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.
Researchers discovered that stony corals actively transport oxygen away from areas with high photosynthetic activity to reduce oxidative stress. This targeted ventilation system, facilitated by the tiny hairs on their surface, helps corals mitigate coral bleaching caused by environmental stressors.
Research by the Alfred Wegener Institute found that low-frequency noise from human activities stresses crustaceans, mussels, and worms on the seafloor, impacting their ability to transform sediment and maintain ecosystem function. This could have far-reaching consequences for nutrient cycling and food availability in marine ecosystems.
In a breakthrough observation, scientists documented large groups of southern fin whales feeding together in the Antarctic for the first time since the whaling ban. The discovery suggests that fin whale populations are rebounding, with numbers reaching up to 150 individuals.
The thawing of permafrost soils could release massive amounts of greenhouse gases, exacerbating global warming. The Arctic regions are experiencing rapid changes in land and sea temperatures, threatening habitats and human populations.
The International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean v2 provides the most detailed seafloor map of the region, with new data covering twice the area of its predecessor. This chart will help scientists better understand ocean currents and climate change.
The Siberian tundra is projected to disappear entirely unless ambitious greenhouse-gas reduction measures are taken. A simulation shows that only 30% of the tundra can survive with aggressive climate protection, while the rest will be lost.
Researchers estimate that by 2040, up to 80 million metric tons of plastic will be annually released into the ocean. The study reveals that wind transport contributes significantly to plastic particle distribution in remote regions. Integrating microplastic into air pollution measurements is crucial for better understanding its effects.
A recent study reveals alarming levels of plastic pollution in the Arctic Ocean, affecting ecosystems and potentially exacerbating climate change. Plastic debris from rivers, air, and shipping has reached all spheres of the Arctic, including the seafloor, remote beaches, and even ice and snow.
Scientists have found that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet formed 35 million years ago, with warm deep water delaying its expansion to the sea. This discovery helps improve forecasts of its future stability and ice retreat.
Scientists discovered massive sponge gardens thriving on top of seamounts in the Central Arctic Ocean, dominated by sponges that feed on remnants of an extinct fauna. Microorganisms support the sponges in exploiting this fluffy material as a source of food and energy.
The MOSAiC expedition provides the first complete picture of climate processes in the central Arctic, warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Researchers analyzed environmental parameters over a full annual cycle, finding more dynamic and faster drifting pack ice than expected.
A new study by the Alfred Wegener Institute provides a basis for reliable projections of Antarctic sea-ice impacts under climate change. Ocean eddies are found to delay sea-ice loss, contrary to existing simulations, and allow the ocean to transport additional heat northward.
Researchers have discovered a massive fish breeding area in Antarctica, spanning 240 square kilometers and estimated to be home to 60 million icefish. The breeding site is located near the Filchner Ice Shelf in the Weddell Sea and is believed to be the largest contiguous fish breeding colony ever found globally.
Rapid coastal erosion in the Arctic is driven by permafrost thawing, ground ice melting, and sea surface temperature rises. This leads to increased erosion, water pollution, and loss of habitats for local communities.
Freshwater from melting sea ice delays carbon absorption and storage in the Arctic Ocean. The study found that four months of organic carbon production were trapped above 50 meters, with more nutrients and biomass reaching the ocean floor.
Researchers have mapped significant geothermal heat beneath Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica, revealing a new potential weak spot in the ice sheet's stability. This heat flow, estimated to be up to 150 milliwatts per square meter, could lead to easier sliding of the glacier and potentially accelerate its collapse.
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current flowed more rapidly during the last interglacial period, with a flow speed 10-15% higher than today. This could lead to an increase in global temperatures and a decline in the ocean's capacity to absorb CO2.
New study reveals climate change intensifies Arctic ozone depletion, putting Europe and North America at risk of increased UV radiation exposure. The expected recovery of the ozone layer may fail unless global greenhouse gases are rapidly reduced.
The EU is funding a 15 million euro project to develop an integrated 'pan-Arctic Observing System of Systems' (pan-AOSS) via international collaboration. The project aims to improve the situation by expanding and coordinating Arctic Earth observation capacity, including measurements from Indigenous communities.
Researchers found that warm Atlantic water masses are responsible for slowed or prevented ice growth in the Barents and Kara Seas. Long-term data and simulations revealed that this phenomenon can lead to thinner and more fragile Arctic sea ice, potentially affecting regions further east.
Researchers found that salp fecal pellets release more bioavailable iron than krill pellets, allowing phytoplankton to take up five times more iron. This could lead to increased CO2 fixation and a shift in the Southern Ocean's food web as climate change affects krill dominance.
Researchers from Alfred Wegener Institute found that fin whales regularly inhabit waters surrounding Elephant Island, indicating a notable achievement in the fin whale population's recovery. The study suggests that protecting this habitat is crucial due to frequent visits by cruise ships and extensive krill fishing.
A team from Alfred Wegener Institute discovered that treeless areas have more species than mountain forests due to climate change. The study's findings suggest that broader habitats lead to a wider range of settings for diverse flora and fauna.
A team of scientists has discovered that sponges leave trails on the sea floor in the Arctic deep sea, leading to speculation about their possible active movement. The findings, published in Current Biology, challenge previous assumptions that most sponges are attached or passively moved by ocean currents.
A recent analysis of climate data from the last millennium reveals that megadroughts in Central Europe were characterised by a weak or negative phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and reduced solar radiation.
