An entire year trapped in the Arctic ice

MOSAiC - Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate

It could be the largest-scale Arctic research expedition of all time: In September 2019, the German research icebreaker Polarstern departed from Tromsø (Norway) and, once it had reached its destination, will spend the next year drifting through the Arctic Ocean, trapped in the ice. A total of 600 people, who will be supplied by other icebreakers and aircraft, will participate in the expedition – and several times that number of researchers will subsequently use the data gathered to take climate and ecosystem research to the next level. More than 70 research institutions from 20 countries are involved in the expedition. The mission is spearheaded by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI).

Read more about the expedition on the MOSAiC website. 

Mit der MOSAiC-Web-App kann jeder die Expedition live am Handy verfolgen.

MOSAiC-Web-App

Live onboard: Follow Polarstern’s current location through the MOSAiC-Web-App.

MOSAiC-Website

Our english project website presents more profound scientific information.
Polarlichter über dem zentralen Arktischen Ozean, fotografiert von Bord des deutschen Forschungseisbrecher Polarstern.

MOSAiC-Videos

The MOSAiC preperations were visually documented through a video countdown.

Info Graphics

News

The grand finale to the expedition of a century

MOSAiC Expedition

The grand finale to the expedition of a century

After more than a year in the Central Arctic, this Monday, 12 October, the research icebreaker Polarstern returned to her homeport in Bremerhaven. Accompanied by a ‘welcome committee’ of ships that came to greet, the ship entered the North Lock with the morning high tide, at ca. 9:00 am.
Statement

Statement

The Alfred Wegener Institute comments on the latest reports in the media and social networks about alleged equality and diversity problems in connection with the MOSAiC expedition.
MOSAiC aerial campaign: first aerial survey flights in the Arctic since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic

Arctic

MOSAiC aerial campaign: first aerial survey flights in the Arctic since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic

Following a five-month mandatory delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, on August 30th the two German polar research aircraft Polar 5 and Polar 6 will launch from Svalbard to conduct their first aerial survey flights over the Arctic this year. The flights, which will extend far into the Central Arctic, will support the investigation of the atmosphere and sea ice, and supplement the MOSAiC expedition’s extensive research agenda.