Visual observations of sea-ice conditions were performed hourly from the bridge of Polarstern. The observations followed the ASPeCT protocol with additional observations on melt ponds.Observer team: Adam Ulfsbo, Alexandra Cherkasheva, Ann-Katrin Meinhard, Christian Katlein, Claudia Burau, Daniel Scholz, Erika Allhusen, Estelle Kilias, Eva Kirschenmann, Gerhard Dieckmann, , Ilka Peeken, Kristin Hänselmann, Kai-Uwe Ludwichowski, Laura Wischnewski, Mar Fernandez-Mendez, Marcel Nicolaus, Mario Hoppmann, Mirko Sühs, Priska Hunkeler, Robert Ricker, Stefan Hendricks