ALBERT

Description: Am Süd-Ausgang des Roten Meeres entstehen unter idealen Wachstumsbedingungen fast reine Korallen-Saumriffe, die als dünne Platten oft kilometerweit mit einer Geschwindigkeit von Zentimetern pro Jahr auf ihrem Schutt von der Küste horizontal gegen das Meer vorwachsen. Aufgetauchte Saumrifte, ein flacher Bootskanal oder abradierte Riffoberflächen weisen auf pleistozäne und jüngere Meeresspiegelschwankungen bzw. tektonische Verstellungen hin. Von einer gewissen Breite an bilden sich auf den Riffen Inseln in Form langgestreckter Rücken aus Korallensand, hinter denen sich stellenweise Mangrove ansiedelt oder Salze in flachen Lagunen abscheiden. Schließlich kann der Strand auf das Saumriff vorverlegt und dieses in die Küstenebene einbezogen werden.

Description: The present volume gives the observed physical and chemical data obtained by R. V. "Meteor" in the Indian Ocean during her cruise 1964/65. The tables are based on the computations made by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) in Washington. In addition to the normally communicated data, the tables contain four chemical parameters: alkalinity, ammonia, fluoride, and calcium.

Description: In this paper the sections for temperature and salinity are presented, which were obtained during the cruise of R. V. "Meteor" in the Indian Ocean (1964/65). The hydrographic observations in the Arabian Sea, had the aim to provide information on the influence of the NE-monsoon on the distribution of salinity and temperature off the east coast of Africa and off the west coast of India. Special attention was given to the spreading of highly saline water from the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The track of the expedition was layed out according to these plans and is presented in figure 1. The data were collected by means of hydrographic casts with newly developed water bottles, and by means of "in-situ" measurements with the "bathysonde", an instrument for the continuous recording of electrical conductivity, temperature and pressure. This paper only deals with the data of the casts which are presented in a special publication together with the chemical data. The hydrographic conditions off the east coast of Africa are characterised by a rather complicated distribution of salinity within the first 1000 m of depth with several intermediate maxima and minima (hydrographic sections III-IX). This is due to the spreading of highly saline water mainly from the Red Sea, which can be traced southwards at least as far as 4° N (figure 9). Similar complicated conditions were found off the west coast of India (sections XI-XVI). Here the cause can be traced back to watermasses from the Persian Gulf. In depths below 2 000 m the TS-relation is virtually the same at both sides of the Arabian Sea.

Description: The present investigatioh concerns itself with two problems: First it is investigated with the aid of the hydrographic data available until medio 1965 from the Indian Ocean, whether due to the varying actions of the monsoons a large scale seasonal shift in the distribution of the isohalines occurs at the level of intermediate salinity maxima ( depth range about from 300 to 800 m). Furthermore it is investigated by means of two theoretical models whether advection or horizontal mixing dominates in the large scale distribution of the salinity in the Arabian Sea. In the treatment of the first problem, distribution charts for the water from the Read Sea and the Persian Gulf were made with the aid of the core layer method for both monsoon periods. The core layer of Red Sea water lies at about 600 to 800 m depth. The watermasses from the Persian Gulf sink from 200 to 500 m while moving from north to south. In both seasons the observable limit of extension lies at about 3° N. Seasonal variations occur apparently only in the northern part of the basin and at its margins. The observed distribution of salinity shows at all levels (300, 400, 500, and 600 m) an east-west pattern (fig. 7 to 10). In no case a tongue form appears in the isohalines. The observed distribution is satisfactorily interpreted by means of a model which considers only horizontal mixing and the natural boundary conditions (Dirichlets problem for the rectangle). A further model which includes advective terms does not corroborate the observations. The investigations lead to the conclusion that the existing stationary distribution of salinity in the central part of the Arabian Sea is maintained essentially by large scale mixing processes. Further theoretical considerations, which are based upon observations at the 800 m level, suggest that the distribution of salinity at the margins of the basin strongly influences the salinity of the inner part. A change in the marginal distribution on the other hand, may be caused by means of horizontal movements of relatively small width. In further investigations on the circulation of the Arabian Sea one has therefore to consider especially the processes at the margins of the basin.

Description: Although vertical velocities are very small, they are of great importance with regard to chemical and biological processes in the sea. A study of the circulation phenomena of down- and upward moving watet masses is not possible experimentally. Therefore, the vertical velocities were determined by means of a theoretical model using empirical data obtained by R. V. "Meteor" in the Arabian Sea, during the period of tbe NE-monsoon 1964/65. Based upon the observed data for the density the physical topography of the sea level was calculated by means of the dynamic method. The wind registrations during the hydrographic stations of R. V. "Meteor" show a very constant wind distribution of the NE-monsoon. The data of wind distribution, shapes of sea level and pycnocline were used in a simple two dimensional two layer model with two constant densities and two constant vertical eddy coefficients. The main results are presented in horizontal charts for four levels from O to 300 m for the African and for the Indian coast (plate 6 and 7). The charts show alternative strips of weak upward and downward movements parallel to the coast. The width of the strips varies from 30 to 80 km. There are three areas of intensified vertical velocities: south of the island of Socotra (profile III), south of the equator near the coast of Mombasa (profile VIII), and southerly from Karachi (profile XV). These results of stripwise distribution of upward and downward velocities are compared for one case with the distribution of particulate carbon, which shows a similar alternative distribution of minimum and maximum values (plate 8). Maximum velocities of 2 · 10-4 cm/sec occur in profile XV, in the layers between 100 and 200 m. On the other profiles velocities are less than 10-5 cm/sec. In all cases it was found that the vertical velocities reach a maximum well below the pycnocline, in order to decrease in either direction.

Description: During the expedition of R.V. "Meteor" in the Indian Ocean the following data were observed on a section from 58° E, 3° S to 58 ° E, 2° N during the end of january 1965: Temperature and salinity by hydrographic casts as well as by continuous registrations with the bathysonde. In addition, observations of several chemical parameters, and measurements of the meridional and zonal current distribution down to 250 m depth were obtained. The results indicate no evidence of an eastward directed equatorial undercurrent towards the end of january 1965: On the contrary, we find relatively strong westward directed currents. Chemical data corroborate this fact as there is no similarity with the distribution of oxygen or phosphate on transequatorial sections from the Pacific or the Atlantic Ocean. A weak eastward directed component of current at 3° S indicates the appearance of the equatorial counter-current. The bathysonde-registrations indicate the existence of at least two characteristic watermasses: Water from the Arabian Sea between 50 to 100 m depth and water from the Red Sea at 700 to 800 m depth.

Description: The Red Sea has a special place among the adjacent seas of the world. High evaporation, exclusion of its deep water from contact with the Indian Ocean proper and complete absence of continental drainage may result special conditions of the chemistry of the Red Sea. This paper aims to describe and to explain the peculiarity of the hydrochemical situation. The influence of the topography, of the inflow and outflow through the straights of Bab el Mandeb, of the evaporation, of the stability of the water layers, and of the circulation will be studied. An attempt is made to estimate the apparent oxygen ultilisation in order to obtain an indication of the biological activity. A further attempt is made toward the quantitative estimation of the circulation of the nutrients and also to obtain some information about transport, dissolution, and precipitation of calcium carbonate. The basis of these investigations are mainly observations of R. V. "Meteor" during the International Indian Ocean Expedition 1964/65.

Description: After almost exclusive use in oceanographic research, the R. V. "Meteor" conducted tests in fall 1967 in the Baltic Sea which were devoted to an important problem in ship building research. In order to check the transfer of model test results to prototype conditions, which has become somewhat uncertain in view of the increase in size and speed of modern vessels, a model family of this ship had been tested at scales of 1: 25, 1 : 19 and 1 : 13 .7 5, and full scale tests were to complete the series. The most important measurements included resistance, propeller thrust and propeller power demand. Furthermore, the nomial wake in the absence of the propeller and the effective wake in front of the working propeller, the velocity distribution in the boundary layer at one point of the hull at least and the behaviour of the ship during manoeuvering with and without propeller have been investigated. The most difficult task consisted of the determination of the resistance as a function of speed, because the ship could not be driven by propeller for these tests, but had to be moved, similar to a model on a towing carriage, by a known force exerted above the water surface. Following the historical example of the resistance tests on the ferry boat "Lucy Ashton", the "Meteor" was supplied with 3 jets, which, with a maximum thrust of about 10 Mp at 12 OOO PS, produced a forward speed of 12 kn (Fig. 1, i., 3). The jet thrust was measured by strain gauges on the diagonals in the supporting frame of each jet (Fig. 3). Measurements of thrust and torque of the propeller were also obtained from strain gauges on the propeller shaft (Fig. 7). Wake measurements were performed with pitot tubes and a total head tube fixed on a rake (Fig. 4) which could be turned by 180° on the stem tube. Boundary layer measurements were obtained by two Prandtl tubes which could be moved sideways at the hull (Fig. 6). Rudder forces were indicated by a three component balance on the rudder shaft. Ott current meters and Prandtl tubes, calibrated on the mile distance, gave the ship speed. All measurements were performed electronically with analog and digital registration. The results obtained so far are remarkably accurate. Plotting the resistance values in the system of the model family indicates, that the ITTC 1957 line, presently in use as an extrapolator for frictional resistance, has too small a slope (Fig. 11 ). The total efficiency of model and prototype is about equal (Fig. 14), and the thrust deduction fraction does not seem to depend on the scale either. For the law of the wall of the boundary layer, the values K = 0.41 and C = 5.0 from recent laboratory tests are supported (Fig. 15). The evaluation of all results will probably be finished by the end of 1968.

Description: During the 1965 Atlantic Expedition the R/V "Meteor" was stationed on the equator for several weeks. In order to obtain the vertical flux of heat and momentum vertical profiles of dry and wet bulb temperatures and of wind speed were measured. The water temperature, and the dry and wet bulb temperatures of aspirated psychrometers were taken by means of platinum resistance thermometers. The wind speeds were obtained by contact anemometers and small generator type anemometers. The instruments were mounted at heights between 1 m and 9 m at a meteorological buoy. Connected by floating cables the buoy lay 300 m away from the ship, free of its disturbances.

