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The findings raise fresh concerns about the increasing spread of pollutants and the potential consequences for fragile polar ecosystems as climate change accelerates. The research, published today in Nature Communications and led by the University of Bristol, provides the clearest ever picture of how the underlying transport system, known as the Transpolar Draft, operates. It also uncovers the various factors controlling this major Arctic surface current, including warmer temperatures which could increase the spread of human-made pollutants. The…

Polarstern returned to her home port of Bremerhaven at high tide this morning. After a good 20 weeks in the Antarctic season, the research vessel moored at the pier in the overseas harbour at 5:00 am. Over the next six weeks, routine maintenance and repair work will take place at the Lloyd Werft shipyard before the ship leaves for the Arctic at the end of May.

Der Antarktische Zirkumpolarstrom ist die größte Ozeanströmung der Welt, der immer im Uhrzeigersinn um die Antarktis herumströmt. Er transportiert Wärme sowie Nährstoffe und übernimmt dadurch eine wichtige Rolle für unser Klima. Trotz dieser Bedeutung wissen wir noch relativ wenig über sein Verhalten. Um dem Verständnis der Strömung einen Schritt näher zu kommen, haben Forschende des Alfred-Wegener-Instituts und des Leibniz-Instituts für Ostseeforschung Warnemünde aus einem Sedimentdatensatz rekonstruiert, wie der Antarktische Zirkumpolarstrom in den…

The Alfred Wegener Institute invites scientists to apply for a guest research stay at the marine stations on Helgoland or Sylt. The stays, which last longer than 15 working days, offer the opportunity to conduct research in the immediate vicinity of the rocky tidal flats. The stations have well-equipped guest laboratories with Internet, seawater connection and basic laboratory equipment. Applications are possible until 31 July 2025. Further information.
 

A book for all those who want to address the challenges of climate change and contribute to the necessary solutions is now freely available from SpringerBriefs in Climate Studies. Students interviewed leading climate scientists about what motivates and inspires them and how exciting and inspiring working in this field can be. The book offers a look behind the scenes and provides personal insights into how complex and frustrating climate science can be.

The winter growth period for sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is now over, with levels at a record low. The winter ice extent on 21 March 2025 was lower than at any time since continuous satellite recording began in 1979. At 14.45 million square kilometres, winter sea ice cover is over a million square kilometres below the long-term average. As in February 2025, average Arctic sea ice cover remained at an all-time low for the entire month of March, equalling the previous low set in 2017. 

On the occasion of the “SOS Ocean” summit, which took place in Paris on 30 and 31 March, the Eiffel Tower was illuminated in blue to draw attention to the ocean and the associated challenges and decisions: Two months before UNOC-3, the third United Nations Ocean Conference, “SOS Ocean” brought together around 60 leading politicians, scientists and representatives of international organizations, including AWI Director Antje Boetius. They discussed the major environmental threats: Pollution, rising sea levels, overfishing and the decline of marine…

The most detailed map of the landscape under the Antarctic ice sheet to date has been created by a team of international scientists under the Head of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and with the participation of the Alfred Wegener Institute. The map, called Bedmap3, covers more than six decades of survey data collected by aeroplanes, satellites, ships and even dogsleds. The results will be published this week in the journal Scientific Data.

The Arctic is changing rapidly due to climate change: sea surface and air temperatures are increasing, the sea ice is thinning and retreating more and more. 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. A research team from the Alfred Wegener Institute has now investigated what these organisms are and how they are affected by the melting ice in the northern Fram Strait. They present their findings in the journal Science of The Total Environment.

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.