Less Ice, Fewer Calling Seals
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 17 April 2023
An 8-year acoustic study reveals that Antarctic seals become nearly silent during years with little sea ice, suggesting major impacts on their breeding behavior and presence due to climate change-driven ice loss.
Keywords: Antarctic seals, sea ice loss, acoustic monitoring, breeding behavior, climate change, PALAOA, Weddell Sea
Arctic ice algae heavily contaminated with microplastics
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 21 April 2023
Arctic algae Melosira arctica contains 10× more microplastics than surrounding seawater and transports them rapidly to the deep sea, threatening ecosystems and food webs. AWI researchers urge global action to cut plastic production.
Keywords: Arctic deep sea, food web, Alfred Wegener Institute, Polarstern expedition, plastic pollution, global plastics agreement
Infrastructure for atmospheric research launched
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 26 April 2023
ACTRIS has been officially established as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), enhancing access to atmospheric data and tools across 17 countries. Germany's contribution is led by TROPOS and includes AWI systems in Svalbard.
Keywords: atmospheric research, TROPOS, AWI, Svalbard, European infrastructure