Description: The meteorological and aeronomical programs of the "Atlantic Expedition 1965 (IQSY)" of the research vessel "Meteor" (10.8.-16.12.1965) are described. Several ionospheric parameters were measured on two meridian sections (fig. 2) and an anchor station at the crossing of the geographic and geomagnetic equator (15.9.-11.10.1965). One part of the aerological programs was to investigate the pressure-, temperature-, humidity- and wind-field of the atmosphere up to 38 km height (349 ascents) and at the equator its daily variations (8 ascents per day at 4 days, 6 ascents per day at 11 days). A second program was concerned with the finestructure of the lower troposphere, especially in the system of the tradewind (146 ascents with special temperature- and humiditysondes up to 5000 m and 63 ascents with a three-channel-sonde from captive balloons (fig. 1) or kites up to 2000 m). All components of the energy-balance of the atmosphere were measured (fig. 3). The radiationbalance up to 25 km height was studied with 26 albedo-radiosondes (A) and 58 infraread-radiosondes (B). The extinction and the atmospheric water-vapour-content (C) was measured by an interference-filter actinograph which was fixed at the sun by a photo-electric follower. The radiation balance of the sea-surface.(D,E), the vertical fluxes of momentum and of sensitive and latent heat (F), and profiles of tritium were studied at the anchor-station with a floating buoy 300 m upwind of the ship. At the same time the diurnal variation of airtemperature at 140 m height was obtained by the three-channel-sonde. The radioactivity of air, rain and ocean water, the tritium content of air in two heights and of ocean water in different depths were measured during the whole expedition. Similar determinations were made of the concentration of C14. The content of C02 of the air was recorded, S02, N02 and NO were discontinuously measured. The electric field-strength up to 15 km heights was measured to evaluate the voltage between ionosphere and earth (25 radiosondes). Continuous records of the atmospheric electric field-strength were made on board the ship and during parts of the expedition additionally the ionconcentration and free electric charge was determined. By the weatherstation of "Meteor" routine meteorological observations were taken supplemented by hourly cloud photographs during daytime. In the region of the trade-wind and the intertropical convergence by aid of the ship's weather radar films and photographs of the horizontal and vertical structure of clouds and showers were made. The results of the investigations will be published in this series.

Description: During the IQSY-expedition of FS "Meteor" at the equatorial station water surface temperature was measured by a radiation thermometer. The error given by this method is estimated. The measured daily variation is in rather good agreement with that calculated for an ocean, which is mixed upto the surface.

Description: In the atmosphere the solar radiation will not only be scattered and be absorbed by the absorption bands of the atmospheric gases but will also be diminished by continuum-absorption in the spectral regions without selective absorption - the "windows" -. The cause of this continuum-absorption is still unknown; may be it is caused by the aerosol or the wings of far off absorption lines. During the Atlantische Expedition 1965 of the research vessel "Meteor" an optical equipment was used for spectral determination of the direct solar radiation and the scattered solar radiation reaching the detector from various parts of the sky. The continuum-absorption follows by comparing the measured radiation with the radiation calculated under the assumption that there is no continuumabsorption. First time air masses without continental aerosol were investigated.

Description: This is a description of a radiosonde equipment for measuring the air-pressure, temperature and humidity simultaneously and continuously. The radiosonde consists of 3 audio-frequency sinewave generators having frequencies proportional to the measured values of a dry-bulb and a wet-bulb resistance thermometer and a pair of aneroid chambers. After receiving the radiosonde signal the 3 audio-frequencies are separated by filters, connected to 3 frequency meters and finally recorded on a double function plotter or on other strip-chart recorders. This equipment has been used for meteorological measurements in the lower troposphere using captive balloons on the research vessel "Meteor" during the 1965 Atlantic Expedition. More than 100 vertical soundings have been recorded up to a maximum ceiling of 2OOO m. The weight of the radiosonde including batteries for 5 hours recording is 1.1 kg. The ambient temperature may be in a range from -28 °C to +60 °C. The accuracy of measurement for the temperatures is ±0.1 °C in a range of 25 °C, for the pressure it is better than ± 1 mb in a range of 300 mb. The resolution for measuring short time changes in smaller ranges is considerably greater.

Description: After a short survey of the ionospheric observations made during the expedition special experiments on and near the geomagnetic equator are described. Using the mobility of the ship together with the form of the antenna pattern the structure of the equatorial Es -layer (Esq) was investigated. It was shown that the Esq-layer contains a filamentary structure which is orientated along the magnetic field lines of the earth. Further polarisation experiments were made in order to investigate the attenuation or blanketing of either the ordinary or the extraordinary component of a magneto-ionic wave. This attenuation and blanketing of the components can be observed conveniently in the vicinity of the geomagnetic equator since the polarisations of both components are linear in this region. Our measurements have shown that during daytime the directions of maximum suppression for the ordinary and the extraordinary component were not exactly perpendicular to each other but deviated from orthogonality by a small angle. This effect was interpreted as an influence of electron collisions on the polarization in the lower ionosphere. Finally a special 2 · F-propagation mode was found in performing these polarisation experiments. In this mode one hop: ground - ionosphere - ground is passed as an ordinary wave, the other as an extraordinary wave. Such a mode can exist only when a coupling between the two gyromagnetic waves is present. An example is shown in which the coupling is possibly caused by two different effects, namely 1. the gyromagnetic components are not perpendicular to each other in the lower ionosphere and 2. the filaments in the Esq-layer act as depolarizers.

Description: During the Atlantic Expedition "Meteor" 1965 the standard visibility was measured aboard with an AEG/FFM-Scattered Light Recorder. The working principle, technique and accuracy of this instrument is described. Furthermore some empirical results are discussed, e. g. the errors due to the disturbing influences of the ship and those caused by contamination of the lenses, The measured values are compared with estimated values of visibility by eyeobservation. For certain periods with uniform atmosphericconditions, hourly mean values of visibility have been correlated with air temperature, humidity and wind. The visibility shows a rather weak daily period for pure oceanic aerosol, whereas about 100 miles off the African coast the period appeared more pronounced. Interesting differences have been found in the relative changes of visibility for different origins of the aerosol. 'fhis results into a dependence of visibility on the wavelength of scattered radiation.

Description: Errors of wind speed measurements on buoys are mainly due to motions of the floating body. Additionally, the mast and/or the spars which carry the sensors, and special properties of the sensor itself, affect the accuracy of wind speed records. The error of these effects on: a) profile measurements; b) the determination of the vertical distribution of wind speed above water waves; c) spectral analysis and d) the eddy correlation n' w', is estimated by means of theoretical models, wind-tunnel results and observations from the Baltic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Description: During the 1965 Atlantic Expedition of the "Meteor" concentrations of various atmospheric trace gases were measured. The following gases were considered: carbon dioxide (C02), sulfur dioxide (S02), nitrogen dioxide (N02), and nitric oxide (NO). The air whereof these components were measured was sucked in from a height of 14 m above the surface of the sea. The results allow conclusions upon the long term global increase of the atmospheric C02 content, the meridional distribution of the C02 on the Atlantic Ocean, and the dependance of its concentration upon the time of the day and the thermal structure of the atmosphere. Attempts at determining concentrations of sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide of non-continental origin failed at large. Concentrations of N02, however, could succesfully be measured.

Description: A radiosonde is described for measuring the upward and downward fluxes of visible light in the atmosphere. Photoresistors are used as sensors, the optical center of the spectral range beeing at 0.55 µ. The results of these flux-measurements obtained during the Atlantic Expedition 1965 with the research vessel "Meteor" are presented. The datas have been divided into three groups according to the amount of cloudiness. In group a) ( small cloudiness) the extinction coefficient of the prevailing linear radiation is derived as a function of the height. Characteristics of airmasses of maritime or continental origin are shown. In group b) (cloud covered sky) microphysical quantities are determined from the radiative lapse rate in the clouds. The average radius of droplets is found to lie between 5.5 µ und 14.4 µ. The albedo of cloud surfaces varies between 25 % and 54 %, the transmission values are between 58 % and 73 %. One ascent through a Cirrus cloud of considerable vertical thickness is treated seperately. The observed distribution of extinction is compared with theoretical values in water clouds leading to the same order of magnitude. The relation between the albedo of the surface of the sea and the amount of cloudiness is discussed.

Description: During the Atlantic expedition potential gradient, small ion density and space charge density have been recorded. Laborious efforts have been taken for receiving an exact estimation of the reduction factor for the field measurements. The mean value of the potential gradient on the free Atlantic Ocean was 105 V/m. The mean daily course is in very good agreement with the results of the Carnegie Institution. Even records taken on individual days near the equator show this course. For the first time it has been attempted to correlate the potential gradient at sea and the voltage between ionosphere and earth measured over land. A narrow relation has been found in 10 cases of balloon ascents with radiosondes. A further remarkable result is, that the short periodical fluctuations of the air electric field at sea with periods of 2 to 20 minutes have amplitudes of the magnitude of the mean field strength and exist all over the oceans. Recordings of the space charge density show, that positively charged air parcels drift in the first hectometer of the air near the sea surface and produce the fluctuation of the potential gradient. A period analysis did not indicate a recognizable relation to the wind velocity up to now, although an effect of air turbulence must be involved. The concentration of small ions also has been measured occasionally. With this and mean values of the potential gradient the air earth curent density has been computed. With η+ = 310 cm-3, η_ = 220 cm-3 the air conductivity would be Λ = 1, 14 · 10-14 Ohm-1 m-1. These values are smaller than values of other authors by a factor of 2 or 3. Therefore the computed air earth current density is also smaller. The discrepancy could not be explained yet.

Description: Measurements of atmospheric radioactivity attached to aerosols are described. Fallout was collected in a vessel of large area. Emphasis was on separation of "wet" and "dry" samples. For strontium 90a ratio of "wet" to "dry" fallout of 5:1 has been found independent of latitude. The total fallout was smaller than comparable values from continents because of very small amounts of rainfall in the equatorial zone. In order to achieve consistency in the global balance a better knowledge not only of radioactivity but also of precipitation over the ocean is required. Fallout of Ra-D clearly shows the ITC as a barrier for the latitudinal movement of near sea-surface air masses. The concentration of short-lived emanation daughters shows large variations according to varying geographic conditions. A variation with time could not be explained. The specific activity of long-lived radioactive substances shows the expected effect of the ITC as well as a seasonal diminuation of average concentration, similar to that measured at Heidelberg.

Description: During a four weeks anchoring station of R. V. ,,Meteor" on the equator at 30° W longitude, vertical profiles of wind, temperature, and humidity were measured by means of a meteorological buoy carrying a mast of 10 m height. After eliminating periods of instrumental failure, 18 days are available for the investigation of the diurnal variations of the meteorological parameters and 9 days for the investigation of the vertical heat fluxes. The diurnal variations of the above mentioned quantities are caused essentially by two periodic processes: the 24-hourly changing solar energy supply and the 12-hourly oscillation of air pressure, which both originate in the daily rotation of the earth. While the temperature of the water and of the near water layers of the air show a 24 hours period in their diurnal course, the wind speed, as a consequence of the pressure wave, has a 12 hours period, which is also observable in evaporation and, consequently, in the water vapor content of the surface layer. Concerning the temperature, a weak dependence of the daily amplitude on height was determined. Further investigation of the profiles yields relations between the vertical gradients of wind, temperature, and water vapor and the wind speed, the difference between sea and air of temperature and water vapor, respectively, thus giving a contribution to the problem of parameterizing the vertical fluxes. Mean profile coefficients for the encountered stabilities, which were slightly unstable, are presented, and correction terms are given due to the fact that the conditions at the very surface are not sufficiently represented by measuring in a water depth of 20 cm and assuming water vapor saturation. This is especially true for the water vapor content, where the relation between the gradient and the air-sea difference suggests a reduction of relative humidity to appr. 96% at the very surface, if the gradients are high. This effect may result in an overestimation of the water vapor flux, if a "bulk"-formula is used. Finally sensible and latent heat fluxes are computed by means of a gradient-formula. The influence of stability on the transfer process is taken into account. As the air-sea temperature differences are small, sensible heat plays no important role in that region, but latent heat shows several interesting features. Within the measuring period of 18 days, a regular variation by a factor of ten is observed. Unperiodic short term variations are superposed by periodic diurnal variations. The mean diurnal course shows a 12-hours period caused by the vertical wind speed gradient superposed by a 24-hours period due to the changing stabilities. Mean values within the measuring period are 276 ly/day for latent heat and 9.4ly/day for sensible heat.

