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Working together to systematically improve our understanding of marine ecosystems

The AWI is involved in the new international research centre AIMEC, which celebrates its kick-off in Japan today

Müll im Meer
[08. March 2024]  Marine ecosystems are an important part of our earth and climate system. However, their structures and functions are changing under the influence of human activities and climate change. In order to better understand how they react to the dynamics of the Earth-human system and how they adapt, leading international research institutions have founded the Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (AIMEC). The Alfred Wegener Institute is part of the new institute.


Sediment core shows climate changes in the Patagonian ice sheet

[Translate to English:] Patagonien
[06. March 2024]  Continental glaciers and ice sheets are excellent indicators of current and past climate changes. The Patagonian ice sheet was the largest ice sheet in the Southern Hemisphere apart from the Antarctic in the Earth's history. Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute have now used a sediment core to demonstrate the climate sensitivity of this ice sheet over the last 140,000 years and published their findings in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academie of Sciences.


Antarctica

Breaching 2 °C warming could lead to significant melting of the Filchner Ronne Ice Shelf

Info graph Filchner
[28. February 2024]  Exceeding 2 °C of global warming compared to the pre-industrial period is likely to result in significantly increased deep water temperatures in the Filchner Trough in the Weddell Sea in Antarctica, reports a modelling study lead by researchers of the Alfred Wegener Institute and published in Communications Earth & Environment. This warmer water could lead to a significantly increased melting rate of the Filchner Ronne Antarctic ice shelf, resulting in a substantial rise in global sea levels.


Traces of Ice Age hunters discovered in the Baltic Sea

Chance find may be the oldest human structure ever discovered in the Baltic Sea

3D-Modell Steinwall
[13. February 2024]  A geological research team found an unusual row of stones almost a kilometre long at the bottom of Mecklenburg Bay during a student excursion in 2021. The site is located around ten kilometres off Rerik in 21 metres of water. Analyses suggest that Ice Age hunters built this structure around 11,000 years ago to hunt reindeer. It is the first time that such a hunting structure has been discovered in the Baltic Sea region, the group, with the participation of the Alfred Wegener Institute, now reports.


Low contamination of Antarctic krill with microplastics

Complex analysis necessary to prevent false positive results

Krill
[13. February 2024]  Antarctic krill is only slightly contaminated with microplastics and is therefore well suited for monitoring the contamination of the Southern Ocean with microplastics. This is shown by a study in which researchers analysed the stomachs of the widespread shrimp species. In the journal Science of the Total Environment, the team led by the Alfred Wegener Institute warns against false positive results if extraction steps are omitted during sample preparation.


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