Northernmost hot springs of the earth discovered
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 20 February 2025
Researchers discovered Earth's northernmost hydrothermal field near the North Pole. Unlike typical vents, it emits metal-poor fluids rich in hydrogen and methane, revealing unexpected diversity in deep-sea systems.
Keywords: hydrothermal vents, Arctic Ocean, Polaris field, Gakkel Ridge, Polarstern, methane, deep sea
Unique communities directly under the Arctic ice
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 7 March 2025
AWI researchers found high biodiversity directly under Arctic sea ice in the Fram Strait. Melting ice alters this unique habitat, threatening specialized species before they can be fully identified or understood.
Keywords: Arctic, sea ice, biodiversity, Fram Strait, marginal ice zone, eDNA
Lowest levels on record for Arctic winter sea ice
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 4 April 2025
Arctic winter sea ice hit a record low in March 2025, with 14.45 million km²—over 1 million km² below average. Warm air and ice drift caused poor growth. The long-term trend shows a 2.5% per decade decline, signaling ongoing climate change impact.
Keywords: Arctic, sea ice, record low, satellite data, ice drift, winter extent
