Rhine Expedition 2023

The Rhine expedition of the research and media vessel ALDEBARAN took place from 8 June (International Maritime Day) to 3 July 2023.

The expedition passed through two countries, Germany and France, and five federal states: Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. Every day, the average distance covered was 40 kilometers.

Shortly before Wesel, the ALDEBARAN turned onto the West German canals towards Münster, Hanover and Luneburg.

The "Terrestrial Bio-Geo Chemistry" division of the Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen used the ALDEBARAN's journey to investigate the formation of climate gases (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) in bodies of water.

At 30 locations between Speyer and the Bay of Lübeck, not only the climate gases themselves were measured, but also their precursors, such as nitrate and ammonium.

The investigations are essential for understanding at which locations and under which conditions climate gases are released from the water into the atmosphere.

These findings will be incorporated into the working group's projects and will flow into the national joint project ITMS (The Integrated Greenhouse Gas Moinitoring System for Germany).