A novel time-series station in the Wadden Sea (NW Germany): First results on continuous nutrient and methane measurements

In autumn 2002 a time-series station was installed in the tidal inlet between the Islands of Langeoog and Spiekeroog (Southern North Sea, NW Germany) to continuously measure physical, chemical, and meteorological parameters, even during extreme weather conditions (gale-force storms, drifting ice). Inside the pole of the station sensor tubes are installed in direction of the prevailing tidal currents. The tubes are equipped with hydrographic sensors (pressure, temperature, conductivity) and allow retrieval of water for nutrient analysis by automated instruments located inside the pole. Dissolved methane and the nutrients ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, and silicate are measured at the station. Nutrient patterns obtained during spring and summer 2006 reflect the development of nutrient concentrations during the annual spring phytoplankton bloom. Methane measurements showed a tidal dependence with maxima at low tide, which emphasizes the tidal flat sediments as the dominating source for methane in the open coastal water column.