Archive of News and Press Releases
Decoded gene sequence of the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana
For the very first time, the genetic make-up of a planktonic marine alga has been sequenced. During this process, a team of international scientists found unexpected metabolic pathways in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana. The results will be published in the scientific journal ‘Science’ this week.
The fact that Thalassiosira pseudonana operates a urea cycle, has been a special discovery. Up to now, this metabolic pathway for ammonia detoxification was known only from the liver cells of animals and humans. It remains unclear how the cycle works in the…
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Antarctic researchers visit Bremerhaven
Meeting of the ‘Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research’ (SCAR) from October 3rd to 8th, 2004
Between October 3rd and 8th, delegates of the international ‘Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research’ (SCAR) will be gathering in Bremerhaven. The results and proposals for new research ventures and international cooperation in the Antarctic, developed during the 28th scientific conference of the committee in July, will now be discussed and finalised. Roughly 100 delegates from 31 countries are expected at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine…
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Arctic haze can affect global climate
How often do we look at the sky each day? Again and again, our gaze moves up to watch the display of passing clouds. Up to now, clouds have been also an unknown component in the calculations of arctic scientists trying to explain the phenomenon of arctic haze. However, scientists of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) at the Potsdam Research Unit were able to use new data to somewhat 'lift the hazy veil'. The results have now been published in 'Geophysical Research Letters'.
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Higher Water Temperatures and Reduced Ice Cover In the Arctic Ocean
Over the past six weeks, scientists aboard the research vessel "Polarstern" of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research have been investigating changes in ocean temperature and sea ice cover in the area of Fram Strait between Spitsbergen and Greenland.
In this area significant exchange of water masses between the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean takes place. The ongoing process of global warming throughout the past years has also altered conditions in Fram Strait and the North Polar Sea.
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German research vessel Polarstern discovers abandoned Russian station on ice floe
On August 16, 2004 early in the morning the German research vessel RV Polarstern discovered the remains of the abandoned Russian drifting ice camp North Pole-32 on an ice floe. The position of the floe was 82°16`N – 004°21`W. Three more or less intact barracks (one with antenna), one tent, two damaged barracks, two tractors, three larger fuel depots with about 300 drums, sleeping bags, nets and other material were found. In one of the barracks a calendar was found with the last entry date March 6, 2004. Two thirds of the drums were empty. Ninety percent…
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Antarctic researchers meet in Bremen
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) convenes July 25 through July 31 2004
The 28th International Antarctic conference of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) will take place in the Congress Centre in Bremen July 25 through July 31 2004. About 850 scientists from 39 countries are expected to attend this most important Antarctic research meeting. All disciplines of Antarctic research will be represented. Hence, the SCAR conference will provide a good opportunity to find out about the current status of and perspectives for…
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AWI-scientist Markus Rex receives Dobson-Award
For his work on interactions between climate change and the ozone layer, Dr Markus Rex of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (Research branch Potsdam) received the ‘Dobson-Award’ on May 31, 2004. The Quadrennial Ozone Symposium in Greece was chosen to present the award for the first time.
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Taking the Research Icebreaker to the "Hausgarten"
On June 16, 2004, the German research icebreaker "Polarstern" is scheduled to leave Bremerhaven for her 20th arctic expedition. During the first leg of the expedition, the main emphasis is on measurements of selected pollutants of air, water and snow, as well as on the hydrographic conditions in the Greenland Sea. In addition, any changes in the so-called "AWI-Hausgarten” (“Back Yard"), a long-term monitoring station in the arctic deep sea, will also be of great interest.
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Prestigious Oceanography Award for Prof Dr Victor Smetacek
On June 11th, Prof Dr Victor Smetacek, scientist at the 'Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research' (AWI) will be presented with the Manley-Bendall medal for his "work in the field of marine biology, as an expert on plankton and for his worldwide reputation" by the Oceanographic Institute in Paris
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Oldest Antarctic ice core reveals climate history
Secrets of the Earth’s past climate locked in a three-kilometre long Antarctic ice core are revealed this week in the journal Nature. The core from Dome C, high on East Antarctica’s plateau, contains snowfall from the last 740,000 years and is by far the oldest continuous climate record obtained from ice cores so far.
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