Climate researchers are searching for ice in the Antarctic that's at least 1.5 million years old to gather data on carbon dioxide and methane, and their connections to the climate's development. The BE-OI project has selected Little Dome C as the ideal site, which will be drilled into starting in mid November 2021.
New study reveals extreme scale of sea-ice melting in Arctic, with only 20% of young ice reaching Transpolar Drift. This reduction affects nutrient and sediment transport, potentially impacting ecological processes and biogeochemical cycles.
A long-term experiment in the Arctic deep sea reveals that sedentary animals colonize new habitats at a slow pace. The study found that it took up to 18 years for the first settlers to establish themselves, with only 13 species of multicellular invertebrates identified after four decades.
The Baltic Sea is home to large quantities of sunken munitions, posing an environmental risk. Researchers have provided guidelines and decision-making support to help address this issue.
The world's permafrost soils have warmed by an average of 0.3 degrees Celsius between 2007 and 2016, according to a new global study. This warming poses significant threats to infrastructure and the environment, including increased carbon dioxide and methane emissions.
The study warns that a temperature increase of over 1.5°C will cause dramatic worsening in the survival chances of offspring for important fish species, including Atlantic cod and polar cod. This could lead to a significant loss of breeding grounds and population decline, with severe consequences for Arctic seals and seabirds.
A recent study by Alfred Wegener Institute researchers found that the loss of Arctic permafrost through coastal erosion led to significant increases in carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere during the last glacial period. This phenomenon is now being studied to understand its potential impact on future climate warming.
Biologists have discovered that amphipods carry pteropods piggyback to avoid predators, but these pteropods starve due to limited access to food. The association may provide protection for both animals, but its benefits are still unclear.
A recent study reveals that a massive influx of freshwater into the North Atlantic led to intensive glacier melting in the North Pacific, thousands of kilometers away. This process highlights the alarming consequences of modern ocean warming on polar ice sheets and sea level rise.
Researchers mapped the Pine Island Glacier's seafloor and found submarine mountains holding back the ice. The glacier's tongue lost contact with the ground, leading to its abrupt retreat.
Scientists have confirmed the existence of a new cryptic amphipod species, Epimeria frankei, in the North Sea. The discovery was made possible by analyzing DNA barcodes and genomic information, which revealed subtle differences between two previously thought to be one species.
Researchers found that phytoplankton in Arctic coastal waters are resilient to ocean acidification and temperature changes, with some species producing spores that can survive and initiate blooms. This adaptation allows them to thrive in highly variable conditions, providing a vital ecosystem service for Arctic food webs.
Researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute found higher amounts of microplastic in arctic sea ice, with concentrations up to 12,000 particles per litre. The unique composition and layering of plastic particles suggest sources such as the Pacific Ocean's garbage patch and intensified shipping and fishing activities.
Researchers found that methane in sea ice is transported thousands of kilometers across the Arctic Ocean and released months later, influencing climate change. The phenomenon has not been reflected in current climate models.
A team of researchers discovered that changes in the Antarctic Ocean facilitated long-term storage of carbon dioxide during the last ice age. The study suggests that as the climate warmed, this stored carbon was released, contributing to global warming.
AWI researchers found that temperature variability during glacial periods was not uniform worldwide, with intense variations in the Tropics but less so in other regions. The study used a unique global comparison of data from core samples to improve predictions for future climate change.
The EU-funded Arctic Research Icebreaker Consortium (ARICE) aims to improve access to research icebreakers and develop strategies for coordinated use of polar research vessels. The consortium will give scientists fully funded access to six research icebreakers, enabling them to conduct research in the Arctic Ocean.
The EU project Nunataryuk explores the consequences of permafrost thaw on Earth's coldest shorelines, collaborating with local communities to devise new strategies. Thawing permafrost releases greenhouse gases, contaminates coastal waters, and harms marine habitats.
A new project aims to discover how microplastics make their way from land to sea and what risks this contamination poses for various ecosystems. The researchers will also examine the impact on human health, environmental education, and develop strategies for sustainable preservation of aquatic ecosystems.
Researchers found evidence of sea ice at the North Pole during the last interglacial period, contradicting previous hypotheses. The study suggests that the Arctic Ocean may be free of ice in summer within 250 years if CO2 levels rise, highlighting the complexity of climate change processes.
A team of scientists flew a high-altitude research aircraft to altitudes up to 20 km above the Asian Monsoon, collecting data on air composition and its impact on global climate. The mission aims to better understand how the monsoon system responds to human emissions of pollutants and climate change.
The copepod Calanus finmarchicus uses a genetic clock to regulate its daily vertical migration, which is likely the largest daily movement of biomass worldwide. This internal rhythm influences the entire food web in the North Atlantic and has significant implications for marine ecosystems.
A new study by researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute and University of Cardiff reveals that gradually rising CO2 concentrations can trigger rapid warming and sudden climate changes. The study confirms past phenomena observed in Greenland ice cores, known as Dansgaard-Oeschger events.
Researchers from AWI demonstrated how the Arctic Ocean transformed into a saline body after the land bridge between Greenland and Scotland submerged, enabling Atlantic circulation. The study found that changes occurred when the ocean passage reached a depth of over 50 meters below the surface mixed layer.
Researchers from the University of Oldenburg and Alfred Wegener Institute found that competition within the krill population drives fluctuation cycles. The study suggests a self-generating mechanism in the population is responsible for the variability.
