How waves stir up the Arctic Ocean - new Emmy Noether Group at the AWI

Waves, as we see them on the beach or at sea, are so-called gravity waves. They are created because the Earth's gravity pulls the water downwards. In addition to these waves that we see on the surface, there are also waves that form inside the ocean. They can grow as large as skyscrapers, travel thousands of kilometres and have a major impact on the transport of heat and nutrients. When they break, the surrounding ocean water is mixed. Oceanographer Dr Friederike Pollmann and her new Junior Researcher Group Artemics (Arctic internal wave energetics and mixing and their interdependence with sea ice in changing climate conditions) at the Alfred Wegener Institute want to investigate how these waves work in the Arctic, how they are related to sea ice retreat and what this means for the future.