heavier gear and larger nets, for higher speed on long distance 
passages, and for a reduction of the number of the crew cannot be 
met by a vessel built in the early 60s. 
Nevertheless, both the managing institute DHI and the DFG will 
endeavour to make optimum use of METEOR in marine research, as 
far as feasible from the point of view of technics, finance and per- 
sonnel. In these efforts they may rely, as in the past, on the assistance 
by both the ship’s command and the embarked groups of scientists. 
This present review of the research cruises that have so far been 
undertaken by METEOR is to serve mainly practical purposes: 
It is to draw the attention of all those who are interested in observed 
data and in biological and geological samples, to collections and data 
that have not yet been fully evaluated. At first each of the cruises 
No. 1 to 49 with its working programmes and track charts, or charts 
of the area of research, respectively, is represented. Then, the work 
planned for research cruise No. 50 is described. 
This review does not contain any results of the cruises, since a 
well-balanced representation of results was considered unachievable, 
due to the shortage of space. Instead, it was tried to compile a list 
of all publications issued as a result of the expeditions. This list, 
though comprehensive, can however not claim completeness, 
The present review is based, among other things, on programme- 
booklets that have been published by DHI or DFG, respectively. 
Furthermore, it is based on the reports of some major cruises that 
have been published in the series A of “Meteor-Forschungsergeb- 
nisse“, Detailed information on individual cruises, as well as numerous 
physical measured data are stored in, and available from, the Deut- 
sches Ozeanographisches Datenzentrum / German Oceanographic Data 
Centre (DOD) which is maintained jointly by DFG and DHI. Thanks 
are due to Mr. Kohnke, Director of the DOD, who has compiled this 
review, with assistance by the DHI. 
Dr. Gerhard Zickwolff 
Präsident und Professor des 
Deutschen Hydrographischen 
Instituts 
Professor Dr. Gotthilf Hempel 
Vorsitzender der Senats- 
kommission für Ozeanographie der 
Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft