Germany_26_SWOS_PS153

Collection of multidisciplinary information on the western Weddell Sea continental slope, shelf, and near Larsen C in order to

1. understand sea ice/ ice shelf/ ocean processes and to assess their impact on hydrographic and nutrient properties as well as on carbon fluxes from the surface to the deep sea
2. continue observations of long-term change and variability of sea ice thickness distribution and snow properties
3. characterize water masses and understand their formation, dispersion, pathways and shelf-basin exchange mechanisms
4. understand and map cryo-pelagic and cryo-benthic processes, and ecosystem parameters and gradients in dependence of sea ice conditions