• Southern Hemisphere Westerly-Collins

    how the SHW interacted with past changes in sea surface temperature and how this is linked to changes in Antarctica. We aim to reconstruct precipitation and sea surface temperature on decadal to millennial [...] southern hemisphere westerly wind belt (SHW) encircles Antarctica, tracking the mid-latitude meridional sea surface temperature gradient (e.g. Lamy et al., 2010 ). The SHW is an important component of global [...] understanding of the dynamics of the SHW and temperature evolution. To this end, we investigate a north-south transect of marine and lake sediment cores spanning the range of the SHW (Fig. 1). From these

  • Research

    Over centuries the deep sea was considered as a vast, desert-like environment with low number of species. However, in recent years knowledge about biodiversity in the deep sea has started to increase and [...] life. Biodiversity in the deep sea depends among other parameters on water depth, which in turn is linked to food availability. In contrast to the past assumption that deep-sea organisms live in very stable [...] changes in a the transition zone between the northern North Atlantic and the central Arctic Ocean, and to determine the factors controlling deep-sea biodiversity, the Alfred Wegener Institute established

  • Pioneering research reveals Arctic matter pathways poised for major shifts amidst climate change

    Transpolar Drift carries sea ice, fresh water, and suspended matter from the Siberian shelves across the central Arctic towards the Fram Strait channel, which connects to the Nordic Seas. This cross-Arctic flow [...] including microplastics and heavy metals – from Siberian river systems into the central Arctic and the North Atlantic. This material affects Arctic biogeochemistry and ecosystems, while the fresh water itself

  • Guest Research and Education

    exhibition is being created from the history of the North Sea to the future of marine research Find out more Guest Research and Courses at the Wadden Sea Station Sylt We offer offer excellent working conditions

  • Biosciences

    energy cycle in the ecosystems of the polar regions and of the shelf and coastal regions of the North Sea. Central research themes are (1) reactions of individuals, populations and communities on external [...] Biological Oceanography Sustainable Marine Bioeconomy Integrative Ecophysiology Shelf Sea System Ecology Deep-Sea Ecology and Technology

  • Crossing the Equator

    Cape Verde Islands at 26 ° C, a cloudless sky and a gentle swell of 2 meters from the north. The hard-earned “sea legs” can rest for now, it could really be worse.

  • Marine Litter

    distances and facilitating the introduction of foreign species. We investigate these aspects in the North Sea as well as in other marine regions. Senior Scientist Dr. Lars Gutow

  • Applied Macroalgae Research

    Bioethanol Biodiversity Conservation Life Cycle Assessment Safe Packaging Reference Herbarium So. North Sea [...] Hofmann Dr Inka Bartsch Dr Mar Fernández-Méndez Prof. Dr. Bela Buck Prof. Dr. Astrid Gärdes Biomaterials Sea Key Model for Mariculture Open Ocean Cultivation Offshore Cultivation Kelp Engineering Marine Raw Materials

  • CranGo

    known as sand shrimp or brown shrimp, is a popular, high-priced and regional product of the German north sea coasts. The current fishing methods are causing considerable damage to the seabed and destroying [...] Contact: Mail to Isabela , Mirko or Kai Duration: 3.2024 – 3.2025 Funding: AWI-Innovationsfond A young North Sea shrimp from the mudflats (Photo: M. Bögner Alfred-Wegener-Institut) Not a typical mudflat dweller

  • Benthic Ecology

    natural and anthropogenic disturbance and climate change. Study areas include Arctic coasts, the North Sea, Patagonian fjords and Antarctic shelf regions, where we study structure and performance of benthic [...] used to support national and international marine management and conservation processes. Focus North Sea Benthos Biogeochemical Fluxes Coral Reefs Rocky Shore Ecology Ecological Modeling Patagonian Benthos