The majestic Mount Etna rises on the horizon as the Maria S. Merian leaves the port of Catania on 3 December. The coastline of Sicily slowly disappears from view and the research vessel sets course for the Aegean Sea. On board: an international team of 22 scientists and 24 crew members, determined to uncover the secrets of the Kolumbo volcanic system near Santorini and the Amorgos fault zone. Their goal: to develop an early warning system for natural hazards that recognises landslides, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis at an early stage and protects coastal communities.
The journey begins a few days earlier in Catania, where the team arrives before the ship is ready. Time for last-minute errands and a bit of city life - the last hint of the mainland before weeks on the high seas. The Maria S. Merian, named after the naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian, impresses on first sight: Equipped with ultra-modern laboratories, two rotating propeller pods for precise positioning and stabilisers that allow her to work calmly even in rough seas, she is a floating high-tech centre.
Everyday life on board begins with the safety drill. The shrill alarm sounds, life jackets are put on and the first test of courage awaits: getting into the lifeboat. Steeply downwards, strapped in and with your back to the surface of the water - a challenge for some, but everyone masters it with ease.
Then things get serious: in an initial briefing, the team discusses the research questions and the distribution of tasks for the next few days. The first rescue operation off the coast of Mount Etna is prepared with excitement. A video sled is lowered into the water to recover measuring stations from an earlier trip. But the technology does not play along. A defect prevents the recovery and the station remains at the bottom of the sea for the time being. ‘That's part of the research,’ says one team member calmly. Changing plans is part of everyday life at sea, as is working together in shifts, technical briefings and constantly adapting to the weather and conditions.
Alongside the scientific work, a microcosm of living together takes place. The cabins, spread over the various decks, are being occupied and decorated - a touch of cosiness in the pre-Christmas period in the middle of the sea. Fairy lights light up next to computer screens in the labs, a homemade Advent calendar provides surprises, and joint sports sessions help to clear the mind. In the evenings, everyone sits together, shares stories and plans the next steps.
At the end of the first week, the team has reached the target area in the SouthAegean Sea. The first test measurements are now due. The researchers are investigating how earthquakes could trigger landslides, mapping the hydrothermal activity in the Kolumbo crater and collecting data on the stability of the volcano. Innovative sensors on the seabed are testing real-time data for an early warning system. Prof Dr Nomikou Paraskevi from the National & Kapodistiran University of Athens is a long-standing research partner on board. But the collaboration does not end in the research laboratories: an exchange is planned with Greek schools on Santorini, where pupils can take a virtual look behind the scenes of life and work on a research vessel.
While the sea is getting rougher, the mood on board remains optimistic. Sunsets colour the sea a bright red, and the scientists look forward to the coming weeks with excitement. There is still a lot to discover, but one thing is certain: the first week has proven that the team is not only up to the elements, but also the scientific challenges.
With swaying greetings from the Aegean and ready for the next chapters of this exciting expedition!
The MSM 132 team
Background Information:
The expedition is part of MULTI-MAREX, one of four joint projects of the mareXtreme research mission, an initiative of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM). The project is dedicated to investigating the Mediterranean region, which is considered a hotspot for volcanic and tectonic activity. Using state-of-the-art methods and interdisciplinary collaboration, the researchers want to understand how geological processes trigger natural hazards and how these can be better predicted. The MSM132 expedition, led by Prof. Dr Christian Berndt from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Kiel, is the first of three planned expeditions in this project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the five northern German federal states.
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