Description: For the determination of the air temperature and its diurnal variation above the 500 mb-level at the equator station, at first the radiation error of the bimetal was investigated by means of a temperature comparison between the day- and night-ascents. The correction required can be obtained from an assembly of curves, that is represented from O to 90 degrees sunheight within 10 degrees distances for the pressure range from 300 to 3 mb. The error included amounts to about 10% of the correction value on account of the scattering of the temperature measurement. The mean diurnal variation of the air temperature is represented at the main pressure levels from 500 to 10 mb, but it is only recongnizable up to the 40 mb-level (about 22 km altitude). It amounts to 0.5 °C on the average. For higher altitudes the accuracy of the pressure- and temperature-measurements is no more satisfactory for this purpose.

Description: The nucleonic component of the cosmic rays has been measured by the German research vessel "Meteor" during the Atlantic Expedition IQSY 1965. The pressure corrected intensities fit well the rigidity calculations of KONDO & KODAMO. In this way we confirm the earth's magnetic field model used by these authors. Two positions of the cosmic ray equator have been determined at 29,7° W (6,5 ± 1) ° N and at 19° W (7 ± 1) ° N. These positions agree with the calculated values of KONDO & KODAMO. The total latitude effect of the nucleonic component amounts to 1.74 and 1.76. The measurements were carried out at solar minima activity. Using the values of latitude measurements at maxima solar activity the degree of modulation of the primary cosmic rays was determined in the rigidity range 2 - 13 GV. For rigidity values above 6 GV the modulation remains constant to 20%.

Description: The study of textural, structural, chemical, and physical properties of fine-grained recent marine sediments leads to the conclusion that only a few compositional factors are responsible for significant changes in mass physical characteristics in the upper meters below sea bottom. Fossil-induced porosity (text fig. 6) increases water content and liquid limit. It also seems to have partially influenced the plastic limit and plasticity index of calcareous sandy silts from the Red Sea and the western Gulf of Aden so that they become similar to the montmorillonite rich prodelta clays from the Nile Delta. Diagrams based on liquid limit and plasticity loose their original meaning in these cases (text fig. 7 a). Activity of sediments rich in microorganisms can be higher than that of montmorillonitic clay (text fig. 7b). The shear strength-depth relationship of normally consolidated sediments (text fig. 8 a) is surprisingly little influenced by changes in sand or clay content and clay mineralogy. Only high lime content, submarine erosion and beginning cementation increase the strength considerably (part of curves in text fig. 8 b ). Erosional disconformities near the present surface can be deduced from the strength-depth curve when as little as 1 or 2 m sediment have been removed (text fig. 9). Flat or irregular strength-depth curves (text fig. 8 b, curves B and GO) indicate beginning cementation and probably discontinuous sedimentation, provided the composition of the material remains in some degree constant. In our samples diagenetic pyrite, but no recristallisation of carbonates could be detected under the microscope. Underconsolidation and excess pore-water pressure, factors which tend to foster submarine slides, mud lumps, and diapiric folding, seem to be restricted to areas with mainly rapidly deposited, homogeneous or layered sediments. But where an abundance of burrowing organisms increases the vertical permeability of the sediment, normal consolidation and stable deposits are to be expected, at least in the upper meters below the present surface. According to 14C-determinations on calcareous microorganisms the rate of deposition of the investigated sediments seems to range from 26 to 167 cm per 1000 years.

Description: Two water samples and two sediment samples taken in 1965 by the R. V. "Meteor" in the area of the hot salt brine of the Atlantis II-Deep were chemically investigated, and in addition the sediment samples were subjected to X-ray and optical analysis. The investigation of the sulfur-isotope-ratios showed the same values for all water samples. This information combined with the Ca-sulfate solubility data leads us to conclude that, for the most part, the sulfate content of the salt brine resulted from mixing along the boundary with the normal seawater. In this boundary area gypsum or anhydrite is formed which sinks down to the deeper layers of the salt brine where it is redisolved when the water becomes undersaturated. In the laboratory, formation of CaSO4 precipitate resulted from both the reheating of the water sample from the uppermost zone of the salt brine to the in-situ-temperature as well as by the mixing of the water sample with normal Red Sea water. The iron and manganese delivered by the hot spring is separated within the area of the salt brine by their different redox-potentials. Iron is sedimented to a high amount within the salt brine, while, as evidenced by its small amounts in all sediment samples, the more easily reducible manganese is apparently carried out of the area before sedimentation can take place. The very good layering of the salt brine may be the result of the rough bottom topography with its several progressively higher levels allowing step-like enlargements of the surface areas of each successive layer. Each enlargement results in larger boundary areas along which more eff ective heat transfer and mixing with the next layer is possible. In the sediment samples up to 37.18% Fe is found, mostly bound as very poorly crystallized iron hydroxide. Pyrite is present in only very small amounts. We assume that the copper is bound mostly as sul­fide, while the zinc is most likely present in an other form. The sulfur-isotope-investigations indicate that the sulfur in the sediment, bound as pyrite and sulfides, is not a result of bacterical sulfate-reduction in the iron-rich mud of the Atlantis II-Deep, but must have been brought up with the hot brine.

Description: As a result of the participation of R. V. "Meteor" in the International Indian Ocean Expedition during the winter 1964/65 altogether 37 sounding profiles were obtained in the Arabian Sea (plate 2-18). They are showing the topographic peculiarities of the main features of the sea bottom in this northwestern part of the Indian Ocean: Shelves, continental slopes and rises, deep-sea plains and hills, the Mid-Oceanic Ridge, fracture zones and seamounts. A control chart (plate 1) shows the geographical sounding lines. The coordination of the soundings with the bathymetric sketch and the map of physiographic provinces (B. C. HEEZEN and M. THARP) is represented in fig. 1 and 2. All soundings were obtained by the modern ELAC-Narrow Beam sounder which also accurately records very steep slopes of the sea bottom (fig. 3 and 4 ). Two series of sounding prnfiles (fig. 5 and 6) are showing the main topographic differences of shelf and slope between the eastern African and the western Indian continental margin. The descriptive analysis of all the sounding sections carried out by "Meteor" show the following main results: a) discovery of a very steep towering up seamount in the northern Somali basin at φ = 8° 16' N, λ 53° 12' E, which is rising up from a depth of 5000 m to about -2000 m (plate 3), b) registration of numerous steep canyons in the upper part of the eastern African continental slope near the coast of Kenya (plate 6 ), c) complete representation of a characteristic section across the Carlsberg-Ridge inclusively rift mountains and the Rift-Valley (plate 9), d) new characteristic results of sounding profiles across the Alula-Fartak trench showing very steep siopes on its flancs (plate 18).

Description: Sediments from a 3.40 m core out of the Persian Gulf were investigated for their content of straight chain paraffins and fatty acids. The samples range in age between 2000 and 9000 years (C-14-age of organic C). They contain 100-300 ppm of extractable fatcompounds and 20-70 ppm of hydrocarbons. There is no connection between the original distribution of the homologous series of n-fatty acids and n-paraffins. However, there is evidence that part of the n-fatty acids was reduced to n-paraffins, although the sediment itself does not look as if it were deposited under reducing conditions.

Description: Within the framework of the Indian Ocean Expedition of the German research vessel "Meteor" a total of 17 stations in the northern part of the Arabian Sea were measured with seismic refraction methods by the Geological Survey of the Federal Republic of Germany. In the Gulf of Oman and in the waters southeast of the Murray ridge a sequence with velocities of 2.9 to 3.7 km/s was proved below a sedimentary upper layer with a velocity increasing with depth. This sequence superposes a rock complex with 4.0 to 4.7 km/s. In all cases the underlying bed is constituted by rock material with a velocity of 6 km/s and more. Owing to the similar structure north and south of the Murray ridge it may be assumed that originally the part investigated in the Arabian Sea formed a unity, which was subdivided only recently when the Murray ridge developed. According to the results of the seismic refraction measurements this region, which presumably was a homogeneous one in the beginning, may with respect to its crustal structure be looked upon as both a seaward continuation of the Indus/Baluchistan basin and a transitional zone between the oceanic and the continental crust. An objection to the :first interpretation might be that there is no rock complex with 5 to 6 km/s, which seems to be typical of the structure of a continental crust. If the refraction horizon observed with velocities of more than 6 km/s (6.0-6.9 km/s) is correlated with the "oceanic layer" (layer 3), the considerable sedimentary thicknesses of more than 5 km and the depth position of the "oceanic layer" -exceeding those of other oceans by several thousand metres - suggest a transitional type of crust lying between the oceanic and the continental crust. Within the region of the present continental slope between Karachi and the peninsula of Kathiawar, sedimentary thicknesses (vp = 1.43 km/s to 3,7 km/s) of more than 5 km have also been observed. This sedimentary region designated as Kori marginal trough lies, towards the sea, in front of a high (Kori high). Within the Kori high, which in the present shelf region may be observed off Karachi towards the Southeast, the rock complex with a velocity of 6.2 to 6.5 km/s is upwarped. In the West, the Kori high is bordered by a remarkable system of faults. Within the Shelf region of Combay the rock complex with 6.5 km/s is upwarped. A direct connection between this high and the Kori high ma y be assumed; yet horizontal displacements possibly exist along the faults of the Cambay Depression, which extend towards the sea. Furthermore, a direct connection between the Kori/Cambay high and the Laccadiven zone seems possible according to the present state of investigations.

Description: Within the framework of the Atlantic Expedition in 1967 with F.S. "Meteor" about 900 sea miles were measured in the region of the Great Meteor Seamount (30° 00'N, 28° 30'W) by seismic reflection methods with a pneumatic sound source. According to the seismic investigations the Great Meteor Seamount mainly consists of volcanic compact rocks (vp = 5.8 km/s) superposed by a cap of seismically different sediment (vp = 2.7 - 3.7km/s). The results of the measurements are discussed by means of a number of seismic profiles and presented in the form of isochrone maps. Moreover the attempt is made to derive in rough outlines, the geological development of the Great Meteor Seamount from the seismic reflection data.

Description: Coccolithophorids agglutinated on the tintinnid-genera Codonellopsis, Codonella and Dictyocysta, and their ratio to agglutinated anorganic material are described on basis of plankton-tows from 12 stations in the Persian Gulf and the northern Arabic Sea. The results are compared with the distribution of two nannoplankton-species Cyclococcolithus leptoporus (MURRAY & BLACKMAN) and Braarudosphaera bigelowi (GRAN & BRAARUD) in recent sediments of the Persian Gulf and the northern Arabic Sea.

