ALBERT

Description: 09.03.-15.03.2020

Description: 23.03.-26.03.2020

Description: Cruise AL534/2 is part of a multi-disciplinary research initiative as part of the JPI Oceans project HOTMIC and sought to investigate the origin, transport and fate of plastic debris from estuaries to the oceanic garbage patches. The main focus of the cruise was on the horizontal transfer of plastic debris from major European rivers into shelf regions and on the processes that mediate this transport. Stations were originally chosen to target the outflows of major European rivers along the western Europe coast between Malaga (Spain) and Kiel (Germany), although some modifications were made in response to inclement weather. In total, 16 stations were sampled along the cruise track. The sampling scheme was similar for most stations, and included: 1) a CTD cast to collect water column salinity and temperature profiles, and discrete samples between surface and seafloor, 2) sediment sampling with Van Veen grab and mini-multi corer (mini-MUC), 3) suspended particle and plankton sampling using a towed Bongo net and vertical WP3 net, and 4) surface neusten sampling using a catamaran trawl. At a subset of stations with deep water, suspended particles were collected using in situ pumps deployed on a cable. During transit between stations, surface water samples were collected from the ship’s underway seawater supply, and during calm weather, floating litter was counted by visual survey teams. The samples and data collected on cruise AL534/2 will be used to determine the: (1) abundance of plastic debris in surface waters, as well as the composition of polymer types, originating in major European estuaries and transported through coastal waters, (2) abundance and composition of microplastics (MP) in the water column at different depths from the sea surface to the seafloor including the sediment, (3) abundance and composition of plastic debris in pelagic and benthic organisms (invertebrates), (4) abundance and identity of biofoulers (bacteria, protozoans and metazoans) on the surface of plastic debris from different water depths, (5) identification of chemical compounds (“additives”) in the plastic debris and in water samples.

Description: 16.03.-22.03.2020

Description: 05.03.-08.03.2020

Description: ALKOR cruise AL567 took place as part of the EMFF (European Maritime and Fisheries Fund)‐funded project BASTA (Boost Applied munition detection through Smart data 3etection3n and AI workflows; https://www.basta‐munition.eu) and ExPloTect (Ex‐situ, near‐real‐time 3etection compound 3etection in seawater) (also EMFF‐funded). It was the continuation of the munition monitoring started within the BMBF‐ funded project UDEMM (Environmental Monitoring for the Delaboration of Munition in the Sea; https://udemm.geomar.de/). In previous cruises (POS530 MineMoni I in 2018 and AL548 MineMoni II in 2020) data was gathered for a broad baseline study in the German Baltic Sea. Within UDEMM, expertise was developed to detect, exactly locate and monitor munition (e.g. torpedoes, sea mines, ground mines) on the seafloor using optical and hydroacoustic means. In addition, chemical analyses of dissolved contaminants in the water and sediments was performed. Results indicate a moderate contamination level on regional and coastal scale, but proof higher levels of explosive‐type compounds for specific local areas. Data acquired during this cruise are used in BASTA for the development of AUV‐based and AI‐supported munition detection. On the other hand, the project ExPloTect (Ex‐situ, near‐real‐time exPlosive compound deTection in seawater) (also EMFF‐funded) addresses the need for a more effective quasi in‐situ sampling approach to detect explosive compounds in seawater on board of a ship. A prototype system was used and successfully tested for the first time during this cruise. The main focus of the cruise was placed onto the already known dumpsites Kolberger Heide and Lübeck Bight, Falshöft (Schleswig‐Holstein) and Trollegrund (Mecklenbu rg‐Vorpommern). In each area high‐ resolution multibeam mapping was performed and contact lists, indicating potential munition objects, were produced right after acquisition on board. Based on that data, AUV surveys were conducted to ground‐truth possible contacts via detailed photograph and magnetometer mapping. This was complemented with towed video profiles, SubBottom Profiler (VLIZ Institute) and towed gradiometer surveys (g‐tec SA). The transits to and between those sites were planned along former constraint routes during WWII. These routes were main targets of the British Air Force and mines and bombs can be expected along these ways. During transits water samples were taken with on a CTD‐ (conductivity, temperature, depth) rosette‐mounted Niskin bottles in regular distances, in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of munition compounds (inter alia trinitrotoluene (TNT)) measurements across the German Baltic Sea. The cruise was supported by the 3rd Minensuchgeschwader vessel ‘Bad Rappenau’. During 2 days, work was performed in cooperation between the research vessel ALKOR and the naval unit with their AUV REMUS 100 conducting high resolution sidescan surveys over several pre‐defined targets. In addition, navy divers recovered mussel moorings for the toxicological institute of the UKSH. The pre‐planned identification of munition objects via navy divers did unfortunately fail due to low visibility conditions.

Description: Wochenbericht 2: North Sea Plastics I, 06.02-12.02.2023