Plattform Platform	Reise-Nr. Cruise-No.	Zeitraum Period	Projekt Project	Arbeitsgebiet Working area
Meteor	M87-1	19.03.2012 - 02.05.2012	EURO-BASIN	NE Atlantic (Limit 40?W) NW Atlantic (Limit 40?W)

Fahrtleiter Chief Scientist	Institut Institute	Auslaufhafen Port of departure	Einlaufhafen Port of return	Stationskarte Station map	Schiffsroute Trackchart
Backhaus Jan O.	Institut fur Meereskunde der Universitat Hamburg	Lisboa	Reykjavik

Ziel der Reise / Objectives of Cruise:

Recent studies suggest that winter convection contributes to a high biomass of phytoplankton in the deep convective layer, which is in contradiction to the classical spring bloom critical depth model of phytoplankton bloom dynamics. In order to investigate the implications of these two regimes for bio-geochemical fluxes and ecosystem dynamics we will investigate the mechanisms influencing winter phytoplankton production and biomass, resolve the fate of phytoplankton biomass produced during the winter convective period (i.e. flux to depth) and examine its impact on exit from diapause of Calanus finmarchicus, a key secondary producer in this system. Upon the onset of stratification convection is reduced and the system shifts to a classical spring bloom system dominated by large phytoplankton cells, contrib-uting to the production of higher trophic levels, and to a second flux of carbon to the deep ocean, which is potentially mediated by higher trophic levels. In order to assess the magnitude of these fluxes throughout the course of evolution of these two regimes, the proposed multinational, interdisciplinary cruise will use state-of-the-art techniques to measure biogeochemical fluxes, and ecosystem structure and functioning. This cruise is a component of the EU contribution to the International BASIN (Basin-scale Analysis, Synthesis, and Integration) program.

Messungen / Measurements