Sea ice plays important role in variability of carbon uptake by Southern Ocean
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 20 June 2025
The Southern Ocean’s CO₂ uptake varies annually, driven largely by winter sea ice. More persistent sea ice reduces CO₂ release, boosting net uptake. This highlights winter’s key role in the carbon cycle and the need for more cold-season data.
Keywords: Southern Ocean, CO₂ uptake, sea ice, winter mixing, climate change, carbon cycle, AWI
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
