Polarstern Sets Sail for the Arctic
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 21 May 2021
On 24 May 2021, Polarstern set out to resume long-term Arctic deep-sea monitoring in Fram Strait. AWI scientists aim to track climate impacts, deploy new FRAM observatories, and study plastic pollution and ecosystem changes.
Keywords: Polarstern, Arctic expedition, Fram Strait, HAUSGARTEN, AWI, deep sea, marine ecosystems
Antarctic hotspot: Fin whales favour the waters around Elephant Island
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 27 May 2021
Fin whales are returning in large numbers to krill-rich waters near Elephant Island, as shown by AWI sound recordings. Scientists call for protection of this key habitat, which may be linked to a migration route between Antarctica and Chile.
Keywords: fin whales, Elephant Island, AWI, krill, Southern Ocean, marine protected area, acoustic monitoring, whale migration
Salps fertilise the Southern Ocean more effectively than kri
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 2 June 2021
AWI researchers found that salp feces release more bioavailable iron than krill feces, boosting phytoplankton CO₂ uptake. As salps replace krill due to climate change, this could significantly impact carbon cycling in the Southern Ocean.
Keywords: Southern Ocean, AWI, krill, salps, iron bioavailability, phytoplankton, CO₂ fixation
