Plattform Platform	Reise-Nr. Cruise-No.	Zeitraum Period	Projekt Project	Arbeitsgebiet Working area
Meteor	M187	25.01.2023 - 04.03.2023		SE Atlantic (Limit 20?W)

Fahrtleiter Chief Scientist	Institut Institute	Auslaufhafen Port of departure	Einlaufhafen Port of return	Stationskarte Station map	Schiffsroute Trackchart
Browning Thomas	Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)	Walvis Bay	Walvis Bay

Ziel der Reise / Objectives of Cruise:

The major objective of cruise M187 was to trace upwelled ocean filaments as they were advected away from the Namibian coast towards the South Atlantic Gyre and use these observations to determine the role filaments play in estabilishing the broadscale biogeochemical gradients in this region. On the cruise we successfully tracked two such filaments and then followed this up with a near-shelf to offshore transect, reaching as far as 5 degrees west. In both the filaments and on the offshore transect we investigated the evolution of key physical, chemical and biological parameters, with a focus on nutrient and trace elements, dissolved gases, dissolved and particulate carbon, sinking carbon export, the optical properties of the water column, and studies on microbes in seawater. Ultimately, following sample analysis in home laboratories, this research will shed light on key mechanisms establishing the major oceanic biogeochemical provinces, so that they can be included in models used to predict the impacts of climate change. The cruise departed from Walvis Bay (Namibia) on 25.01 and was almost complete with the first filament study when a medical evacuation was initiated and we had to return to Walvis Bay, wait for a replacement crew memeber, then return to the study site, leading to a loss of around 6 days of cruise time. This was time that would have been used to track a third filament, but we consider our successful tracking of two filaments and the final transect out into the subtropical gyre to be very successful.

Messungen / Measurements

Verankerungen / Moorings