Climate researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute have developed a new method to reconcile sea-level height and glacier thickness, advancing our understanding of past climate history. By analyzing sediment cores and geological conditions, they found that glaciers were larger than previously thought, resolving the 'missing ice problem'.
Scientists from Alfred Wegener Institute found Arctic Ocean was filled with freshwater due to floating ice shelves. Freshwater inputs explained rapid climate oscillations.
A comprehensive study of the Antarctic's status quo and future reveals alarming changes due to climate change, including ocean acidification and increased biodiversity. The team forecasts a more intense 'greening' of coastal areas but warns that prolonged warming could lead to species extinction.
Research from the Alfred Wegener Institute reveals that Antarctic minke whales prefer to live in regions covered with sea ice, while humpback whales avoid them. The findings provide essential information for successful marine protection in the Antarctic and highlight the importance of long-term acoustic observations.
A study by Alfred Wegener Institute reveals that warm and dry Aprils in Central Europe increase the risk of summer droughts. The team found that a blocking high-pressure system over the North Sea and parts of Germany is to blame for these conditions.
Researchers have found that interglacials were more frequently skipped in the past than previously thought. The study used a new approach to analyze climate data, separating temperature and sea level change influences, and found repeated irregularities during the last 2.6 million years.
Krill experts recommend a new management system to address fluctuations in abundances, migration patterns, and environmental conditions affecting the species. The goal is to provide CCAMLR with the latest knowledge on krill stocks to ensure sustainable fishing practices.
International model comparison reveals Greenland Ice Sheet will contribute 9cm to global sea-level rise by 2100, while Antarctic predictions vary between -7.8 to 30cm. However, ice-sheet models for Greenland underestimate the current changes in the ice sheet due to climate change.
Permafrost erosion in Siberia's Lena Delta has increased by nearly 16 metres since the 1960s, with 15-20 metre annual losses reported. The thawing releases significant amounts of carbon and nitrogen, intensifying the greenhouse effect.
Climate change is fueling the rapid expansion of invasive species like the Asian shore crab into previously unknown habitats. This study finds that climate warming can predict the speed and extent of these invasions by examining the early developmental stages of larvae, which are often more vulnerable to environmental fluctuations.
Researchers found that only an extremely small percentage of ingested microplastic particles made it into the fish fillets. The majority were excreted, suggesting that fish can isolate and remove these particles before they penetrate their tissues.
A recent scientific study describes the nursery of sea ice that formed off the New Siberian Islands in December 2018, which is now drifting through the Arctic. The research vessel Polarstern has been analyzing data from this unique floe, providing valuable insights into the interactions between ocean, ice, and atmosphere.
Fish are highly sensitive to heat during mating and embryonic stages due to temperature-dependent cardiovascular strain. Climate change may force up to 60% of all fish species to abandon traditional spawning areas.
Researchers tracked beaver activity in two regions of Alaska and found that they created 56 new lakes in just five years, with the number doubling every four years. This can accelerate permafrost thawing, releasing greenhouse gases and intensifying climate change.
The benthic biomass on the continental shelf of the Antarctic Weddell Sea declined by two-thirds between 1988 and 2014, with a drastic change in composition. The study's findings indicate that increased sea-ice cover and thicker snow cover have concrete negative effects on benthic organisms and ecosystem productivity.
A team of researchers discovered pristinely preserved forest soil from the Cretaceous, including plant pollen and spores, in West Antarctica. The soil confirms that the region was home to temperate, swampy rainforests with an annual mean temperature of 12 degrees Celsius, much warmer than today's South Pole.
Researchers found high concentrations of microplastic particles in Fram Strait's water column and sediment. The deep sea is a major sink for microscopically small plastic particles, with sediments containing up to 13,000 particles per kilogramme.
A new algorithm allows researchers to determine dominant phytoplankton types and identify toxic algal blooms using satellite data. This breakthrough can assess water quality and impact the fishing industry, as well as inform conclusions on global warming's effects on marine plankton.
Researchers have found that ocean warming is melting Greenland's ice sheet from beneath, causing rapid melting and accelerating sea level rise. The study identified a bathymetric sill near the seafloor that accelerates warm water toward the glacier, resulting in significant heat transfer and melting.
Researchers tested a radical geo-engineering approach using climate models and found that it could potentially delay Arctic sea ice decline by decades. However, the approach would not produce meaningful cooling effects globally or in lower latitudes. The study suggests that while 'ice management' is an interesting concept, it cannot me...
A new study found that changes in high-altitude winds over the South Pacific produce fundamental effects on ocean circulation and the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The research also reveals closer atmospheric ties between mid-latitudes and the tropics, with significant implications for global climate mechanisms.
A climate model has been developed that accurately depicts the winding course of the jet stream, a major air current over the Northern Hemisphere. The new model shows that climate change is causing the jet stream to falter, leading to extreme weather conditions in Central Europe and North America.
A recent study explores the role of microscopic life in shaping the Earth's evolution and its impact on climate change. Microorganisms have been instrumental in creating a hospitable climate for human growth, but their responses to global warming pose significant threats.
A team of researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute identified a parasite with functional mitochondria that produce energy without its own genetic material. The Amoebophrya ceratii parasite has nearly all metabolic processes working, allowing it to thrive on its own with significantly reduced genetic material.