New expedition of the research ship “Polarstern”

The expedition is titled “Summer Weddell Sea Outflow Study” (SWOS). “The goal of SWOS is to investigate why sea ice in Antarctica has declined so much in recent years and how this affects the ecosystem,” said Christian Haas from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, who leads the “Polarstern” expedition.

Observations from the sea floor to the atmosphere

Comprehensive observations from the seabed to the atmosphere are planned. The focus is on the interactions between sea ice, ice shelves and the ocean and their effects on hydrography, nutrient balance and carbon fluxes. In addition, the regional sea ice thickness distribution and snow properties will be determined, water masses will be characterized and exchange processes between the shallow shelf and deep sea basin will be examined, as the spokeswoman further announced.

Modern and classic measuring systems would be used, including helicopters for measuring sea ice thickness, various trawl nets and ground sampling and observation devices.

According to AWI, the Weddell Sea lies between the Antarctic Peninsula and East Antarctica. It is therefore an area of ​​central importance for the global climate and ocean system, but due to difficult ice conditions it can only be explored locally by research icebreakers such as the “Polarstern”.