Researchers discovered evidence of subglacial lakes on the Antarctic continental shelf, which accelerated glacial retreat and provided an archive of environmental conditions. The lake sediments contain components that are difficult to date, but scientists can still infer changes in climate.
Climate researchers predict an irreversible inflow of warm water under the ice shelf due to rising air temperatures above the Weddell Sea. The resulting meltwater feedback cycle could lead to dramatic melting and collapse of the second-largest ice shelf in Antarctica.
Juvenile polar cod rely heavily on ice algae for sustenance, with 50-90% of their carbon coming from these tiny organisms. As Arctic sea ice melts, the fish's food source is threatened, posing a risk to the entire food web.
The Arctic coast's thawing permafrost leads to increased erosion, releasing greenhouse gases and nutrients into the sea. This alters ecosystems, affects traditional fishing grounds, and impacts the Arctic population's way of life.
Researchers discovered a new species of deep-sea octopus that guards its eggs on sponges attached to manganese nodules. The species' dependence on the nodules suggests industrial resource extraction must be preceded by ecological investigations.
Researchers found that measuring carbon isotope 13C can identify distortion in radiocarbon age of materials caused by fossil fuel emissions. This method allows for accurate age determination, even when atmospheric CO2 levels are high.
The €8 million APPLICATE project aims to enhance weather and climate prediction capabilities in the Arctic and beyond. By studying the Arctic's impact on mid-latitude weather and climate, researchers can improve forecast accuracy and mitigate severe weather events.
International scientists are searching for the oldest ice core in Antarctica, up to 1.5 million years old, to decipher past climate processes and improve future predictions. The 'Beyond EPICA - Oldest Ice' project aims to drill a core with sufficient atmospheric gases to analyze past greenhouse gas levels.
Researchers found evidence of Vibrio species thriving on microplastic particles, posing a potential risk to human health. The study suggests that climate change could contribute to the proliferation of these bacteria.
Scientists from the AWI have correctly simulated the Eocene warm climate phase using climate models, overcoming a previous weakness due to misinterpreting the temperature indicator TEX86. The corrected temperatures reveal that the region was still warm enough for palm trees to grow on beaches.
New study reveals Arctic algae play a crucial role in the ocean's food web, with species at great depths relying on carbon from these algae. The decline of Arctic sea ice could have significant impacts on marine life, including fish, seals and polar bears.
In times of famine, microalgae switch to efficient metabolism before partially digesting themselves to conserve nutrients. The study reveals the molecular mechanisms behind this process, which also impacts human cancer cells.
Researchers from AWI deploy ocean bottom seismometers to record earthquakes on Southwest Indian Ridge, revealing unique insights into ocean floor formation. Water circulation up to 15km deep leads to aseismic areas with soft soap-like rock that moves without jerking.
A new study reveals that Siberian larch forests are still thriving in the Northern Russian permafrost despite rising temperatures, indicating a slow adaptation process that can take thousands of years. The research suggests that colder ice ages have delayed vegetation adaptation to warmer climate periods.
Researchers have found a major carbon dioxide reservoir at depths of 2000-4300 meters in the South Pacific. The study suggests that during the last ice age, a sea ice cover on the Antarctic Ocean closed oceanic ventilation windows, leading to slowed deep water circulation and increased storage of old carbon dioxide.
Researchers found that zooplankton communities in the Southern Ocean migrate vertically to escape predators and feed on phytoplankton blooms at the sea ice edge. Long-term measurements revealed annual cycles of migration, with disruptions during the southern summer due to food abundance.
Sea ice physicists project a possible record-low Arctic sea ice extent this summer, with thin ice unlikely to survive the melting season. The CryoSat-2 satellite data shows that arctic sea ice was unusually thin in 2015 and grew slowly during the past winter.
Scientists discover sediment cores from Lomonosov Ridge, revealing a window into Arctic Ocean climate history. The cores show that the central Arctic was ice-free during summer, with sea surface temperatures reaching 4-9 degrees Celsius.
A study finds that brief warm periods can cause rapid ice wedge thawing in Arctic permafrost, leading to increased runoff and changes in the water balance. The research suggests that the Arctic will lose lakes and wetland areas if permafrost retreats, accelerating greenhouse gas emissions.
The Arctic region is reacting quickly to climate changes, impacting global systems. Research priorities focus on exploring the Arctic's role in the global climate system, improving climate models and forecasts, and understanding the environment's vulnerability.
A future warming of the Southern Ocean may cause the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, leading to a significant rise in sea levels. Model simulations suggest that critical temperature limits will be exceeded if ocean temperatures rise by more than two degrees Celsius, resulting in a sea level rise of three to five meters.
Researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute found that a 15-year observation series reveals how sensitive arctic marine ecosystems are to change. The study indicates that even a short-term influx of warm water can fundamentally impact local symbiotic communities, leading to changes in deep-sea life.
Research divers have found that sedimentation is impacting an entire ecosystem on the seafloor due to melting glaciers. This has led to a decline in species diversity among benthos, with some species being extremely sensitive to higher sedimentation rates and subsequently dying out.
The Arctic Ocean is a significant source of atmospheric methane due to interactions between the atmosphere, sea ice, and ocean. The study found that sea ice can be a source of methane, releasing it into the atmosphere during melting and freezing processes.
Researchers from Alfred Wegener Institute discovered plastic litter on the Arctic sea surface, with 31 pieces found in a 5,600km survey. The litter is likely to pose new challenges for Arctic marine life, which has already seen high levels of plastic pollution in its stomachs.