Description: A phytoplankton net is described with which samples from six different depth zones can be obtained by a single vertical haul. The closing net is released by an electromagnet through single conductor wire (220 V D.C.). On a revolving disc which is driven by a spring, there are six buckets which are successively brought before the net opening. The parts made of bolting silk can be exchanged, the entrance opening can be reduced. The apparatus is independent from depth by means of pressure compensation.

Description: Within the frame of the German research vessel "Meteor" participation in the International Indian Ocean Expedition 8 members of the "litoral group" worked on a biological survey of the shores of the Sarso Islands (Farasan Archipelago) from 24.11. to 8.12.1964. This report gives details about the expedition and deals with organisation and technical supplies.

Description: The scope of this research was to find out, how important is the presence of brackish water for the formation of the characteristical littoral subsoil fauna in the interstitial spaces of beaches. There is little precipitation in the Red Sea area and therefore little influence of freshwater on the beach. Moreover, the sandy beach of Sarso Island (Farasan Archipelago) is bordered landwards and underneath by solid limestone, preventing subsoil fresh water, if there is any, from penetrating into the beach region. The salinity of the interstitial water from Sarso beach lies a little above the salinity of the adjacent sea. The microfauna of Sarso beach is composed to a rather big proportion of such species that are known to be characteristical littoral subsoil water species, partially of world wide distribution. The ecological analysis of this fauna, i. e. the freeliving Nematodes, reveals the presence of two distinct associations: 1. the association of the low level subsoil region, close to the sea, with clear interstitial water, subject to regular exchange with the water of the adjacent sea. 2. the association of the high level subsoil region, 4-10 meter distant from the sea, with brownish water. Contrary to earlier results there is no distinction in salinity between tl1e two associations, so it is not longer justified to apply the term brackish water fauna on the animals living in the association of the high level subsoil region.

Description: 1. The physiographical zones of the coast of the islands Sarso and Sindi Sarso (Farsan Archipelago, Red Sea) were analyzed by 3 profiles. As shore types a steep coast with an eroded eulitoral platform, a steep coast without such a platform and a sandbeach were selected. 2. The most conspicuous and characteristic fishes, invertebrates and algae were identified, their distribution and zonational limit were studied. 3. In contrast to a normal fringing reef the whole litoral area of these islands is of coral origin. The islands themselves are raised subfossil reefs from the early pleistocene or late tertiary. The recent reefs are based on eroded platforms of these subfossil reefs. 4. Terrestially and subaquatically there are distinguishable different water level marks. They may be the result not only of tectonic occurrences, but also of eustatic changes of the sea-level by glacial origin. 5. The litoral area along the NE coast of the island Sarso was mapped. The 3 zones were studied and described as cross-sections. 6. Samples of the characteristic lime stone of different zones were studied and identified as of only corallogene. 7. As profile II is distinguished from profile I only by the sedimentation of sand upon the eroded platform along the beach there arc great morphological and ecological differences between profile I and III. 8. A reconstruction of the reef development of profiles I and III by raising sea-level was tried. Despite the morphological differences there are many important geological coincidences.

Description: Acentrogobius meteori is a new species of the family Gobiidae. It was found on the coast of the island Sarso of the Farsan Archipelago (Red Sea). It seems to be related to the species A. baltea, decoratus, leptochilus, and reichei. The new gobiid fish lives within the eulitoral and upper sublitoral.

Description: Ospreys were observed during November and December at various areas of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, where the bird is fairly abundant at suitable localities. Territorial behaviour is little developed, and sometimes up to six birds join in mating flights. Since trees are not available, the nest is built on the ground, preferably on prominent cliffs, and is composed of anything suitable (wood cast ashore, vegetable matter, human refuse, bones of turtles, carcasses of gannets). In the Red Sea the osprey was observed to feed exclusively on fish (Serranidae, Belone, Hemirhamphus, Calyodon, Carangidae, Lutianidae.) Gannets (Sula leucogaster) are breeding close to the ospreys but are never attacked.

Description: At the shores of the islands of Sarso and Sindi Sarso (Farasan Archipelago, Red Sea) the supra-, mid- and sublittoral zones of four different localities were investigated. Cross sections of a sand-rock beach, a rock beach, a rocky cliff and a mangrove beach have been drawn to find out different habitats. The largest part of the bottom is formed by creviced coral rocks. Fishes of the families Salariidae and Gobiidae were examined in detail and referred to distinct habitats. The habits and ecological demands of the species mentioned are discussed: Salariidae: Lophalticus kirkii prefers the supralittoral region of the steep cliffs, from which it can easily reach the water level. Feeds on algae. Istiblennius edentulus inhabits the horizontal as well as the vertical rock walls of the midlittoral region. Periods of low tide are passed in tide pools. Goes ashore only at night and feeds on algae. - Halmablennius flaviumbrinus occurs on the horizontal rock walls of the midlittoral region only. Periods of low tide are passed in tide pools, too. Feeds on algae. Antennablenius bypenetes exists on plain and steep rocks of the midlittoral region and prefers holes of adequate diameter to hide in. Periods of low tide are spent in little tide pools. Feeds on algae. Salarias fasciatus is very common in those parts of the sublittoral region where sufficient hiding-places are present. It seems to avoid turbulent water. Feeds on algae, eventually Bryozoa, too. Gobiidae: Acentrogobius ornatus and A. meteori live in the midlittoral and upper sublittoral regions on sand or in sand-filled trenches of horizontal rock walls. Cryptocentrus: species of this genus are very common below the midlittoral region. Since they are living in sand burrows, they are dependent on sandy areas. It is discussed, why Salariidae and Gobiidae prefer different environments in their trend towards an amphibian habit. On the rocky shores there seems to be a more favorable food supply for the algae-feeding Salariidae than for the predatory Gobiidae; the representatives of Gobiidae have turned to terrestrial habits in the mangrove region, less at rocky shores.

Description: 1. Coeloplana meteoris is described as a new platyctene ctenophore (with 11 photographs and 1 coloured figure). 2. Its systematic position is discussed and understood as preliminary. 3. A comparison is made of the gastrovascularsystem of the Platyctenea. These can be used for systematic characterisation.

Description: During the expedition of R.V. "Meteor" to the Indian Ocean 21 species of marine algae and 2 phanerograms were collected on the Sarso islands. A littoral zone (in the botanical sense) and three sublittoral zones could be diffentiated by means of the algae. Of these the most conspicuous is the Sargassum-Turbinaria belt. A small strip of Avicennia mangrove was observed. The collected marine plants belong to 5 types of geographical distribution which indicate the origin of the flora from the Indian Ocean.

Description: The results of an investigation of tintinnids from the western Arabian Sea are described. A total of 134 closing-net samples was obtained from 22 stations of the German "Meteor" expedition 1964/1965. Distribution charts of the dominant species of tintinnids from the study area are presented as well as a list of the world-wide distribution of these species as derived from the literature. Tintinnids were most abundant in the surface waters. The layer from O-25 m yielded a maximum of 94.3% and a minimum of 61.3% of the tintinnids present from O-175 m; the mean was 80%, There was no significant difference in the vertical distribution between day and night stations nor wasb there any indication of the influence of the thermocline upon vertical distribution of tintinnids. TS-diagrams show different water types in the western Arabian Sea. Temperatur-salinity-tintinniddiagrams indicate regional patterns in the distribution of various species of tintinnids. Some tintinnids can be used as indicator species: Climacorylis scalaria, Parundella lohmanni and Amphorella amphora were typical for the Somali Current whereas Rhabdonella apophysata and Brandtiella palliata indicated the presence of Bast African Coastal Current water. The concentration of tintinnids in the upper 25 m ranged between 4,800 and 39,300 individuals/m3 (mean 19,000/m3). Plasma volume of tintinnids was calculated to permit comparison of different links in the food chain. There was a mean of 51 mm3/m2 in the upper layer, equivalent to a concentration of 2 mm3/m3. Carbon values were computed from the plasma volume of tintinnids, phytoplankton and larger Zooplankton. The ratio of phytoplankton plus microzooplankton carbon to large zooplankton carbon was 1 : 0.8 in the Somali Current, 1 : 0.4 in the Bast African Coastal Current and 1 : 1.2 in the mixing zone of these current systems. Tintinnids are one of the first links in the food chain. It is very likely that a part of the organic detritus and of the nanoplankton is transfered to large herbivores or omnivores via tintinnids and other protozoans. This mechanism might be especially effective during seasons when large phytoplankters are not available in the ocean.

Description: Millions of tons of plastic waste are released into the marine environment every year. While they steadily accumulate, synthetic polymers provide a habitat for microorganisms. This denominated Plastisphere has been studied in detail over the past ten years. So have the enzymes responsible for microbial degradation, which are unfortunately lacking for most sorts of plastics. Therefore, the BMBF-funded project PLASTISEA is focusing on bioprospecting the marine treasure trove for novel plastic acting enzymes.

Description: Many of the socio-economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century like the growing energy and food demand, rising sea levels and temperatures put stress on marine ecosystems and coastal populations. This requires a significant strengthening of our monitoring capacities for processes in the water column, at the seafloor and in the subsurface. However, present-day seafloor instruments and the required infrastructure to operate these are expensive and inaccessible. We envision a future Internet of Underwater Things, composed of small and cheap but intelligent underwater nodes. Each node will be equipped with sensing, communication, and computing capabilities. Building on distributed event detection and cross-domain data fusion, such an Internet of Underwater Things will enable new applications. In this paper, we argue that to make this vision a reality, we need new methodologies for resource-efficient and distributed cross-domain data fusion. Resource-efficient, distributed neural networks will serve as data-analytics pipelines to derive highly aggregated patterns of interest from raw data. These will serve as (1) a common base in time and space for fusion of heterogeneous data, and (2) be sufficiently small to be transmitted efficiently in resource-constrained settings.

Description: Die Messung submariner Bodendeformationen an den Flanken von Inselvulkanen hilft dabei, ihre Stabilität und die Gefahr von Hangrutschungen einzuschätzen, ist aber inherent schwierig für Gebiete, die unter Wasser liegen. Wiederholte Seismik- oder Fächerecholot-Vermessungen können größere Gebiete abdecken, aber Auflösung und Lokalisierung sind bestimmten Grenzen unterworfen. Optische Daten andererseits sind besser aufgelöst, aber limitiert in ihrer räumlichen Abdeckung, und Meeresbodengeodäsie wiederum liefert nur punktuelle Information. In diesem Artikel schlagen wir vor, verschiedene Arten von Fernerkundungsdaten zusammenzubringen und auch mit bestehenden statischen und dynamischen Modellen zu verschneiden. Aufgrund ihrer verschiedenen Modalitäten, Unsicherheiten und Skalierungen ist dies jedoch schwierig und bedarf einer Fusion. Zusammen mit anderen Aspekten (Erdbeben, Strömungen etc.) sollen die fusionierten Daten und Modelle langfristig neue Einblicke in das dynamische System des sich verändernden Meeresbodens, die dafür verantwortlichen Faktoren sowie die Auswirkungen instabiler submariner Hänge auf andere Meeressysteme bieten.

