Journey through space and time
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 2 July 2025
On July 2, 2025, Polarstern began the CONTRASTS expedition to study Arctic sea ice regimes—past, present, and future. Researchers aim to better understand how different ice types respond to warming and predict future Arctic changes.
Keywords: Polarstern, Arctic sea ice, CONTRASTS expedition, climate change, ice regimes, AWI, melting feedbacks
The oldest ice core on Earth at the Alfred Wegener Institute
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 4 July 2025
Scientists are analyzing Earth’s oldest continuous ice core, over 1.2 million years old, from Antarctica. It offers direct greenhouse gas data from the Middle Pleistocene, shedding light on past climate cycles and future climate predictions.
Keywords: Beyond EPICA, oldest ice core, Pleistocene transition, greenhouse gases, climate history, AWI, Antarctica
Effects of marine heatwaves and cold spells on ecosystems in Arctic fjords
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 7 July 2025
A new study using AI shows that extreme temperature events like heat waves and cold spells significantly alter Arctic marine ecosystems, affecting both biomass and species composition. The findings highlight climate change’s deep ecological impact.
Keywords: Arctic, marine heat waves, cold spells, ecosystem shifts, community carrying capacity, AI
