Fresh water slows down oceanic conveyor belt

The retreat of Arctic sea ice and the melting of land ice sheets around Greenland lead to more and more freshwater flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. A recent study by AWI climate modeler Qiyun Ma provides brand new insights into how freshwater released from different regions affects and weakens the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The study identifies the Irminger Basin as the region most responsive to additional freshwater and as a key driver of AMOC changes. Regarding the potential slowdown of the AMOC in the future, the authors highlight that it not only has global climate implications but can also shift regional climate patterns and lead to more frequent and intense weather and climate extremes, such as droughts, floods, and cold waves in different parts of the world.

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Hans-Otto Pörtner reappointed to the German Advisory Council on Global Change

AWI scientist Hans-Otto Pörtner has been reappointed by Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger as a member of the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU). The appointment is valid from November 1, 2024 to October 31, 2028. In addition to the AWI climate researcher, there are eight other members of the WBGU.

The Ocean is a Noisy Place

AWI Director Antje Boetius provided exciting insights into marine research at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg: in her performative lecture as part of the project “The Ocean is a Noisy Place” by the Hanoverian orchestra “musica assoluta”, she drew attention to the threat to the marine habitat. The program, under the direction of Thorsten Encke, combined classical and contemporary music, science and video art. Video artist cylixe and cellist Tanja Tetzlaff also took part.

AWI Director Co-Chair of the Polar Dialogue

This year, the Polar Dialogue took place alongside the Arctic Circle Assembly. Under the leadership of Katrín Jakobsdóttir, former Prime Minister of Iceland, and Antje Boetius, AWI Director and co-chair of the conference, the Polar Dialogue provides an open platform for exchange between scientists and policy makers. The focus will be on science diplomacy and preparations for the 5th International Polar Year 2032-33.

Study describes hotspots in the marine nitrogen cycle

Nitrogen fixation in ocean eddies is an important component of the local nitrogen cycle in the western North Atlantic. In addition to local environmental conditions, the transport of nitrogen fixers from the more productive Mid Atlantic Bight to the nutrient-poor Atlantic Subtropical Gyre also promotes this process. This is one of the results published by researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute together with international experts in the journal Nature Geoscience. To the publication

Bernd Rendel Prize 2024

Tabea Rettelbach, PhD student at the AWI, is one of two winners of this year's Bernd Rendel Prize. Her work focuses on the topic of "Permafrost". The Bernd Rendel Prize is awarded annually by the German Research Foundation (DFG) to outstanding young scientists in the geosciences. The award ceremony took place during the annual conference of the German Geological Society - Geological Association (DGGV) from 23 to 26 September in Dresden.