In winter 2023/24 a high precipitation rate in northern and eastern Germany increased the run-off volume of the Elbe and Weser rivers tremendously. The MOSES Sternfahrt-11 was conducted during and directly after the flood event, between 28th of December 2023 and 29th of January 2024 to identify its influence on the solution of different indication parameters. On January 10th and 11th in total seven samples within the port of Hamburg and the Elbe Estuary were taken from HPS ships and the Glückstadt ferry. The last two ships Mya II and Littorina covered the outflow of the Elbe into the German Bight. Both Ships had a transportable container laboratory (MOSES container) with a sensor system (see additional metadata) on board, measuring continuously different environmental data. Mya II started sampling on the 17th of January in Cuxhaven, cruising along the northern part of the German Bight towards Büsum. The second day the crew headed west towards Helgoland. The following crew on Littorina took over for the last two days, the 28th and 29th of January, covering the western part of the German Bight between Helgoland and Cuxhaven.

Water samples at the specific stations were taken using a CTD rosette including Niskin-bottles in surface waters (about 1m depth). On board the samples were split up and preserved according the parameter(s) which should be analysed. The analysis of the different parameters was divided between the participating institutes and examined in the respective laboratories (for further details see additional metadata).