News from the Alfred Wegener Institute
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A delegation from South Africa visits the Alfred Wegener Institute
Photo: Maike Thomsen
Bremerhaven, March 2nd 2010. An official delegation lead by the Chairman H.E. Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu of the South African National Council of Provinces (equivalent to the German 'Bundesrat') visited today the Alfred Wegener Institute. Short presentations informed the guests about climate research and the long-standing, successful cooperation between the Alfred Wegener Institute and South African institutions and partners. The Photo shows (from left to right) Mmatlala Grace Boroto (Delegate of the Province Mpumalanga), Karin Lochte (Director, Alfred Wegener Institute), Dennis Victor Bloem (Delegate of the Province Free State), Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu (President of the National Council of Provinces), Siphiwo Sam Mazosiwe (Delegate of the Province Eastern Cape), Ulrich Bathmann (Head Biosciences Division, Alfred Wegener Institute) und Armiston Watson (Delegate of the Province Mpumalanga). The press release of the Bremer Senate press office about the official visit can be accessed here (only available in German language) …
Karin Lochte new chair of the scientific commission of the federal state of Niedersachsen
Since February 1st 2010 Professor Karin Lochte, Director of Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research is chairwoman of the scientific commission of the federal state of Niedersachsen (WKN). The WKN is an independent brains trust, which advises the federal state government of Niedersachsen regarding political aspects of science and research.
From the South Pole to the ISS – AWI and DLR to conduct joint health research in the Antarctic
Northern view of the Neumayer Station III. Photo: Michael Trapp, realnature.tv
The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research; AWI) and the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) intend to carry out health research together. On 23 November 2009, both partners signed a cooperation agreement to conduct bio-medical studies at Neumayer-Station III in Antarctica. Please find the press release from DLR here...
Huge iceberg hits east part of Atka Bay
End of October 2009 a huge iceberg ( 20X13 nm ) hits the east part of Atka Bay. According to the National Ice Center the iceberg is called C19c. It is a part of the iceberg C19 which calved from the Ross Ice Shelf in May 2002. You may have a look at a small video prepared by Dr Angelika Humbert, WWU Münster and Dr Christine Wesche, Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven.
Listen to the sound of the antarctic sea including colliding icebergs.
ANDRILL research indicates remarkably warm period in Antarctica 15.7 million years ago
Researchers with the Antarctic Geological Drilling Program (ANDRILL) found unexpected evidence of a remarkably warm period in Antarctica 15.7 million years ago. The evidence includes fossils of marine algae and pollen of woody plants indicating that land temperatures reached a January (austral summer) average of 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) while estimated sea surface temperatures ranged between zero and 11.5 degrees Celsius (32 to 53 degrees Fahrenheit). The algae and pollen were found in sedimentary rock cores drilled in the austral spring of 2007 from beneath the sea floor of Antarctica's McMurdo Sound during ANDRILL's Southern McMurdo Sound Project.
Your contact persons at the Alfred Wegener Institute are Dr Gerhard Kuhn and Dr Frank Niessen.
Find out more reading the full article at ANDRILL website …
Prof. Dr. Peter Lemke coordinates climate initiative from Helmholtz Association
The Helmholtz Association is expanding its work in the field of climate research and will be spending €16 million over the next four years on the Helmholtz Climate Initiative. Research will focus on the regional effects of global climate change. The centres involved will match that amount, meaning that a total of €32 million will be available for the initiative. The scientist Prof. Dr. Peter Lemke from the Alfred Wegener Institute of Polar and Marine Research coordinates the initiative „Regional Climate Change: From Observations and modelling to decision support for mitigation and adaptation“. Please find the complete press release from the Helmholzt Association here...
