During cruise HE644 (joint campaign of MS FRITZ REUTER and RV HEINCKE), Lagrangian surface drifters (Meyerjürgens et al., 2019; Deyle et al., 2024) were deployed from MS FRITZ REUTER, following the near-surface water motion, therefore allowing for observations within a moving water mass over extended periods with minimal disturbance to the surrounding water. Coordinates of the drifter position were transmitted by a GPS satellite tracker (inReach® Messenger from Garmin Ltd.) at two-minute intervals. Position data was processed after Deyle et al. (2024) and is available on minutely resolution in this dataset. For original trajectories see "". In addition, the drifters were equipped with (down to 1.75 m depth) instrument chains including temperature and lightweight CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) sensors. Depth in water was only recorded by RBRbrevio³ sensors, for others the depth was measured during sensor chain preparation and saved in the data array as fixed depth. The in situ temperature was recorded at up to six different depths using RBRsolo³, RBRbrevio³ (both sample frequency 1-2 Hz) and Aqua TROLL® 100 sensors (sample frequency 1 min-1). Conductivity was measured at up to three different depths, using RBRbrevio³ and Aqua TROLL® 100 sensors. RBR sensors were calibrated to a measurement uncertainty of ± 0.002 °C and ± 0.003 mS cm-1, whereas the TROLL sensors have a measurement uncertainty of ± 0.1 °C and ± 0.5%. For details on the sensor data processing see the appropriate processing report.