Plattform Platform	Reise-Nr. Cruise-No.	Zeitraum Period	Projekt Project	Arbeitsgebiet Working area
Maria S. Merian	MSM22	24.10.2012 - 23.11.2012		Equatorial West Atlantic

Fahrtleiter Chief Scientist	Institut Institute	Auslaufhafen Port of departure	Einlaufhafen Port of return	Stationskarte Station map	Schiffsroute Trackchart
Brandt Peter	Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)	Mindelo	Mindelo	Karte Map

Ziel der Reise / Objectives of Cruise:

Cruise MSm²2 is a joint effort of the Kiel Collaborative Research Centre SFB 754 ("Climate - Biogeochemistry Interactions in the Tropical Ocean") involving the BMBF joint projects NORDATLANTIK/RACE and SOPRAN as well as of the German-French Cooperative Project AWA. The main goal within the framework of the SFB 754 is the quantification of oxygen supply to the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). Ventilation processes to be investigated include lateral and vertical mixing and oxygen advection (SP A3 and A4). The role of zooplankton for oxygen consumption and biogeochemical cycles (SP B8) is another focus of this cruise. An additional objective is the identification and investigation of mesoscale eddies which are generated in the coastal upwelling region off West Africa and then migrate westward. Such eddies are frequently characterized by particular physical and biogeochemical properties with a specific role in the tropical oxygen distribution and biogeochemical cycles. Processes within such eddies as well as their evolution will be investigated (BMBF SOPRAN, AWA, SFB754). At the equator, the cruise will focus on the equatorial current system, its interannual to decadal variability and its role in the zonal transport of heat, freshwater, and oxygen (BMBF NORDATLANTIK/RACE, SFB 754). The main goal of this long-term observational effort is a better understanding of the equatorial circulation within tropical Atlantic climate variability. The main tasks during MSm²2 will be the recovery and redeployment of several subsurface moorings, a glider swarm experiment at the southern rim of the OMZ, and station work with a CTD/Lowered ADCP/Underwater Vision Profiler (UVP)/Tracer Acoustic Profiling System (TAPS), a microstructure probe and a zooplankton multinet. In addition, underway measurements of upper ocean currents with the two shipboard ADCPs and hydrographic measurements with thermosalinograph, optode, pCO2 sensor and gas tension device (GTD) will be performed. During MSm²2, three gliders will be deployed and are scheduled for recovery during MSm²3.

Messungen / Measurements

Verankerungen / Moorings