Description: A central promise of cross-domain fusion (CDF) is the provision of a “bigger picture” that integrates different disciplines and may span very different levels of detail. We present a number of settings that call for this bigger picture, with a particular focus on how information from several domains can be made easily accessible and visualizable for different stakeholders. We propose harnessing an approach that is now well established in interactive maps, which we refer to as the “Google maps approach” (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA), which combines effective filtering with intuitive user interaction. We expect this approach to be applicable to a range of CDF settings.

Description: Consistently high data quality is essential for the development of novel loss functions and architectures in the field of deep learning. The existence of such data and labels is usually presumed, while acquiring high-quality datasets is still a major issue in many cases. Subjective annotations by annotators often lead to ambiguous labels in real-world datasets. We propose a data-centric approach to relabel such ambiguous labels instead of implementing the handling of this issue in a neural network. A hard classification is by definition not enough to capture the real-world ambiguity of the data. Therefore, we propose our method “Data-Centric Classification & Clustering (DC3)” which combines semi-supervised classification and clustering. It automatically estimates the ambiguity of an image and performs a classification or clustering depending on that ambiguity. DC3 is general in nature so that it can be used in addition to many Semi-Supervised Learning (SSL) algorithms. On average, our approach yields a 7.6% better F1-Score for classifications and a 7.9% lower inner distance of clusters across multiple evaluated SSL algorithms and datasets. Most importantly, we give a proof-of-concept that the classifications and clusterings from DC3 are beneficial as proposals for the manual refinement of such ambiguous labels. Overall, a combination of SSL with our method DC3 can lead to better handling of ambiguous labels during the annotation process. (Source code is available at https://github.com/Emprime/dc3).

Description: Here, we outline how to identify hydrogenase enzymes from metagenomic fosmid libraries through an activity-based screening approach. A metagenomic fosmid library is constructed in E. coli and the fosmids are transferred into a hydrogenase deletion mutant of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 (ΔhyaB) via triparental mating. If a fosmid clone exhibits hydrogen-uptake activity, S. oneidensis’ phenotype is restored and hydrogenase activity is indicated by a color change of the medium from yellow to colorless. The screen enables screening of 48 metagenomic fosmid clones in parallel.

Description: The gas hydrate system off Mauritania is characterized by the undulating landward termination of a gas hydrate-related bottom simulating reflector (BSR). Some of the most landward sections of this BSR reach up to within 6 m of the seafloor. This suggests a shallow sulphate-methane-interface over an unusually large area. We attribute this to the presence of large amounts of methane due to the efficient burial of organic matter in a high-productivity oceanographic region, and the efficient channelling of methane along permeable turbidite beds towards the feather edge of the gas hydrate stability zone. This is consistent with the observation of steps in the BSR, where it cross-cuts other inferred permeable horizons. The high thermal conductivity of a salt dome in the southern part of the study area distorts the subsurface temperature field, giving the base of the hydrate stability zone a concave-down shape. Within this anticline of the BSR, high amplitudes and a horizontal reflection that crosses the sedimentary strata indicate the entrapment of free gas. We interpret this as a direct indication of a reduced hydraulic permeability of the hydrate-bearing sediment.

Description: Spectacular advances have been made in the field of machine vision over the past decade. While this discipline is traditionally driven by geometric models, neural networks have proven to be superior in some applications and have significantly expanded the limits of what is possible. At the same time, conventional graphic models describe the relationship between images and the associated scene with textures and light in a physically realistic manner and are an important part of photogrammetry. Differential renderers combine these approaches by enabling gradient-based optimization in fixed structures of a graphics pipeline and thus adapt the learning process of neural networks. This fusion of formalized knowledge and machine learning motivates the idea of a modular differentiable renderer in which physical and statistical models can be recombined depending on the use case. We therefore present Gemini Connector: an initiative for the modular development and combination of differentiable physical models and neural networks. We examine opportunities and problems and motivate the idea with the extension of a differentiable rendering pipeline to include models of underwater optics for the analysis of deep sea images. Finally, we discuss use cases, especially within the Cross-Domain Fusion initiative.

Description: Interactive exploration of Earth system simulations may have great potential to improve the scientific modeling process. It will allow monitoring of the state of the simulation via dashboards presenting real-time diagnostics within a digital twin world. We present the state of the art for Earth system modeling in this context. Cross-domain data handling and fusion will make it possible to integrate model and observation data in the context of digital twins of the ocean. Domain-driven modularization of monolithic Earth system models allows one to recover interfaces for such a cross-domain fusion. Reverse engineering with static and dynamic analysis enables modularization of Earth system models. The modularization does not only help with restructuring existing Earth system models, it also makes it possible to integrate additional scientific domains into the interactive simulation environment.

Description: We explore the predictability of tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) and the potential influence of climate model bias on SST predictions over the tropical Atlantic. Two statistical methods are used to examine the skill in forecasting tropical Atlantic SST anomalies (SSTAs): linear inverse modeling (LIM) and analogue forecast (AF). The statistical models are trained either with observations or with data from two control integrations of the Kiel Climate Model (KCM), which only differ with respect to the resolution of its atmospheric component. Observed SSTAs suggest that Tropical Atlantic climatic changes are potentially predictable at lead times of up to 6 months over large parts of the Tropical Atlantic. The SSTAs from the KCM version employing a high-resolution atmosphere model (KCM-HRES) is potentially predictable at a level comparable to that derived from the observations, whereas the SSTAs from the KCM version employing a low-resolution atmosphere model (KCM-LRES) is considerably less potentially predictable. We show that the enhanced potential predictability in the former KCM version can be very likely related to the improved representation of ENSO-like dynamics and its seasonality. We used the statistical models in true forecast mode, i.e. the prediction schemes were trained from data independent of the forecast period. Using observed SSTAs to train the LIM yields significant skill in forecasting observed SSTAs at lead times of up to 4 months across all calendar months, which is mostly restricted to the northern and equatorial western Tropical Atlantic. Similar patterns, but with lower skill, are found when the models’ SSTAs are used, in which LIM trained with the KCM-HRES generally yields higher skills than that from the KCM-LRES. Applying AF yields significant skills in predicting observed SSTAs over the same regions, but the forecast skills are considerably smaller. When the SSTAs together with either sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies or dynamic sea level (DSL) anomalies from the KCM are used to construct the statistical models, the prediction of observed equatorial Atlantic SSTAs can be improved, with significant skill enhancement at lead times of up to 4 months in limited regions. An optimal initial SSTA pattern is found, which results in the largest transient anomaly growth over the entire domain. Independent of external forces, this amplification is developed internally; meaning that the seasonal forecast might be more sensitive to initial conditions than currently thought.

Description: The 1888 Ritter Island volcanic sector collapse triggered a regionally damaging tsunami. Historic eyewitness accounts allow the reconstruction of the arrival time, phase and height of the tsunami wave at multiple locations around the coast of New Guinea and New Britain. 3D seismic interpretations and sedimentological analyses indicate that the catastrophic collapse of Ritter Island was preceded by a phase of deep-seated gradual spreading within the volcanic edifice and accompanied by a submarine explosive eruption, as the volcanic conduit was cut beneath sea level. However, the potential impact of the deep-seated deformation and the explosive eruption on tsunami genesis is unclear. For the first time, it is possible to parameterise the different components of the Ritter Island collapse with 3D seismic data, and thereby test their relative contributions to the tsunami. The modelled tsunami arrival times and heights are in good agreement with the historic eyewitness accounts. Our simulations reveal that the tsunami was primarily controlled by the displacement of the water column by the collapsing cone at the subaerial-submarine boundary and that the submerged fraction of the slide mass and its mobility had only a minor effect on tsunami genesis. This indicates that the total slide volume, when incorporating the deep-seated deforming mass, is not directly scalable for the resulting tsunami height. Furthermore, the simulations show that the tsunamigenic impact of the explosive eruption energy during the Ritter Island collapse was only minor. However, this relationship may be different for other volcanogenic tsunami events with smaller slide volumes or larger magnitude eruptions, and should not be neglected in tsunami simulations and hazard assessment.

Description: The Hikurangi Margin off the east coast of the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) is a tectonically active subduction zone and the location of New Zealand’s largest gas hydrate province. Faults are internally complex volumetric zones that may play a significant role in the migration of fluids beneath the seafloor. The combined processes of deformation and fluid migration result in the formation of concentrated hydrate accumulations along accretionary ridges. It is not fully understood to what extent faults control fluid migration along the Hikurangi Margin, and whether deep-seated thrust faults provide a pathway for thermogenic gas to migrate up from sources at depth. Using 2D models based on seismic data from the region we investigated the role of thrust faults in facilitating fluid migration and contributing to the formation of concentrated gas hydrates. By altering permeability properties of the fault zones in these transient state models we can determine whether faults are required to act as fluid flow pathways. In this study we focus on two study sites offshore southern Wairarapa, using realistic yet simplified fault geometries derived from 2D seismic lines. The results of these models allow us to start to disentangle the complex relationship between fault zone structure, permeability, geometry, fluid migration and gas hydrate formation. Based on the model outputs we propose that faults act as primary pathways facilitating fluid migration and are critical in the formation of concentrated gas hydrate deposits.

Description: We project changes of the Aleutian Low (AL) under global warming using ensemble simulations with a fully coupled ocean-atmosphere-sea ice model, the Kiel Climate Model (KCM). In the global warming simulations, the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration increases by 1% per year from the preindustrial level of 286.2 ppm to a quadruple value in 140 years. Results from the 40 members of an ensemble simulation show an intensification of the AL such that ensemble mean North Pacific Index (NPI) is decreased by 2.71 hPa. It is also accompanied with an expansion of the AL to north. While the effect of weakened land-ocean thermal contrast and SST warming in the eastern tropical Pacific on the AL strength are relatively weak and marginally significant, sea ice loss in the marginal seas of the North Pacific, such as the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, increases the surface air temperature and makes pressure lower over the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands. Especially, sea ice loss in the Okhotsk Sea drives the SLP change around the Aleutian Islands and contributes to the strengthening of the AL.

Description: Shell formation and repair occurs under the control of mantle epithelial cells in bivalve molluscs. However, limited information is available on the precise acid–base regulatory machinery present within these cells, which are fundamental to calcification. Here, we isolate mantle epithelial cells from the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas and utilise live cell imaging in combination with the fluorescent dye, BCECF-AM to study intracellular pH (pHi) regulation. To elucidate the involvement of various ion transport mechanisms, modified seawater solutions (low sodium, low bicarbonate) and specific inhibitors for acid–base proteins were used. Diminished pH recovery in the absence of Na+ and under inhibition of sodium/hydrogen exchangers (NHEs) implicate the involvement of a sodium dependent cellular proton extrusion mechanism. In addition, pH recovery was reduced under inhibition of carbonic anhydrases. These data provide the foundation for a better understanding of acid–base regulation underlying the physiology of calcification in bivalves.

