Abundance of life discovered beneath an Antarctic ice shelf
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 20 December 2021
Scientists found unexpectedly rich marine life beneath Antarctica's Ekström Ice Shelf, including 77 species. Despite darkness and isolation, organisms may thrive on algae transported from open waters—some living there for nearly 6,000 years.
Keywords: carbon dating, phytoplankton, cold ecosystems, British Antarctic Survey, deep sea biology
World's largest fish breeding area discovered in Antarctica
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 13 January 2022
Researchers discovered the world’s largest fish breeding colony—about 60 million nests of Neopagetopsis ionah—under Antarctica’s Weddell Sea. The find strengthens the case for a Marine Protected Area to safeguard this vital ecosystem.
Keywords: CCAMLR, deep-sea research, ecosystem conservation, Southern Ocean, sea ice, climate change
Ocean eddies could explain Antarctic sea-ice paradox
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 2 February 2022
Antarctic sea ice has remained stable despite global warming, unlike Arctic ice. A new AWI study suggests ocean eddies delay warming around Antarctica. High-resolution models improve predictions, offering better future climate projections.
Keywords: sea-ice paradox, AWI-CM, overturning circulation, climate projection, Antarctic stability
