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There is a relatively high probability of encountering early warning signals when approaching a tipping point. However, this should not be confused with the probability that a tipping point is actually approaching if statistical early warning signals are observed. This is because there could be several alternative explanations for the presence of such early warning signals. In a Perspective article in the current issue of the scientific journal Nature Climate Change, a team of researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute suggests taking a critical look…

Working together, the university and AWI have used their data platform PANGAEA to begin creating backups of U.S. scientific datasets. The impetus for this are threats of budget cuts under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which could result in the loss of valuable climate and environmental data.

From 1 May 2025, Prof. Dr. Maarten Boersma will step up as Acting Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute. As a biologist, he has been conducting research, predominantly at the Helgoland and Sylt stations, since 2001, since 2015 as section head. He has been on the AWI Board of Directors since summer 2024. Maarten Boersma succeeds Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius, who takes up the position of President of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in California.

On Easter Sunday, April 20, the new National Geographic documentary series “Secrets of the Penguins” will premiere on the Disney + streaming platform. Large parts of the penguin documentary were filmed at our Neumayer Station III in the Antarctic.

The German Arctic Office published a policy brief entitled “Reception of Germany’s new Arctic Policy Guidelines (2024)”, which deals with the perception and implementation of the new German Arctic Guidelines in the Arctic states. Another publication is the fact sheet called “Remote Sensing in the Arctic”. It explains the importance and applications of remote sensing techniques in Arctic research. The aim is to create a better understanding of current developments and challenges in the Arctic and to make scientific findings more accessible for politics…

The findings raise fresh concerns about the increasing spread of pollutants and the potential consequences for fragile polar ecosystems as climate change accelerates. The research, published today in Nature Communications and led by the University of Bristol, provides the clearest ever picture of how the underlying transport system, known as the Transpolar Draft, operates. It also uncovers the various factors controlling this major Arctic surface current, including warmer temperatures which could increase the spread of human-made pollutants. The…

Polarstern returned to her home port of Bremerhaven at high tide this morning. After a good 20 weeks in the Antarctic season, the research vessel moored at the pier in the overseas harbour at 5:00 am. Over the next six weeks, routine maintenance and repair work will take place at the Lloyd Werft shipyard before the ship leaves for the Arctic at the end of May.

Der Antarktische Zirkumpolarstrom ist die größte Ozeanströmung der Welt, der immer im Uhrzeigersinn um die Antarktis herumströmt. Er transportiert Wärme sowie Nährstoffe und übernimmt dadurch eine wichtige Rolle für unser Klima. Trotz dieser Bedeutung wissen wir noch relativ wenig über sein Verhalten. Um dem Verständnis der Strömung einen Schritt näher zu kommen, haben Forschende des Alfred-Wegener-Instituts und des Leibniz-Instituts für Ostseeforschung Warnemünde aus einem Sedimentdatensatz rekonstruiert, wie der Antarktische Zirkumpolarstrom in den…

The Alfred Wegener Institute invites scientists to apply for a guest research stay at the marine stations on Helgoland or Sylt. The stays, which last longer than 15 working days, offer the opportunity to conduct research in the immediate vicinity of the rocky tidal flats. The stations have well-equipped guest laboratories with Internet, seawater connection and basic laboratory equipment. Applications are possible until 31 July 2025. Further information.
 

A book for all those who want to address the challenges of climate change and contribute to the necessary solutions is now freely available from SpringerBriefs in Climate Studies. Students interviewed leading climate scientists about what motivates and inspires them and how exciting and inspiring working in this field can be. The book offers a look behind the scenes and provides personal insights into how complex and frustrating climate science can be.