Description: Biodiversity is generally believed to be a main determinant of ecosystem functioning. This principle also applies to the microbiome and could consequently contribute to host health. According to ecological theory, communities are shaped by top predators whose direct and indirect interactions with community members cause stability and diversity. Bdellovibrio and like organisms (BALOs) are a neglected group of predatory bacteria that feed on Gram-negative bacteria and can thereby influence microbiome composition. We asked whether BALOs can predict biodiversity levels in microbiomes from distinct host groups and environments. We demonstrate that genetic signatures of BALOs are commonly found within the 16S rRNA reads from diverse host taxa. In many cases, their presence, abundance, and especially richness are positively correlated with overall microbiome diversity. Our findings suggest that BALOs can act as drivers of microbial alpha-diversity and should therefore be considered candidates for the restoration of microbiomes and the prevention of dysbiosis.

Description: High-resolution bathymetry collected with an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) along the flanks of three ridges of the accretionary prism offshore southwestern (SW) Taiwan revealed more than 650 elongated depressions in water depths ranging from 1155 to 1420 m. The depressions are between 12 and 129 m long, 5 to 70 m wide, and up 9 m deep at their center and shallowing downslope to about 1-m depth. Due to their shape in downslope cross section, they are termed comet-shaped depressions (CSD). The CSD occur in patches of more than 100 with densities of 53 to 98 CSD/km2. In addition, seven topographic mounds were mapped and interpreted as pingos, which remotely operate vehicle (ROV) observations and sampling show to be covered with authigenic carbonate. These features overlie areas where multichannel seismic reflection (MCS) profiles show bottom simulating reflectors (BSR) and dipping strata extending from below the BSR to near the seafloor. We consider comet-shaped depression, a new type of pockmark, forms on a sloping seafloor where fluids expulsion occurred. We also suggest that the two types of distinctive geomorphic features are attributed to fluid venting which occurs at different rates, with the mounds developing slowly over time, but the CSD forming in discrete events perhaps associated with large earthquakes.

Description: Kiloniella laminariae is a true marine bacterium and the first member of the family and order, the Kiloniellaceae and Kiloniellales. K. laminariae LD81T (= DSM 19542T) was isolated from the marine macroalga Saccharina latissima and is a mesophilic, typical marine chemoheterotrophic aerobic bacterium with antifungal activity. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed the similarity of K. laminariae LD81T not only with three validly described species of the genus Kiloniella, but also with undescribed isolates and clone sequences from marine samples in the range of 93.6–96.7%. We report on the analysis of the draft genome of this alphaproteobacterium and describe some selected features. The 4.4 Mb genome has a G + C content of 51.4%, contains 4213 coding sequences including 51 RNA genes as well as 4162 protein-coding genes, and is a part of the Genomic Encyclopaedia of Bacteria and Archaea (GEBA) project. The genome provides insights into a number of metabolic properties, such as carbon and sulfur metabolism, and indicates the potential for denitrification and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Comparative genome analysis was performed with K. laminariae LD81T and the animal-associated species Kiloniella majae M56.1T from a spider crab, Kiloniella spongiae MEBiC09566T from a sponge as well as Kiloniella litopenai P1-1 from a white shrimp, which all inhabit quite different marine habitats. The analysis revealed that the K. laminariae LD81T contains 1397 unique genes, more than twice the amount of the other species. Unique among others is a mixed PKS/NRPS biosynthetic gene cluster with similarity to the biosynthetic gene cluster responsible for the production of syringomycin.

Description: Cold-water corals (CWC), dominantly Desmophyllum pertusum (previously Lophelia pertusa), and their mounds have been in the focus of marine research during the last two decades; however, little is known about the mound-forming capacity of other CWC species. Here, we present new 230Th/U age constraints of the relatively rarely studied framework-building CWC Solenosmilia variabilis from a mound structure off the Brazilian margin combined with computed tomography (CT) acquisition. Our results show that S. variabilis can also contribute to mound formation, but reveal coral-free intervals of hemipelagic sediment deposits, which is in contrast to most of the previously studied CWC mound structures. We demonstrate that S. variabilis only occurs in short episodes of 〈 4 kyr characterized by a coral content of up to 31 vol%. In particular, it is possible to identify distinct clusters of enhanced aggradation rates (AR) between 54 and 80 cm ka−1. The determined AR are close to the maximal growth rates of individual S. variabilis specimens, but are still up to one order of magnitude smaller than the AR of D. pertusum mounds. Periods of enhanced S. variabilis AR predominantly fall into glacial periods and glacial terminations that were characterized by a 60–90 m lower sea level. The formation of nearby D. pertusum mounds is also associated with the last glacial termination. We suggest that the short-term periods of coral growth and mound formation benefited from enhanced organic matter supply, either from the adjacent exposed shelf and coast and/or from enhanced sea-surface productivity. This organic matter became concentrated on a deeper water-mass boundary between South Atlantic Central Water and the Antarctic Intermediate Water and may have been distributed by a stronger hydrodynamic regime. Finally, periods of enhanced coral mound formation can also be linked to advection of nutrient-rich intermediate water masses that in turn might have (directly or indirectly) further facilitated coral growth and mound formation.

Description: The tsunami hazard for the Maltese Islands is poorly defined, and historic records are available for only two recent events. Most of the population and touristic infrastructure of the archipelago is concentrated along the eastern low-lying coastline, which is exposed to tsunamis from near-field and far-field sources. In this study we present a scenario-based tsunami inundation study to assess the impact of potential significant cases. We simulated four scenarios—two submarine landslide sources (outer Malta Plateau slide and Gela Basin slide) and two earthquake sources mimicking events comparable to the 365 A.D. western Hellenic Arc event and the 1693 south-east of Sicily event. We find that all scenarios cause inundation in densely populated low-lying bays or rias of Mellieha Bay, Xemxija, Salini, Gzira, Msida, Marsaskala, St Thomas Bay, Marsaxlokk and Birzebbuga. The largest inundation extents and flow depths (〉 10 m) are produced by the two landslide sources and the western Hellenic Arc earthquake. Of interest is the role of the Malta Escarpment and Sicily in amplifying and reflecting tsunami waves, and in generating consistent hot spots along the eastern coastline of Malta.

Description: Control strategies for established populations of invasive alien species can be costly and complex endeavours, which are frequently unsuccessful. Therefore, rapid-reaction techniques that are capable of maximising efficacy whilst minimising environmental damage are urgently required. The Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea Müller, 1774), and the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha Pallas, 1771), are invaders capable of adversely affecting the functioning and biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems. Despite efforts to implement substantial population-control measures, both species continue to spread and persist within freshwater environments. As bivalve beds often become exposed during low-water conditions, this study examined the efficacy of steam-spray (≥100 °C, 350 kPa) and open-flame burn treatments (~1000 °C) to kill exposed individuals. Direct steam exposure lasting for 5 min caused 100% mortality of C. fluminea buried at a depth of 3 cm. Further, combined rake and thermal shock treatments, whereby the substrate is disturbed between each application of either a steam or open flame, caused 100% mortality of C. fluminea specimens residing within a 4-cm deep substrate patch, following three consecutive treatment applications. However, deeper 8-cm patches and water-saturated substrate reduced maximum bivalve species mortality rates to 77% and 70%, respectively. Finally, 100% of D. polymorpha specimens were killed following exposure to steam and open-flame treatments lasting for 30 s and 5 s, respectively. Overall, our results confirm the efficacy of thermal shock treatments as a potential tool for substantial control of low-water-exposed bivalves. Although promising, our results require validation through upscaling to field application, with consideration of other substrate types, increased substrate depth, greater bivalve densities, non-target and long-term treatment effects.

Description: The interdisciplinary exchange in climate engineering research offers a unique opportunity to make assumptions more explicit for such research projects. While making assumptions explicit is the standard in all disciplinary sciences, some assumptions in the context of societal challenges can only be usefully unveiled, discussed, and verified from the perspective of other research disciplines. Results from successful interdisciplinary collaborations are then more accessible and more generalizable to actors beyond the confines of the academic community. We aim to illustrate how interdisciplinary exchange helps to unveil assumptions in research endeavors and why this is important for successful interdisciplinary collaborations. We therefore follow different stages of the German Priority Program on Climate Engineering (SPP 1689), which we use as an example case of a successful interdisciplinary project. SPP 1689 focused on risks, challenges, and opportunities of Climate Engineering from the perspectives of numerous disciplines. Major results were that the initial assessments of technologies had to be sobered, the consideration of trade-offs is crucial for the potential assessment, and governance issues appeared larger than previously considered. From the reflections of SPP 1689, we conclude with three lessons learned: (1) The project profited from egalitarian organizational structures and communicative practices, preventing the predominance from single disciplines. (2) Within the project continuous efforts were undertaken to foster interdisciplinary understanding. In addition, the flexible project structure allowed for the accommodation of research needs arising as a result of these exchanges. (3) SPP 1689 offered early career researchers a platform for professional exchange on common challenges and best practices of being a part of an interdisciplinary research project.

Description: Ecological theory suggests that a combination of local and regional factors regulate biodiversity and community functioning in metacommunities. The relative importance of different factors structuring communities likely changes over successional time, but to date this concept is scarcely documented. In addition, the few studies describing successional dynamics in metacommunity regulation have only focused on a single group of organisms. Here, we report results of an experimental study testing the effect size of initial local community composition and dispersal between local patches on community dynamics of benthic microalgae and their associated bacteria over community succession. Our results show that over time dispersal outweighed initial effects of community composition on microalgal evenness and biomass, microalgal β-diversity, and the ratio of bacteria to microalgae. At the end of the experiment (ca. 20 microalgae generations), dispersal significantly decreased microalgal evenness and β-diversity by promoting one regionally superior competitor. Dispersal also decreased the ratio of bacteria to microalgae, while it significantly increased microalgal biomass. These results suggest that the dispersal-mediated establishment of a dominant and superior microalgae species prevented bacteria from gaining competitive advantage over the autotrophs in these metacommunities, ultimately maintaining the provision of autotrophic biomass. Our study emphasizes the importance of time for dispersal to be a relevant community-structuring mechanism. Moreover, we highlight the need for considering multiple competitors in complex metacommunity systems to properly pinpoint the consequences of local change in dominance through dispersal for metacommunity function.

Description: Hans Peter Cornelius was a squeamishly and accurately mapping field geologist with an eye for the finest detail as well as for the large-scale architectural structure of mountain ranges. His excellent work concerned the Rhaetian and Allgau Alps, South Tyrol, the Valais and Ticino in Switzerland and many regions in Austria. His publications on the Err-Julier Group, the Insubric Line, the Grossglockner Group, the Rax-Schneeberg Group, the alpine Grauwackenzone, and the Penninic series of the Western and Eastern Alps became particularly important.

