erfolg.
Anschließend fuhren wir näher an das Meereis heran, was für viele von uns ein besonderes Highlight war. Das Eis aus nächster Nähe zu sehen und sogar eine Robbe in der Nähe schwimmen zu beobachten, machte das Erlebnis unvergesslich.
Aufgrund der weiterhin rauen Wetterbedingungen wurde schließlich entschieden, zu K1 zurückzukehren, um ein bevorstehendes Wetterfenster für die Ausbringung am nächsten Tag zu nutzen.
Between Storms and Science: Easter in the Labrador Sea (04.04.26–13.04.26)
Ocean Acidification
Humans Just Flew Around the Moon This Week. But Would Babies Born There Ever Truly Feel Gravity? Ask Jellyfish Babies.
This week, NASA’s Artemis II crew made history by flying around the Moon and returning safely to Earth, the first human journey to the Moon’s vicinity in more than 50 years. It was a stunning reminder that humanity is no longer just dreaming about living beyond Earth. We are actively rehearsing for it.
And that leads to a much stranger, deeper question: even if one day we build skyscrapers on the Moon, raise families there, and turn space into a place to live, will babies born away from Earth develop a normal sense of gravity? Or will their bodies learn the universe differently?
To explore that question, NASA once turned to an unexpected stand-in for human babies: jellyfish babies. On the STS-40 mission, scientists sent thousands of tiny jellyfish polyps into space because jellyfish, like humans, rely on gravity-sensing structures to orient themselves. The experiment asked a simple but profound question: if a living body develops in microgravity, will it still know how to handle gravity later?
The answer was both fascinating and unsettling. The jellyfish developed in space in large numbers, but once back under Earth’s gravity, the ones that had developed in microgravity showed far more pulsing abnormalities than the Earth-grown controls. In other words, their bodies formed, but their sense of balance did not seem to work quite the same way.
That is why this old jellyfish experiment still matters today. Before we imagine lunar cities, schools, nurseries, and generations born off-world, we need to ask not only whether humans can survive in space, but whether developing there changes how the body understands something as basic as up, down, and movement. Jellyfish babies cannot tell us everything about human children, but they may have given us one of the first clues that life born beyond Earth might not come home unchanged.
Reference: https://nlsp.nasa.gov/view/lsdapub/lsda_experiment/0c10d660-6b12-573d-8c3b-e20e071aed3b
Image: GEOMAR, Sarah Uphoff
After a slight delay of the Maria S. Merian caused by late-arriving containers our research cruise MSM142 finally got underway. By last Tuesday (24.03.2026), the full scientific team had arrived in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, and the ship reached port on Wednesday (25.03.2026) morning. That same day, scientists and technicians moved on board and immediately began preparations, assembling and testing our instruments. Although the mornings on Wednesday and Thursday were grey and overcast, the afternoons cleared up beautifully. This gave us valuable time to organize equipment on deck and store empty boxes back into the containers before departure.
Given the forecast of harsh conditions outside the fjord, we carried out the mandatory safety drill while still in harbour. This included practicing emergency procedures and boarding the lifeboat. After completing border control, we were finally ready to leave Nuuk. We set sail on March 27th, heading into the Labrador Sea to begin our mission. Even before starting scientific operations, we tested the setup for deploying our gliders without releasing them during the transit out of the fjord. Once we reached open waters, we were met by high waves the following morning. For some on board, this was their first experience under such rough sea conditions. Seasickness quickly became a challenge for a few, while scientific work had to be temporarily postponed due to the strong winds and sea conditions. Together with the crew, we discussed how best to adapt our measurement plans to the given weather conditions. On March 29th, we were finally able to begin our scientific program with the first CTD deployment. A CTD is an instrument used to measure conductivity, temperature, and depth, which are key parameters for understanding ocean structure.
During the following night, we continued with additional CTD stations and successfully recovered two moorings: DSOW 3 and DSOW 4, located south of Greenland. These moorings carry instruments at various depths that measure velocity, temperature, and salinity. DSOW 4 was redeployed on the same day, while DSOW 3 followed the next day. In addition, the bottles attached to the CTD’s rosette can be used to collect water samples from any desired depth. These samples can be used, for example, to determine the oxygen content, nutrient levels, and organic matter.
Both are part of the OSNAP array, a network of moorings spanning the subpolar North Atlantic. On these moorings are a few instruments, for example microcats which measure temperature, pressure and salinity.
We then conducted around 25 CTD stations spaced approximately 3 nautical miles apart across an Irminger ring identified from satellite data. This high-resolution sampling was necessary to capture the structure of an Irminger Ring, which had a radius of about 12 km wide.
The days leading up to April 2nd were marked by very rough weather conditions. Life on board became both challenging and, at times, unintentionally entertaining sliding chairs were not uncommon. During the night from April 1st to April 2nd, winds reached 11 Beaufort with gusts up to 65 knots, forcing us to pause our measurements. Fortunately, conditions improved by morning, allowing us to resume our work. As well as with the help of the crew we had to adapt to the harsh weather conditions to continue our scientific work. On the 3rd of April, we were able to deploy a few gliders and one float. An ocean glider is an autonomous underwater Vehicle, which you can steer remotely and send to different locations, while it is measuring oceanographic key parameters.
This research cruise focuses on understanding small-scale processes in the ocean and their connection to the spring bloom, an essential phase in marine ecosystem in subpolar regions. Despite the challenging start, we have already gathered valuable data and look forward to the weeks ahead in the Labrador Sea.
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