benthos. The Fram Strait essentially forms a connection between Arctic and Antlantic waters and due to the Fram Straits importance for global ocean circulation, it is vital to understand the physical but also [...] connectivity within the Arctic. Particular attention will be placed on assessing the contribution of small cells, imperceptible with traditional techniques, to export processes in the Arctic. [...] Hausgarten/FRAM (Frontiers in Arctic Marine Monitoring) Sampling stations in the Hausgarten observatory: Experimental sites (red circles), mooring sites (black triangles) The Hausgarten deep sea observatory

calved from an ice shelf or glacier, it drifted, mainly forced by the wind and the ocean currents, through the ocean – sometimes surrounded by open water, sometimes surrounded by sea ice. The automated [...] polar regions Sea Ice Drift and Deformation Drift and deformation of sea ice Permafrost Charting the Arctic Tundra Polynias Observation of coastal polynias Snow Accumulation Retrieval of snow accumulation

biogeochemical and planktonic parameters due to fast temperature increase and acidification of the Arctic Ocean. Team Dr. Eva-Maria Nöthig (coordinator, phytoplankton ecology & particle flux) Prof. Dr. Astrid

away from the coast (offshore). They have a strong influence on the heat and energy exchange between ocean and atmosphere since they are a gap in the insulating ice cover. In the polynias, water is cooled [...] regions Sea Ice Drift and Deformation Drift and deformation von sea ices Permafrost Charting the Arctic Tundra Ice Shelves and Icebergs Mass loss of the antarctic ice sheet Snow Accumulation Retrieval [...] and analysis of data from different satellite sensors as a contribution to polynia research in the Arctic and Antarctic) is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

well as ocean observations (sea-surface temperature) to optimize the initial state of the sea ice-ocean system for short-term (up to 6 days) forecasts. ICEDAS was build around the sea ice-ocean model NAOSIM [...] predict the Arctic summer minimum sea-ice extent in September from the beginning of the melting season in May/June on. AWI is participating in the SIO since 2008 by using a coupled sea-ice ocean model (NAOSIM) [...] However, this approach neglects all feedback of the sea ice-ocean system onto the atmosphere. This year (2015) the initial state of the sea ice-ocean model has been constrained by sea-ice observations in a

project is to build an efficient integrated Arctic Observation System (iAOS) by extending, improving and unifying existing systems in the different regions of the Arctic. Contact: T. Soltwedel, C. Hasemann, I [...] European open ocean fixed point observatories and to improve access to these key installations for the broader community. These will provide multidisciplinary observations in all parts of the oceans from the [...] Purser SenseOcean (Marine sensors for the 21st Century) EU funded FP7 project Duration: 01.10.2013 - 30.09.2017 Coordinator: Denise Martin, Natural Environment Research Council, UK SenseOCEAN brings together

FRAM (Frontiers in Arctic marine Monitoring) HGF infrastructur programme Duration: 01.08.2014 - 31.07.2021 Coordination: Antje Boetius, AWI, Bremerhaven The FRAM Ocean Observing System will be installed [...] installed in the gateway between the North Atlantic and the Central Arctic, representing a highly climate-sensitive and rapidly changing region of the Earth system. FRAM will implement existing and next-generation [...] next-generation sensors and observatory platforms, allowing synchronous observation of relevant ocean variables, as well as the study of physical, chemical and biological processes in the water column and at the

-Project are: to assess the influence of sea-ice and ocean dynamics in the Laptev Sea on the transpolar drift; to investigate changes in the arctic halocline, water mass formation, and transport mechanisms [...] the atmosphere - sea-ice - ocean system; to study the history of the transpolar system. Contact: T. Soltwedel, J. Hölemann, R. Stein BIOACID III (Biological Impacts of Ocean ACIDification) Project funded [...] Riebesell, GEOMAR, Germany The overarching questions of BIOACID -Project are: What are the effects of ocean acidification on marine organisms and their habitats? What are the underlying mechanisms of responses

(Photo: Alfred Wegener Institut) The research vessel Polarstern operates in the southern and arctic ocean. As an icebreaker RV Polarstern enables to enter ice covered polar areas and to conduct diving [...] research village (Kongsfjorden - West Spitsbergen). (Photo: Max Schwanitz) The northernmost permanent arctic research station of the AWI (AWIPEV Station - till 2005 Koldewey-Station) is located in the small [...] offers a wide range of muddy, sandy and rocky habitats with a wide variety of endemic underwater Arctic flora and fauna. The AWIPEV dive base is operated for about 6 month per year upon request by scientific

concentrations in the oceans. An example is the relationship between nitrate and phosphate which allows to distinguish between water of Pacific and Atlantic origin in the Arctic. Nutrient data from 1984 [...] zooplankton origin. Monitoring of nutrient dynamics Investigations of the nutrient dynamics in the polar oceans are closely related to biological and hydrographical studies. These basic data are important to study