Description: In order to expand the fragmentary knowledge on the interactions between the environment and copepod distribution in the deep offshore Adriatic Sea, microcopepod assemblages were investigated during 31 cruises in the 1200-m deep central part of the South Adriatic Pit (SAP), from May 1998 to December 2009. Samples were collected in 8 depth layers, using a 53-μm mesh Nansen net equipped with a closing system. The taxonomic composition and vertical and temporal distributions of copepod abundances were analyzed, considering naupliar stages for all species combined, total calanoid copepodites, copepodite stages and adults separately for oithonids and oncaeids, and all post-naupliar stages combined of harpacticoids and mormonilloids. Corycaeid copepods are not considered in the present study. Data are presented for 41 non-calanoid copepod species, as well as for 7 undetermined morphospecies. Within the family Oncaeidae, four species new to the Adriatic Sea fauna are registered. Nauplii were generally the numerically dominant group, especially in the upper epipelagic layers, where they outnumbered all total post-naupliar stages by a factor of an average 3.5. Oncaeids were notably abundant, accounting in total post-naupliar copepods for an average proportion of 33% in the upper 50 m and 74% between 300- and 400-m depth. In the epipelagic zone, copepod abundances were enhanced by the cyclonic circulation which enriches the central part of the SAP with new primary production. A strong advection of Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) influenced the post-naupliar abundances also in mesopelagic and deeper layers, by promoting the sinking of heavy water mass from the connected middle Adriatic sub-basin which enhances the trophic conditions and transports new organisms into the deeper layers of the SAP. Therefore, the variability in copepod abundances was influenced not only by the seasonal temperature fluctuations but also by the productivity conditions in the SAP which are connected to the movements of regional water masses and the resulting effects on the internal Adriatic circulation.

Description: South-Eastern Brazil experienced a devastating drought associated with significant agricultural losses in austral summer 2014. The drought was linked to the development of a quasi-stationary anticyclone in the South Atlantic in early 2014 that affected local precipitation patterns over South-East Brazil. Previous studies have suggested that the unusual blocking was triggered by tropical Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and, more recently, by convection over the Indian Ocean related to the Madden-Julian Oscillation. Further investigation of the proposed teleconnections appears crucial for anticipating future economic impacts. In this study, we use numerical experiments with an idealized atmospheric general circulation model forced with the observed 2013/2014 SST anomalies in different ocean basins to understand the dominant mechanism that initiated the 2014 South Atlantic anticyclonic anomaly. We show that a forcing with global 2013/2014 SST anomalies enhances the chance for the occurrence of positive geopotential height anomalies in the South Atlantic. However, further sensitivity experiments with SST forcings in separate ocean basins suggest that neither the Indian Ocean nor tropical Pacific SST anomalies alone have contributed significantly to the anomalous atmospheric circulation that led to the 2014 South-East Brazil drought. The model study rather points to an important role of remote forcing from the South Pacific, local South Atlantic SSTs, and internal atmospheric variability in driving the persistent blocking over the South Atlantic.

Description: Mts. Kalnik and Požeška gora volcaniclastic sequences hold valuable information concerning the Miocene syn-rift evolution of the North Croatian Basin, and the evolution of the Carpathian–Pannonian Region and the Central Paratethys. We present volcanological, high-precision geochronological, and compositional data of volcanic glass to constrain their tephrochronology, magmatic provenance, and timing of the initial Central Paratethys flooding of the North Croatian Basin. Based on CA-ID-TIMS U–Pb zircon ages (18.060 ± 0.023 Ma for Mt. Kalnik and 15.345 ± 0.020 Ma for Mt. Požeška gora) and coeval 40Ar/39Ar sanidine ages (18.14 ± 0.38 Ma and 18.25 ± 0.38 Ma for Mt. Kalnik and 15.34 ± 0.32 Ma and 15.43 ± 0.32 Ma for Mt. Požeška gora), Mt. Kalnik rhyolitic massive ignimbrites and Mt. Požeška gora rhyolitic primary volcaniclastic turbidites are coeval with Carpathian–Pannonian Region Miocene post-collisional silicic volcanism, which was caused by lithospheric thinning of the Pannonian Basin. Their affiliation to Carpathian–Pannonian Region magmatic activity is supported by their subduction-related geochemical signatures. Although Mts. Kalnik and Požeška gora volcaniclastics are coeval with the Bükkalja Volcanic Field Csv-2 rhyolitic ignimbrites, North Alpine Foreland Basin, Styrian Basin, Vienna Basin, and Dinaride Lake System bentonites and volcaniclastic deposits, reliable tephrochronological interpretations based on comparison of volcanic glass geochemical composition are not possible due to a lack of data and/or methodological discrepancies. Our new high-precision geochronology data prove that the initial Middle Miocene (Badenian) marine flooding of parts of the North Croatian Basin occurred at least ~ 0.35 Ma (during the NN4 Zone) before the generally accepted ~ 15 Ma maximum flooding age at the basin scale, calibrating the timing of the onset of the widespread “mid-Langhian” Central Paratethys flooding.

Description: Purpose of Review: Assessment of the impact of ocean resolution in Earth System models on the mean state, variability, and future projections and discussion of prospects for improved parameterisations to represent the ocean mesoscale. Recent Findings: The majority of centres participating in CMIP6 employ ocean components with resolutions of about 1 degree in their full Earth System models (eddy-parameterising models). In contrast, there are also models submitted to CMIP6 (both DECK and HighResMIP) that employ ocean components of approximately 1/4 degree and 1/10 degree (eddy-present and eddy-rich models). Evidence to date suggests that whether the ocean mesoscale is explicitly represented or parameterised affects not only the mean state of the ocean but also the climate variability and the future climate response, particularly in terms of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and the Southern Ocean. Recent developments in scale-aware parameterisations of the mesoscale are being developed and will be included in future Earth System models. Summary: Although the choice of ocean resolution in Earth System models will always be limited by computational considerations, for the foreseeable future, this choice is likely to affect projections of climate variability and change as well as other aspects of the Earth System. Future Earth System models will be able to choose increased ocean resolution and/or improved parameterisation of processes to capture physical processes with greater fidelity.

Description: In the Western Baltic Sea, climate change is happening at much faster rate than in most other seas and organisms are additionally exposed to a steep and variable salinity gradient. Climate change has previously been shown to affect parasite transmission in other marine ecosystems, yet little is known about potential effects of warming and desalination on parasite–host interactions. In laboratory experiments, we determined the combined effects of projected seawater warming and freshening on the emergence, activity, survival, and infectivity of cercariae (free-swimming infectious stage) of the trematode Himasthla elongata (Mehlis 1831), shed from its first intermediate host, the periwinkle Littorina littorea (Linnaeus 1758), in the Baltic Sea. We also assessed the susceptibility of the second intermediate host, the mussel Mytilus edulis Linnaeus, 1758, to cercarial infections. Generally, salinity was the main driver, particularly of cercarial activity, infectivity, and mussel susceptibility to infection. At the lowest salinity (13), cercariae were 50% less active compared to the highest salinity (19). Infection success and host susceptibility followed a similar pattern, with 47% and 43% less metacercariae (encysted stage) present at salinity 13 than at salinity 19, respectively. In contrast, effects of simulated warming were found only for cercarial survival, with cercarial longevity being higher at 19 than at 23 °C. No significant interactions between temperature and salinity were found. In contrast to the literature, the results suggest that a climate change-driven freshening (partly also warming) may lead to a general decline of marine trematodes, with possible beneficial effects for the involved hosts.

Description: The Pacific oyster, Magallana gigas, is an extremely successful invader with established populations in marine and estuarine habitats almost all over the world. Ecological implications of the introduction of this species to indigenous communities are well documented. However, the processes by which this species successfully establishes in a recipient community is still insufficiently understood. The early detection of the oyster at the island of Helgoland (North Sea) provided the ideal opportunity to investigate whether physical mechanisms, such as wave-exposure, influence their successful colonisation. We hypothesized that oyster colonisation benefits from wave-protected conditions. For this purpose, we evaluated colonisation success of M. gigas among wave-protected sites and wave-exposed sites along the island's pier system. The densities of M. gigas were significantly higher at wave-protected sites than at wave-exposed sites, and the frequency distributions of oyster lengths indicated better growth and higher survival rates in the harbours. This higher colonisation success at wave-protected sites may be explained by the relative retention time of water masses in the harbours, probably resulting in both reduced larval drift and lower energy demands for secretion formation (i.e. firmer binding to the substrate). The fact that the density of M. gigas can vary greatly on small spatial scales depending on exposure corroborates a multiple exposure sampling approach to monitor oyster populations in order to avoid potential overestimations of population sizes in given areas.

Description: Establishment of adequate conservation areas represents a challenging but crucial task in the conservation of genetic diversity and biological variability. Anthropogenic pressures on marine ecosystems and organisms are steadily increasing. Whether and to what extent these pressures influence marine genetic biodiversity is only starting to be revealed. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we analysed the microbial community structure of 33 individuals of the habitat-forming glass sponge Vazella pourtalesii, as well as reference seawater, sediment, and biofilm samples. We assessed how two anthropogenic impacts, i.e. habitat destruction by trawling and artificial substrate provision (moorings made of composite plastic), correspond with in situ V. pourtalesii microbiome variability. In addition, we evaluated the role of two bottom fishery closures in preserving sponge-associated microbial diversity on the Scotian Shelf, Canada. Our results illustrate that V. pourtalesii sponges collected from pristine sites within fishery closures contained distinct and taxonomically largely novel microbial communities. At the trawled site we recorded significant quantitative differences in distinct microbial phyla, such as a reduction in Nitrospinae in sponges and environmental references. Individuals of V. pourtalesii growing on the mooring were significantly enriched in Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia and Cyanobacteria in comparison to sponge individuals growing on the natural seabed. Due to a concomitant enrichment of these taxa in the mooring biofilm, we propose that biofilms on artificial substrates may ‘prime’ sponge-associated microbial communities when small sponges settle on such substrates. These observations likely have relevant management implications when considering the increase of artificial substrates in the marine environment, e.g., marine litter, off-shore wind parks, and petroleum platforms.

Description: This study aims to provide a more detailed understanding of the behavior of 231Pa/230Th under varying ocean circulation regimes. The North Atlantic provides a unique sedimentary setting with its ice-rafted detritus (IRD) layers deposited during glacial times. These layers have been found north of 40° N (Ruddiman Belt) and are most pronounced during Heinrich Stadials. Most of these sediments have been recovered from the deep North Atlantic basin typically below 3000 m water depth. This study reports sedimentological and sediment geochemical data from one of the few sites at intermediate depth of the open North Atlantic (core SU90-I02, 45° N 39° W, 1965 m water depth) within the Ruddiman Belt. The time periods of Heinrich Stadials 1 and 2 of this core were identified with the help of the major element composition by XRF scanning and by IRD counting. Along the core profile, the sedimentary 231Pa/230Th activity ratio has been measured as a kinematic proxy for the circulation strength. The 231Pa/230Th record shows highest values during the Holocene and Last Glacial Maximum, above the natural production ratio of these isotopes. During Heinrich Stadials 1 and 2, when Atlantic meridional overturning circulation was most reduced, the 231Pa/230Th record shows overall lowest values below the production ratio. This behavior is contrary to classical findings of 231Pa/230Th from the northwestern Atlantic where a strong Holocene circulation is associated with low values. However, this behavior at the presented location is in agreement with results from simulations of the 231Pa/230Th-enabled Bern3D Earth system model.

