Arctic Ocean
This summer the sea-ice cover on the Arctic Ocean shrank to the second-smallest extent since the beginning of satellite [...] soon melted again when the spring came. Secondly, this year the Arctic has seen extremely high air and water temperatures. Accordingly, heat gnawed away at the ice from both above and below, resulting

north of Greenland was the area of study in the last of three Arctic expeditions undertaken by the Polarstern since the end of May 2025. In the largely untraveled waters north and northeast of Greenland [...] the Alfred Wegener Institute were able to collect unique data on ocean circulation in the area. A chain of six moorings was also deployed to conduct autonomous measurements over the course of a full year

The sea ice in the Arctic has several key functions in the Earth's climate system: it reflects large parts of the solar radiation, thus slowing down global warming and it drives global ocean and air currents, which has a direct impact on the weather outside our window. How the sea ice retreats or expands depends largely on the energy balance of the Arctic Ocean surface. However, there is a lack of data from direct observations, meaning that studies have to rely on modelling with

Research
Despite global warming and the sea-ice loss in the Arctic, the Antarctic sea-ice extent has remained largely unchanged since 1979. However, existing climate model-based simulations indicate [...] As experts from the Alfred Wegener Institute have now shown, the ocean may weaken warming around Antarctica and delay sea-ice retreat. Given that many models are not capable of accurately reflecting this factor and the role of ocean eddies, the study, which was just published in the journal Nature Communications , provides the basis for improved simulations and

have changed with them. When it comes to surviving in the Arctic, it’s a whole new ball game. Arctic sea ice at sunrise (Photo: Stefan Hendricks) The Arctic Ocean Unlike at the southern tip of the [...] deepest point. Its only deep-sea connection to other oceans lies in Fram Strait between Greenland and Svalbard. The Arctic Ocean is also characterised by record low temperatures: directly [...] differences that will most likely mean more dramatic impacts in the Arctic than in the Deep South.The Arctic Ocean stretches from 75 degrees N to the North Pole, while the ice-covered Southern Ocean only

Seismology in (sub)polar oceans Contact Prof. Dr. Vera Schlindwein Seismology in stormy oceans In the stormy „Furious Fifties“ we succeeded for the first time to recover ocean bottom seismometers after a recording period of one year (expedition SWEAP of RV Polarstern). Reliable weather and sea state forecasts [...] 100% (Expedition PS137 of RV Polarstern). The data show that the Arctic Ocean offers good recording conditions for earthquakes due to the unprecedentedly low seismic noise. Test of the prototype ice-OBS

the environment, e.g. in water bodies, the soil and the air. Via ocean currents and rivers, the tiny plastic particles can even reach the Arctic, Antarctic or ocean depths. A new overview study has now [...] Sustainability Studies in Potsdam, and the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Kiel – describes how microplastic finds its way into the atmosphere and how it is subsequently transported.

species to climate chance to predict their role in the future Arctic Ocean. Feeding biology and trophic interactions of key species Who feeds who“ is one of the major factors structuring communities. [...] we study the zooplankton abundance and community composition in Arctic waters to enhance our understanding of colonisation and expatriation processes. Projects BioAcid II: Biological Impacts of Ocean [...] Climate effects on planktonic food quality and trophic transfer in Arctic Marginal Ice Zones: ( www.mare-incognitum.no/index.php/cleopatra-ii ) Transdrift: The transpolar system of the Arctic Ocean: (

heatwaves have been taking an ever-greater toll on the world’s oceans and their ecosystems. Amplified by increasing global warming, these events are occurring more frequently and lasting longer. The Arctic is not spared from this trend either, as it is warming faster than any other region on our planet. However, due to local processes and conditions, marine heatwaves in the Arctic differ fundamentally from those in non-polar oceans. A recent study, led by the Alfred Wegener Institute, in the journal Communications

Sea Ice
The Arctic sea ice continues to dwindle: Since the 1970s, when satellites first began monitoring the white sheet covering the Arctic Ocean, [...] The reason: warm air intrusions, which are not only hitting the Arctic more frequently, but are also intensifying and reaching farther north.