Arctic cyclone clusters significantly impact sea ice cover, causing it to break up and reducing its extent. The storms also drive ice floes northwards, leading to a thinner and less resilient ice sheet.
Researchers discovered that significant amounts of terrestrial carbon are stored in the seabed, with microorganisms preferring fresh marine carbon over ancient terrestrial sources. This knowledge is essential for assessing the climate impact of thawing permafrost and its effects on atmospheric greenhouse gas levels.
The EU project SYNCHRONY aims to improve understanding of climate and ecosystem changes in the Southern Ocean and around Antarctica, and will establish an internationally coordinated observing system. The project will coordinate interdisciplinary activities, harmonise data streams, and create new data products.
Researchers found a significant increase in Arctic icebergs since the 2000s, with stones raining down on the soft seafloor, forming new hard-substrate habitats for marine life. The presence of icebergs also poses greater risks to shipping and fisheries.
The Arctic river deltas store a significant amount of carbon, with 57.5 gigatonnes stored in just 1% of the global permafrost surface. Climate change is destabilizing these regions, causing thawing and releasing more carbon into the atmosphere.
Researchers used climate simulations to study the formation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current around 34 million years ago. The findings show that a reorganisation of global ocean circulation took place during this time, which had significant effects on carbon uptake and the onset of the Cenozoic Ice Age.
Hajo Eicken takes over as AWI Director, bringing extensive expertise in glaciology and a network of national and international collaborations. He aims to strengthen the institute's research by integrating social sciences and indigenous forms of knowledge.
Researchers conducted the SANAT flight campaign to study aerosols' role in cloud formation in Antarctica. They collected extensive data on aerosol frequency, transport processes, and chemical composition, revealing an unexpectedly high aerosol concentration in the interior.
Hajo Eicken takes over as scientific director of the Alfred Wegener Institute, building bridges between social sciences and natural sciences. The institute aims to exploit partnerships and globally unique research platforms to tackle Earth system research questions.
A new study reveals that 16% of the Arctic Ocean's dissolved organic carbon comes from land, primarily from thawing permafrost and coastal erosion. This finding has significant implications for understanding how terrestrial organic matter affects Arctic marine ecosystems and the ocean's ability to store CO2.
An international research team proposed a new sustainable management concept for krill stocks in the Southern Ocean, integrating fishing activities with closely-meshed scientific monitoring. This approach aims to ensure the long-term protection of the ecosystem and align commercial interests with conservation goals.
A recent study by AWI suggests that the Southern Ocean's ability to absorb CO2 has remained unchanged despite climate change, due to increased density stratification between surface and deep water masses. This 'freshening' of surface water keeps carbon-rich deep water trapped in the lower layer.
A study by Alfred Wegener Institute revealed that microalgae in the Southern Ocean played a significant role in reducing global atmospheric CO2 levels 14,000 years ago. The findings suggest that changes in sea ice extent had a direct impact on algal productivity and carbon transport to the deep sea.
A lake formed in 1995 and has repeatedly drained through channels and cracks, causing massive amounts of fresh water to reach the glacier tongue. Researchers found extensive triangular fracture fields with cracks that are shaped differently from all previous lake drainages.
Representatives from over 170 countries meet in Geneva to negotiate a legally binding agreement to tackle global plastic pollution. The proposed treaty aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect biodiversity by limiting plastic production and eliminating hazardous substances.
A research team from the Alfred Wegener Institute found that a current in the Barents Sea affects Arctic sea ice formation. Warmer Atlantic water flowing into the Barents Sea can warm it up and lead to less new sea ice formation, causing existing ice to melt faster.
Researchers found that gradual warming causes significant changes in the plankton community, while heatwaves amplify these effects. The study used historical data and an experiment to simulate future warmer scenarios with and without heatwaves.
Researchers used ancient plant DNA to study the impact of global warming on plant diversity and interactions. They found that temperature changes led to fundamental shifts in ecological conditions, with some plant species supporting each other during cold periods.
A team of researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute analyzed aerial survey data showing a marked decrease in Arctic pressure ridges north of Greenland and in Fram Strait, declining by 12.2% per decade. The study found that the frequency and height of pressure ridges are decreasing due to the dramatic melting of older ice.
Research reveals particle emissions from offshore wind farms can be toxic to blue mussels, affecting their physiology and potentially impacting coastal ecosystems. The study calls for further research on long-term effects and the importance of multi-use wind parks for aquaculture.
Researchers link global warming spike in 2023 to reduced low-level cloud cover, which limits Earth's ability to reflect solar radiation. This decline in planetary albedo could explain the 'missing' 0.2 degrees Celsius of warming.
The study reveals that blue whales primarily occur in summer and autumn, while fin whales can be heard throughout the year. The data also confirms the sporadic occurrence of blue whales during winter months, which may be related to climate change.
A team of researchers has made the southernmost discovery of amber in the world, revealing environmental conditions and forest ecosystems near the South Pole. The 'Pine Island amber' provides direct insights into a swampy, conifer-rich, temperate rainforest environment 90 million years ago.
Researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute have developed a new approach called 'storylines' that uses probabilistic attribution studies and 'nudging' techniques to identify the fingerprints of climate change in extreme weather events. By comparing hypothetical scenarios with reality, they can determine how much more probable an event...
A new study led by the Alfred Wegener Institute has analyzed 2.2 tons of sand from 71 beaches along the German coast, revealing that 52 beaches were contaminated with plastic. The researchers found an average of four plastic particles per square meter, but noted that microplastic pollution varies greatly from place to place.
Researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute found that atmospheric blocking slowed the melting of Greenland's 79° N Glacier by cooling Atlantic seawater flowing into its cavern. This change had significant implications for the future of Greenland's glaciers, as warmer ocean temperatures typically accelerate ice melting.
A new study reveals that Arctic microalgae can build up biomass through photosynthesis as early as March, despite barely above the horizon sun. This discovery shows that photosynthesis is possible under much lower light conditions than previously assumed, potentially expanding the global ocean's photosynthetic habitat.
Research reveals that fish in Greenlandic waters feed on jellyfish, with some species making up the majority of their diet. The study's findings challenge previous assumptions about the role of jellyfish in marine food webs and highlight the need for further research on gelatinous zooplankton's impact.
The Antarctic ice sheet formed around 34 million years ago in the eastern region of the continent, rather than the entire continent as previously thought. The study reveals that different regions of the ice sheet react differently to external influences and climatic changes.
A study by AWI experts reveals that permafrost soils are thawing in step with global warming, but there is no evidence of a single global tipping point. Instead, numerous local and regional tipping points will be exceeded at different times and warming levels, leading to cumulative effects.
Experiments at AWIPEV Station reveal phytoplankton's behavior primarily depends on cooling phases after or between heatwaves, not just increased temperatures. This knowledge gap highlights the need for investigating temperature fluctuations to improve forecasts on biodiversity changes.
A new study reveals that jellyfish in the Arctic Ocean are expected to expand their habitats poleward, with some species potentially tripling in size. This could have significant cascading impacts on the entire food web and affect fish populations already under pressure.
A recent study found that even simple marine polychaete worms, such as Platynereis dumerilii, have unique daily rhythms and behavioral patterns. The researchers discovered that these individual differences can provide an evolutionary edge and increase the resiliency of the species.
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current's flow speed has fluctuated significantly over the past 5.3 million years, with slower speeds during glacial periods and faster speeds during interglacials. This study provides valuable insights into the current's response to climate fluctuations and its impact on Antarctica's ice sheets.
The 79° N-Glacier in Greenland has lost over 160 meters of thickness since 1998, with melt rates reaching 130 meters per year. The glacier's instability is attributed to warm ocean currents and atmospheric warming, threatening sea level rise.
A team from the Alfred Wegener Institute found that warm Atlantic water is melting Greenland's 79° North Glacier, causing it to grow thinner. The study used a high-resolution ocean model to simulate the circulation below the ice tongue, revealing that higher ocean temperatures in the Atlantic are chiefly determining the melting rates.
Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute have found that jellyfish serve as a vital food source for amphipods during the Arctic winter. DNA metabarcoding analysis revealed a diverse range of jellyfish species in the stomachs of amphipod species, highlighting the importance of these gelatinous organisms in the polar night diet.
Researchers found that climate models are accurate at simulating global temperature trends but struggle to capture regional variations, particularly over long periods. This disparity has significant implications for planning and implementing climate adaptation measures.
Researchers will study past 'greenhouse' periods in the Arctic to understand the impact of an ice-free region on the environment and society. The six-year project aims to quantify changes in sea ice and land ice dynamics, as well as ecosystems, to inform climate projections.
A new study reveals that the decline of Arctic sea ice is altering zooplankton behavior, leading to more frequent food shortages and potential negative effects on larger species. The changing light conditions are affecting the daily vertical migration of zooplankton in the Arctic.
A new study by AWI researchers finds that manganese nodules can contain high levels of radioactive substances, including radium-226 and thorium-230, which exceed radiation protection limits. Handling these nodules without protective gear poses a health risk to humans.
Research reveals that Arctic ice algae, Melosira arctica, contain ten times more microplastic particles than surrounding seawater. The clumps of dead algae transport plastic pollutants quickly into the deep sea, posing a threat to creatures that feed on them.
Human activities have caused global mean temperature to rise by 1.1°C, leading to climate and biodiversity crises. The study proposes a combination of emissions reduction, restoration, and protection measures to address both catastrophes.
A new study reveals that Antarctic seals' vocalisations decrease significantly when sea ice disappears, affecting their breeding and behavior. The research used underwater microphones to track the seals' acoustic presence over eight years, finding a notable decline in 2010/2011.
The Arctic permafrost is home to thousands of industrial sites storing hazardous substances. As climate change accelerates thawing, these contaminants can be released, causing irreparable damage to ecosystems. The study estimates 13,000 to 20,000 contaminated sites in the region.
A new European Union project aims to significantly improve Earth system models by incorporating more realistic mesoscale eddy representations. This will provide valuable climate information for national and international assessments, contributing to the IPCC's next Assessment Report.
Citizen science project in Arctic reveals 1/3 of plastic debris comes from Europe, with significant contributions from Germany. The findings underscore the urgent need for improved local waste management and reduced global plastic production to tackle pollution in remote ecosystems like the Arctic.
The years 2001 to 2011 were the warmest in the last thousand years, with temperatures 1.5 °C higher than in the 20th century at high elevations of the Greenland Ice Sheet. This warming is surprisingly pronounced and decoupled from the rest of the Arctic.
Researchers used high-resolution radar systems to reconstruct past ice streams in Greenland, revealing they can 'shut down' rapidly. This insight offers new information on the future behavior of ice streams and how it affects sea-level rise predictions.
Researchers found a previously unknown transport route for carbon-rich particles from the Barents and Kara Seas to the deep sea, absorbing up to 3.6 million metric tons of CO2 annually. This mechanism is essential for creating global carbon dioxide budgets and understanding the ocean's role in the carbon cycle.