on short and long time scales. Research focuses on areas in the Arctic and sub-Arctic, the Arctic Ocean, the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. The studies include reconstructions of ice sheet dynamics, oceanic circulation and tectonic processes that influenced longterm climate development. We investigate the interaction of tectonic and

An entire year trapped in the Arctic ice MOSAiC - Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate It is the largest-scale Arctic research expedition [...] , the German research icebreaker Polarstern drifted through the Arctic Ocean, trapped in the ice. Participants from institutions from more than 20 countries studied the Arctic over the course of the year [...] for miles. Hardly any other region has warmed as much as the Arctic in recent decades. Therefore, the MOSAiC project's goal was to reach a better understanding of the influence that the Arctic has on

change? How is climate change affecting fishing in the Southern Ocean? To FAQ element How can fish survive in the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean? Due to its high salinity, the Southern Ocean’s [...] native to the Southern Ocean, only the Antarctic fur seal and southern elephant seal breed on land; the crabeater seal, Ross seal, leopard seal and Weddell seal [...] of meltwater, containing a wealth of fine sediments, into the ocean. Although this fertilises the ocean with iron, which is important for algal growth and chronically in short supply in the region,

and biogeochemical processes in the atmosphere, cryosphere, and ocean. Understanding these processes – especially in the rapidly changing polar regions where the changes have far-reaching implications [...] simulate. We operate cutting-edge measurement systems across the Arctic and Antarctic, using research vessels, such as the icebreaker Polarstern , observatories, aircrafts, and satellites to capture the evolving dynamics of the ocean, atmosphere, sea ice, and ice sheets. At the same time, we push the boundaries of climate modeling – one of our key strengths – by

. As a major research centre, the AWI maintains stations in the Arctic and Antarctic, research vessels and polar aircraft. This is associated with a comparatively high consumption of resources. For this [...] our research on changes in the atmosphere, the cryosphere, the ocean and the coast, corresponding feedback mechanisms as well as the consequences of climate change for polar and marine ecosystems and [...] significance of the UN goals for sustainable development for oceans and polar regions and to keeping these issues present in the public consciousness. A particular challenge for us is the targeted

millimetres to centimetres per year (plate tectonics). So-called mid-oceanic ridges run through the oceans. In these zones magma rises from the Earth’s interior to the surface, cools down there and constantly [...] seafloor continuously forms is, for instance, Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic. This is a submarine mountain range whose northern foothills extend from the northeast tip of Greenland to Laptev Sea in Siberia.

with native organisms. Effects of global change on the ecology of Arctic coasts Currently, global warming especially causes strong effects on Arctic ecosystems. We study the consequences of increasing water temperatures on species interactions in Arctic benthic coastal communities. From these investigations we predict future scenarios for a warmer marine Arctic ecosystem and its [...] from the Interreg North-West Europe Programme. Exciting results Arctic burrowing Effects of Arctic lugworms Find out more Marine heatwaves Do you remember? Find out more Team PIs: Dr. Christian Buschbaum

world, there are natural climate archives – the sediments on the ocean floor, ancient ice in the Arctic and Antarctic, wood for tree-ring analyses, and more. These archives contain what is referred to [...] However, these models do not reflect in detail processes in the ocean, which have a major influence on the climate. In response, the AWI has developed a special ocean model (FESOM), which simulates e.g. ocean currents and sea ice. For their climate simulations, AWI researchers have coupled the two atmospheric models and FESOM, yielding

, sediments, carbon, nutrients, and contaminants from land to ocean. These changes directly affect the Arctic ocean’s freshwater balance and circulation, sea-ice, marine food webs, greenhouse-gas [...] food security of Inuvialuit communities. RV Polarstern in the Arctic Ocean (Photo: Esther Horvath) From the boreal forest and tundra to the deep ocean, Arctic Pulse 2027 follows the journey of water, [...] carbon and emerging contaminants 2) Ecosystem Dynamics, Arctic Cod and fishes of the Central Arctic Ocean H2: Substantial shifts in productivity, ecosystem dynamics result from changes in runoff

Szesciorka, A (2026, Februar 23). From Concept to Collaboration: The Arctic Acoustic Observing Network. Arctic Observing Summit (AOS), Aarhus, Denmark. doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18748965 Hanf-Dressler, [...] IC, Van Parijs SM, Jones J (2016). Pinniped Sounds in the Polar Oceans. In: Listening in the Ocean, edited by W. W. L. Au and M. O. Lammers, pp. 257-308, Springer New York, New York, NY. DOI: https:// [...] -9ffcd427-100.html , broadcasted in DLF and Bremen 2 June 2022: Ocean Future LAB - co-creative workshop on resilient future scenarios for our oceans April-November 2022: Wissenschaftliche Begleitung