Projects

ARCGATE The Arctic boundary has been observed over many years to better understand and monitor the exchanges between the Arctic Ocean and its neighboring oceans. The unique geometry of the Arctic—surrounded [...] Polarstern set sail from Tromsø to drift in the Arctic Ocean for a year—trapped in the ice. The goal of the MOSAiC expedition was to study the Arctic, the epicenter of global warming, more closely than… [...] Since the early 20th century hydrographic measurements have been carried out in the Arctic Ocean. Although today the Arctic is a hotspot of climate change, data sampling is still sparse due to the large sea

Main Research Topics

Observations in the Arctic Ocean The Arctic is an environment where global climate change is strongly manifested. The Arctic Amplification, represented by the atmospheric warming trend in the Arctic being about [...] Main Research Topics Physical Oceanography of the Arctic Ocean The Arctic Ocean and the Nordic Seas are integral parts of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, and hence key regions for the [...] the global climate. The perennial sea ice cover makes the Arctic Ocean distinct from subarctic oceans – the presence of… Find out more PhytoOptics Analytical bio-optical techniques are applied to extract

Expedition

Tromsö Chief Scientist: R. Stein Cruise report Programme Weekly reports Data PS87 | ARK-XXVIII/4 | Arctic Ocean, Central Basin Start: 2014-08-05, Tromsö End: 2014-10-08, Bremerhaven Chief Scientist: R. Stein [...] Chief Scientist: R. Gersonde Cruise report Programme Weekly reports Data PS72 | ARK-XXIII/3 | Arctic Ocean Start: 2008-08-12, Reykjavik End: 2008-10-17, Bremerhaven Chief Scientist: W. Jokat Cruise report

Sea Ice Physics

ice influence the observed variability of Arctic and Antarctic sea ice? How do variations in melt and freeze rates impact the ocean and the atmosphere in the Arctic and Antarctic? What are the consequences [...] polar ocean due to Arctic sea ice retreat? We apply, improve, and develop various methods to study sea ice and snow processes in both hemispheres, including the interaction of atmosphere and ocean. Contact [...] are the reasons for the dramatic changes in Arctic sea ice during the last decades? Why is the development of sea ice in the Antarctic so different to the Arctic and shows strong regional differences? How

Ultraslow spreading mid-ocean ridges

category of mid-ocean ridges, accounting for about 15% of the total length of mid-ocean ridges worldwide. Since ultraslow ridges are located in the Arctic Ocean and the stormy Southwest Indian Ocean and are therefore [...] Ultraslow spreading mid-ocean ridges At mid-ocean ridges, the lithospheric plates move apart at rates of about 5-150 mm/year and new oceanic lithosphere is continuously formed. At low spreading rates of [...] making its way to the ocean floor through a cold, thick lithosphere. Therefore, the formation process of new ocean lithosphere differs at ultraslow spreading ridges from all other ocean basins. Ultraslow ridges

Pre-Quaternary

stratification in the Arctic Ocean during the Miocene , arktos . doi: 10.1007/s41063-020-00079-8 Lohmann, G. , Knorr, G. , Hossain, A. and Stepanek, C. (2022): Effects of CO2 and Ocean Mixing on Miocene and [...] in the ocean model FESOM. The figure shows a land-sea configuration during the Middle Miocene (~15 million years ago) as incorporated in a complex Earth System Model. For example changes in oceanic gateways [...] between classic hypotheses for glaciations that involve e.g. tectonic changes and associated changes in ocean circulation or declining atmospheric CO 2 in combination with the Earth’s orbital configuration. Research

Projects

Schepper What are the global impacts of an ice-free Arctic? How will the Arctic develop with increasing climate warming? What does an ice-free Arctic mean for our environment and our society? Researchers [...] surface uplift of the Andes, but also by changes in the oceanic circulation of the adjacent Pacific Ocean. The timing, forcings, and feedbacks of land-ocean coupling and their impact on the past hydroclimate [...] feedback mechanisms in the Arctic affect the phase shift of Arctic surface temperature. The function of each feedback will be quantified for understanding the physical processes of Arctic amplification underlying

Automatic Weather Stations

(AWS) In addition to the long-term measurements in Antarctica, ( Neumayer_III ), in the Arctic (AWIPEV ) and on the oceans ( Polarstern ) automatic weather stations (AWS) are in use. The numbers of the AWS-systems

Long-term Observation of Surface Radiation

Radiation in the Arctic (AWIPEV Research Base in Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen) Pyranometer in Ny-Ålesund. (Photo: Alfred-Wegener-Institut) Ny-Ålesund is situated 78.9° N north of the arctic circle. During the [...] fundamental role in determining the thermal conditions and the circulation of the atmosphere and the ocean, shaping the main characteristics of the Earth's climate. The radiation budget components at the surface

Long-term Meteorology

this region, ocean currents from lower latitudes impact the sea water temperature, and the ocean is a heat storage affecting the local climate. Although Ny-Ålesund is situated in the high Arctic (78.9°N, 11 [...] Long Term Observations Surface Meteorology in the Arctic (AWIPEV Research Base in Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen) Ny-Ålesund from above. (Photo: Alfred Wegener Institut) Ny-Ålesund is located on a fjord at the [...] risen by 1.1° C per decade, while the strongest warming is observed during the winter season. The 'Arctic Amplification' of global warming is analysed under various aspects by measurements and model simulations