News

  • In the zone directly beneath the Arctic sea ice in the Fram Strait, AWI researchers have identified a unique habitat that is threatened by climate change.
    News

    Unique communities directly under the Arctic ice

    The Arctic is changing rapidly due to climate change. This has a major impact on the local ecosystem, because: The zone directly under the sea ice is a highly dynamic habitat for a variety of organisms.
  • Abendsonne in der zentralen Arktis. Blick auf Treib- und Packeis von Bord des deutschen Forschungsschiffes Polarstern.
    Event

    International Conference on Arctic Margins (ICAM-X)

    The 10th International Conference on Arctic Margins (ICAM-X) will take place in Bremen from 16 to 21 March.
  • [Translate to English:] Schneebedeckte Gletscher in der kanadischen Arktis. Aufnahmen aus der NETCARE-Kampagne 2015.
    News

    Science Study Climate Change

    A recent study in the journal Science traces the natural cycles of the Earth's climate over a period of one million years. The international research team analysed sediment core data and looked at past climate changes between ice ages and interglacial periods.
  • Polarstern at MOSAiC ice floe
    Event

    Fotoausstellung: INTO THE ICE – die MOSAiC-Expedition in…

    The opening of the exhibition "INTO THE ICE - the MOSAiC expedition in pictures" will take place on 1 April 2025 at the Ruhestein National Park Centre.
  • Die Abbildung zeigt den von hydrothermalen Ablagerungen geprägten Ozeanboden am Polaris-Hydrothermalfeld. Zu sehen sind auch einige kleine Schornsteinstrukturen, die teilweise mit Mikrobenmatten (in blassgelb) bewachsen sind.
    News

    Northernmost hot springs of the earth discovered

    There is a greater variety of hydrothermal systems in the deep sea than previously assumed. On an expedition with the research icebreaker POLARSTERN, researchers discovered the northernmost hydrothermal field on Earth here – only around 300 kilometers from the North Pole. 
  • Blog post

    Morning, hi, howdy, greetings and hello!

    The new overwintering team at Neumayer Station III has arrived and introduces itself.

Short notices

  • Group photo of Ambassador Irene Plank, Verónica Willmott, Anneli Strobel and Diego Filun

    Irene Plank is visiting the AWI

    07. March 2025

    The German ambassador in Sofia, Bulgaria, Irene Maria Plank, visited the AWI on 1 March. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss current projects and scientific cooperation between the AWI and Bulgaria. The ambassador was welcomed by Verónica Willmott, Anneli Strobel and Diego Filun. In addition to a tour of the new aquarium facilities, a guided tour of the research vessel Heincke took place.

  •  Climate strike in the Antarctic

    Nationwide climate strike

    14. February 2025

    On February 14, it's “There is no Planet B” all over Germany again. This is because people across the country are taking to the streets in the climate strike to campaign for more climate protection and a sustainable future. Employees at the AWI sites Neumayer Station III in the Antarctic, AWIPEV in the Arctic and the people on Polarstern are also taking part in the climate strike.

  • AWI-Direktorin Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius

    Paris Saclay Summit

    12. February 2025

    AWI Director Antje Boetius will take part in a panel discussion at the “Paris Saclay Summit” on February 12 at 6 pm. The topic: “Can the Arctic still be saved?”. The marine biologist will discuss this topic together with Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, special envoy of the French President for the United Nation Ocean Conference, French Ambassador for the Poles and Oceans. To the livestream.

  • Durch Ufererosion ist die Infrastruktur in Permafrostgebieten bedroht, Mackenzie River Delta (Kanada).

    Social impacts of thawing permafrost

    17. January 2025

    The thawing of permafrost poses various endangerments to the Arctic environment and the livelihoods of people. An international team examined the social risks for Arctic regions and identified five key risks related to infrastructure, transport and supply, water quality, food security and health. Press release of the University of Vienna

  • Methanblasen

    Analysis: Methane emissions from leaks in the Nord Stream pipelines

    16. January 2025

    At the end of September 2022, almost half a million tonnes of methane were released into the atmosphere due to damage to the Nord Stream pipelines. This is the largest amount of the greenhouse gas methane released in a single event. This conclusion comes from analysis by the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Nearly 70 scientists from 30 research organisations collaborated on the analysis, among them a scientist from the Alfred Wegener Institute. More information

  • Microplastic Samples

    ES&T Best Paper Award 2023

    19. December 2024

    The "ES&T Best Paper Award 2023" is a prestigious award presented annually by the journal Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T). The award recognises outstanding scientific papers that make a significant contribution to research in the field of environmental science and technology. This year, a study on plastic pollution, in which Sebastian Primpke from the AWI was involved, was selected as one of the award winners.

Portrait of Angelika Humbert Portrait of Dr. Christian Buschbaum Portrait Detlef Wilde Portrait of Prof. Dr. Gesine Mollenhauer Portrait of Prof. Dr. Guido Grosse. Portrait of Dr. Hauke Flores. Portrait of Dr. Ilka Peeken Portrait of Dr. Judith Hauck Portrait of Dr. Melanie Bergmann. Portrait of Dr. Volker Rachold.

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