Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and their industry partners have advanced the technology available to measure carbon dioxide in the ocean. Scientists around the world rely on ocean monitoring tools to measure the effects of climate change. Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and their industry partners have advanced the technology available to measure carbon dioxide in the ocean. Their design, published in the journal Ocean Science, is now available to the scientific community. During the past six…
CBS Presents the Concept of “Ethical World Trade”. CBS International Business School, in collaboration with the European Environmental Bureau, the Wellbeing Economy Alliance, and the World Fair Trade Organization, has developed the concept of “Ethical World Trade & Economy for the Common Good” to promote a fairer and more sustainable global trade framework. At the heart of this proposal is the integration of social and ecological standards into trade regulations. The concept combines climate protection, human rights, and local economic…
New measuring node was placed off Boknis Eck today. One of the oldest marine time series stations in the world is located in Eckernförde Bay, just under two kilometres off the coast: Boknis Eck. Since 1957, data on the state of the Baltic Sea have been collected regularly from a ship and, since 2016, also from an underwater observatory on the seafloor. After the device disappeared in 2019, the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel today launched a new,…
Study reveals low levels of common contaminants but high levels of other elements in waters associated with an abandoned lithium mine. Lithium ore and mining waste from a historic lithium mine located west of Charlotte, North Carolina, are unlikely to contaminate surrounding waters with common pollutants such as arsenic and lead, according to a new study. However, high levels of other metals — namely, lithium, rubidium and cesium — do occur in waters associated with the mine. The new findings,…
Compared to intensive land use, sustainable land use allows better control of underground herbivores and soil microbes. As a result, the soil ecosystem is more resilient and better protected from disturbance under sustainable management than under intensive land use. Researchers from Leipzig University, the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig and other research institutions found that the total energy flux and the activities of so-called decomposers, herbivores and predators in the soil food web remained stable. They have…
Accompanied by around 400 guests, the ship naming ceremony was led by Karin Prien, Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister of Science, who assumed the role of sponsor for this remarkable vessel. CORIOLIS is a floating, multi-purpose laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment designed for coastal, hydrogen, and membrane research. It also represents a step toward environmentally friendly maritime technology, which empowers environmental protection and climate sensitivity. Applause broke out when the champagne bottle hit the bow of the CORIOLS and burst. The guests from politics,…
The Earth’s total amount of freshwater dropped abruptly starting in May 2014 and has remained low ever since. The shift could indicate Earth’s continents have entered a persistently drier phase. An international team of scientists using observations from NASA-German satellites found evidence that Earth’s total amount of freshwater dropped abruptly starting in May 2014 and has remained low ever since. Reporting in Surveys in Geophysics, the researchers suggested the shift could indicate Earth’s continents have entered a persistently drier phase….
Research team analyze biodiversity, ecosystems and economics of enriching beech forests with conifers. Forests provide biodiversity, ecosystem functions, income and much more. How can these diverse and seemingly diverging demands be met? An international research team led by the University of Göttingen addressed this question by analysing the effects of enriching beech forests in Germany with commercially valuable native (to mountainous regions of Europe) and non-native conifer species, in this case, the Norway spruce and Douglas fir, respectively. Their study…
The odor of recycled plastics is a major challenge for their recycling and requires customized solutions. Recyclates can have undesirable odors that come from various sources, such as microbiological degradation or residues of previous contents. This is precisely where the Fraunhofer CCPE compact on December 5, 2024, on the topic of “Emission and odor optimization in plastics and recyclates” comes in. Prof. Andrea Büttner, Board of Management Member of the Fraunhofer CCPE and Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Process…
Europe is preparing for climate-neutral flight powered by sustainably produced hydrogen. Last year, the EU launched a project to support industry and universities in the development of a hydrogen-powered medium-haul aircraft. Among other things, jet engines will have to be adapted to run on the new fuel. Today’s engines are optimised for burning kerosene. “Hydrogen burns much faster than kerosene, resulting in more compact flames,” explains Nicolas Noiray, Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering at ETH Zurich….
How the Hunga Tonga Eruption has affected Ecosystems in the South Pacific. The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in January 2022 released massive quantities of volcanic material into the ocean and atmosphere. Researchers from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel have investigated how this has affected surface water biogeochemistry in the South Pacific. During a GEOTRACES expedition, the team showed that large amounts of trace elements, including iron, were introduced into the ocean, fostering phytoplankton growth….
University of Tübingen and Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) team investigates the effects of rising temperatures and carbon dioxide levels on agriculture. The changes scientists expect in the climate could cause the toxic metals naturally occurring in soils to become more mobile, destabilize ecosystems and increasingly enter the human food chain via agriculture. Such scenarios are particularly likely to occur in slightly acidic soils, which make up around two thirds of all soils. These are the conclusion of an…
Two Hereon studies call for clear framework conditions for CO2 sequestration in coastal areas . A digital twin for projections, an independent body for certification and new legal structures for monitoring. This should help projects for CO2 storage in coastal areas, according to two recent studies with lead authorship or participation of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon. The two papers were recently published in Environmental Research Letters and Elementa. The expertise of the Hereon authors is primarily aimed at politics and business….
More than 800,000 km2 of the Arctic were affected by human activity in 2013, according to an analysis of satellite-derived data on artificial light at night. On average, 85% of the light-polluted areas are due to industrial activities rather than urban development. According to the international team led by UZH researchers, the results are crucial for sustainable development and nature conservation in this highly vulnerable region. The Arctic is threatened by strong climate change: the average temperature has risen by…
Scientists at the Wood Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have been working for years to find out what types of plastics have the shortest and longest lifespans in the ocean, and what types of plastic products, like straws and food wrappers, most commonly contribute to plastic pollution. With more biodegradable materials being developed , like cellulose diacetate (CDA)—a plastic-like polymer derived from wood pulp—researchers are racing to ensure they can replace traditional plastics without causing harm to ocean environments. Now after…
Today, the research vessel ALKOR embarks on an expedition in the Bay of Lübeck. The aim is to study the effects of munitions clearance on the marine environment. Four weeks ago, pilot UXO clearance operations began in the areas of Haffkrug and Pelzerhaken. These operations are closely monitored and supported by GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. Since mid-September, three professional companies have been removing unexploded ordnance (UXO) from a dump site in the Bay of Lübeck. This is…
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