Description: A prominent weakening in equatorial Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) variability, occurring around the year 2000, is investigated by means of observations, reanalysis products and the linear recharge oscillator (ReOsc) model. Compared to the time period 1982–1999, during 2000–2017 the May–June–July SST variability in the eastern equatorial Atlantic has decreased by more than 30%. Coupled air–sea feedbacks, namely the positive Bjerknes feedback and the negative net heat flux damping are important drivers for the equatorial Atlantic interannual SST variability. We find that the Bjerknes feedback weakened after 2000 while the net heat flux damping increased. The weakening of the Bjerknes feedback does not appear to be fully explainable by changes in the mean state of the tropical Atlantic. The increased net heat flux damping is related to an enhanced response of the latent heat flux to the SST anomalies (SSTa). Strengthened trade winds as well as warmer SSTs are suggested to increase the air–sea specific humidity difference and hence, enhancing the latent heat flux response to SSTa. A combined effect of those two processes is proposed to be responsible for the weakened SST variability in the eastern equatorial Atlantic. The ReOsc model supports the link between reduced SST variability, weaker Bjerknes feedback and stronger net heat flux damping.

Description: Aquatic ecosystems face a multitude of environmental stressors, including warming and acidification. While warming is expected to have a pronounced effect on plankton communities, many components of the plankton seem fairly robust towards realistic end-of-century acidification conditions. However, interactions of the two stressors and the inclusion of further factors such as nutrient concentration and trophic interactions are expected to change this outcome. We investigated the effects of warming and high CO2 on a nutrient-deplete late summer plankton community from the Kiel Fjord, Baltic Sea, using a mesocosm setup crossing two temperatures with a gradient of CO2. Phytoplankton and microzooplankton (MZP) growth rates as well as biomass, taxonomic composition, and grazing rates of MZP were analysed. We observed effects of high CO2, warming, and their interactions on all measured parameters. The occurrence and direction of the effects were dependent on the phytoplankton or MZP community composition. In addition, the abundance of small-sized phytoplankton was identified as one of the most important factors in shaping the MZP community composition. Overall, our results indicate that an estuarine MZP community used to strong natural fluctuations in CO2 can still be affected by a moderate increase in CO2 if it occurs in combination with warming and during a nutrient-deplete post-bloom situation. This highlights the importance of including trophic interactions and seasonality aspects when assessing climate change effects on marine zooplankton communities.

Description: Reefs formed by scleractinian cold-water corals represent unique biodiversity hot spots in the deep sea, preferring aphotic water depths of 200–1000 m. The distribution of the most prominent reef-building species Lophelia pertusa is controlled by various environmental factors including dissolved oxygen concentrations and temperature. Consequently, the expected ocean deoxygenation and warming triggered by human-induced global change are considered as a serious threat to cold-water coral reefs. Here, we present results on recently discovered reefs in the SE Atlantic, where L. pertusa thrives in hypoxic and rather warm waters. This sheds new light on its capability to adapt to extreme conditions, which is facilitated by high surface ocean productivity, resulting in extensive food supply. Putting our data in an Atlantic-wide perspective clearly demonstrates L. pertusa’s ability to develop population-specific adaptations, which are up to now hardly considered in assessing its present and future distributions.

Description: The variability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and the Meridional Freshwater Transport (Mov) at 24°N, 11°S, and 30°S, simulated with the GFDL-CM3 model under the historical (1860–2005) and RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios (2006–2100) are examined. The results are compared with the climatology and observations in the search for salinity biases that would compromise the accuracy of the state of the future climate predicted by this model. The AMOC wavelet analysis shows a predominant decadal variability at 24°N, whereas the annual signal is more prominent in the South Atlantic. The Mov magnitude varies considerably among the latitudes: increasing at 24°N, rather stable at 11°S and decreasing at 30°S. Such a pattern is followed by an AMOC weakening regardless of the latitude until the end of the 21st century, indicating that a reduction in Mov in the southern South Atlantic and an increase in the North Atlantic are potential drivers of the AMOC destabilization. Both model and observations agree on the stability of the circulation, even though the model projects a stronger AMOC than the latter. Besides the AMOC weakening, a shoaling of its upper limb is also observed. Salinity biases were found mostly in the South Atlantic in the upper 1000 m of the water column, with the model results significantly deviating from the observations and climatology in the mid-Atlantic, especially at 30°S. Possible causes for the abovementioned results, including potential drivers for salinity biases are discussed.

Description: Bacteriophages, also called phages, are viruses of bacteria. They are the most common and diverse biological entities on this planet. For metagenomic investigation, their diversity is also their biggest obstacle. The direct metagenomic sequence of environmental phage communities often leads to short genomic fragments limiting the investigation to a few individual aspects of phage biology and diversity. The presented protocol for generating a host-associated metagenome reduces the phage diversity to a concise and accessible size. Metagenome sequencing often leads to complete genomes, and the availability of a suitable host system ensures further experimental investigation.

Description: Most fish stocks in the European Union (EU) are still being overfished. One recent measure of the EU common fisheries policy to curb overfishing is the introduction of landing obligations that are meant to reduce discards, but the success of landing obligations is controversial, as discards still take place. In the German Western Baltic Sea , discards are currently estimated using ship observer data, but vessels 〈12 m are not sufficiently controlled. We here use an independent method and document widespread discard of undersized cod and flatfish in late summer 2018 using video transects. Discards along the coastline of the south-western Baltic Sea amount to an extrapolated 14.0 t of cod and 1.0 t of flatfish decomposing on the sea floor in 1-13 m depth in a subarea of Mecklenburg Bight that covers only 2.3% of ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea ) subdivisions 22-24, the habitat of Western Baltic cod. Compared to a similar video-mapping seven years earlier (in 2011), the amount of discard increased markedly, suggesting that the implementation of landing obligations in the time between the two mappings for under-sized catches has not resulted in a decrease but an increase of discards. We suggest that higher observed discards of cod in 2018 are also due to a high percentage of cod coming from the 2016-cohort of the Western Baltic cod stock which are just undersized but nevertheless caught by most passive net gear. Our data complement estimates based on ship observer data, while providing the first direct evidence of the fate of discards in the benthic marine habitat.

Description: Although considerable progress has been made in the management and planning of the marine environment, important gaps still exist in streamlining policies across governance levels, maritime sectors, and between different countries. This can hinder effective Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) and prevent harmonious cross-sectoral cooperation, and importantly, cross-border or trans-boundary collaboration. These may in turn have serious implications for overall ocean governance and ultimately, marine sustainability. The North Atlantic presents an ideal case-study region for reviewing these issues: North Atlantic countries have different governance structures, and as such, different approaches to marine policy. Therefore, for an effective marine management, cross-sectoral and cross-border MSP in the region, there is a need to review marine and maritime policies in order to identify differences and commonalities among countries. This chapter reviews major policies for the marine environment in the North Atlantic and assesses where differences between countries exist and at which governance level they are being created. Key research questions include: (i) Are there significant differences in marine policy between North Atlantic countries? Moreover, are there any substantial geographical/political differences? (ii) Are there differences in implementation of key policies? Such an analysis requires a sound framework for comparison among countries. To that end, the use of “horrendograms”, a tool increasingly being used by the marine research and planning community to assess such issues, is adopted. Results indicate that key differences between countries are created primarily at a national level of marine governance. Although differences between countries exist, overall strategic targets are similar. For instance, whilst the political systems of certain North Atlantic countries may differ substantially, key objectives for major sectors, such as fisheries and conservation, are similar – even when such objectives are implemented at different levels. Findings from the study can enable targeted policy intervention and, as such, assist the development of future outlooks of ocean governance in the region. Results can also aid the development of future visions and scenarios for MSP in the Atlantic region.

Description: "Für ein gutes Miteinander auf See“ ist eine Initiative am GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel, die sich der Prävention von sexualisierter Belästigung, Diskriminierung und Gewalt (SBDG) auf deutschen Forschungsschiffen widmet. Geleitet wird die Initiative vom Gleichstellungsteam, das in der komplexen Organisationsstruktur der Forschungsschifffahrt viele Akteur*innen zusammenbringen muss, um die Maßnahmen passgenau zu entwickeln und zu etablieren. Auf Forschungsfahrten sind die Menschen für einen längeren Zeitraum auf engem Raum zusammen und können unerwünschten Situationen nicht ausweichen. Das Ziel der Initiative ist es, dafür eine Rettungsinsel zu bieten: Etablierte und klare Strukturen sollen Sicherheit geben und eine Klärung von unerwünschten Situationen ermöglichen. Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Einblick in die Vorgehensweise der Entwicklung der Initiative und erläutert, welche Herausforderungen Forschungsschiffe als Arbeitsort für eine SBDG-Initiative darstellen.

Description: Well-constrained and widely distributed bottom simulating reflectors in various geological settings across both passive and active margins make the area offshore southwestern Taiwan an excellent location to study gas hydrate dynamics and fluid flow systems. Seismic data reveal the presence of subsurface fluid flow systems and ubiquitous free gas and gas hydrates. This article aims to summarize and map the different types of seismic observations related to the gas hydrate system. The spatial distribution of seismic indicators for gas accumulation, fluid migration, and the presence of gas hydrates suggests that topographic highs on both passive and active margins are sites of particularly efficient free gas accumulation and gas hydrate formation. Seismic indicators observed in fold and thrust structures suggest that the fluid system in the active margin is structurally controlled and that the highest gas hydrate saturation levels are found in the cores of thrust anticlines on the lower slope of the active margin area.

Description: This article reviews extensive geophysical survey data, ocean drilling results and long-term seafloor monitoring that constrain the distribution and concentration of gas hydrates within the accretionary prism of the northern Cascadia subduction margin, located offshore Vancouver Island in Canada. Seismic surveys and geologic studies conducted since the 1980s have mapped the bottom simulating reflector (BSR), detected gas hydrate occurrence and estimated gas hydrate and free gas concentrations. Additional constraints were obtained from seafloor-towed, controlled-source electromagnetic surveying. A component of these studies has been the examination of low-temperature seafloor vents and seeps that emit gas and fluids into the ocean. These features are identified seismically as chimney-like zones of reduced acoustic reflectivity within the sediment stratigraphy, functioning as conduits for gas and fluid migration from below the BSR to the seafloor. Gas hydrates have been recovered from the seafloor and from sediment cores at vent sites, mostly in massive (nodular) form and as a vein-like fracture filling. The Ocean Networks Canada cabled NEPTUNE observatory has gathered extensive continuous, long-term observations on gas hydrate dynamics at the seafloor and in boreholes at two nodes on the continental slope featuring high gas hydrate concentrations. Measurements taken at the observatory include a time-series of gas bubble emission rates, changes in the near-seafloor electromagnetic structure and seafloor compliance linked to gas hydrate formation and dissociation. Two Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) expeditions collected cores, measured downhole properties and deployed downhole instruments within the central accretionary prism. At IODP Site U1364, pore pressures are being monitored above and below the base of the gas hydrate stability zone at a slope setting using an “Advanced Circulation Obviation Retrofit Kit” (A-CORK). Downhole pore pressures, temperatures and electrical resistivities also are being monitored at IODP Site U1416 using the “Simple Cabled Instrument for Measuring Parameters In Situ” (SCIMPI) tool at a vent site from near-seafloor to just above the base of the gas hydrate stability zone.