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
How Much Carbon Will Peatlands Lose as Permafrost Thaws?
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 7 June 2021
A new model shows peatlands’ future carbon balance varies by site. Some thawing areas will emit carbon, others will store more, but overall <5% will be lost. Most emissions come from the active layer, not deep permafrost.
Keywords: active layer, carbon storage, thawing, simulation, Canada, vegetation, Journal of Geophysical Research
Heincke Expedition searches for Microplastics
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 10 June 2021
An 11-member team aboard RV Heincke studies microplastics in the North Atlantic as part of the FACTS project, focusing on their sources, transport, and impact from the North Sea to the Barents Sea.
Keywords: North Sea, Barents Sea, plastic pollution, marine research, vertical transport, ocean currents, expedition
