64PE366 - Day 7

To get an idea what Charlet 3 actually means, one has to know what this appreviation stands for: "Changes in resource limitation and energy transfer" along a transect in the North Sea. Resource limitation does certainly not exist on board though, since excellent meals and snacks are provided 3 times a day. Once this energy is taken up, the scientists use it to take water samples with a CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) rosette, which itself is handled by the crew. The further processing of the samples has to be done carefully and with balancing skills since the sea has been quite rough during the last stations. However, since we are staying on board for a week now, we are able to manage and prevent the typical cruise bruise- exceptions included. I am involved in conducting bioassays along the transect to get an idea of what nutrient is actually limiting the North sea production. What does the phytoplankton composition look like? How will it be changed during the spring bloom, when cruise 4 will take place?

Today, the scientists are processing the last samples, which in my case means filtering until the sun says goodnight. I can remember when I trialed and errored on folding my first filter, while holding one tweezer in each shaking hand. So, I have learned quite a lot of techniques during the last days. I am a "one handed" filter folder now, I have learned how to prepare and make use of the CTD and to freeze samples in liquid nitrogen, just to name some examples. And, quite important in daily life at sea, I have learned to fix every single item on board. You don't want to find your shampoo bottle in your bed once. Also, it is interesting to go to the bridge and see how the actual stearing and navigation of the vessel is done.

Now, as a reader one would probably like to know what my expectations were before the cruise and if they match with the situation on board. I personally didn't have a lot of expectations but I was looking forward to the cruise as part of my life as an upcoming scientist, since this might probably be the work I will carry out after my studies. I have to say that I like the cruise a lot. It is a nice atmosphere to work in and people from different parts of the world and different ages work together to find answers. It was great to meet those people.

In science, it is important to do structured research because you want to find an anwer to a specific question and you are not randomly picking samples. In dart, which is a main freetime occupation on board, I was much better when I was aiming for specific numbers rather than just give it a try on the board. I am very much looking forward to the results and data analysis of this project and to see, if specific questions can be answered by then.