Extremely clean air on the ground, warm air intrusions and sulphate aerosol at high altitudes – a Leipzig research project has gained new insights into clouds in Antarctica. From January to December 2023, the vertical distribution of aerosol particles and clouds in the atmosphere above the German Neumayer Station III of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) was investigated from the ground for the first time. The height-resolved measurements were the first of their…

In Search of the Origin of an Underwater Plateau. Today, the research vessel SONNE sets off on an expedition to the southwestern Indian Ocean. From 12 September to 28 October 2024, a team of 25 scientists, led by PD Dr Jörg Geldmacher from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, will investigate the seabed south of Madagascar. Expedition SO307 will focus on geological and biological investigations to improve the understanding of the geology and biology of the seabed and…

SLF researchers are investigating how artificial stones move on rough ground in order to improve hazard indication maps. “Oh, oh, it’s broken,” says Joël Borner and looks after his boulder, down into the Hauptertälli. The SLF rockfall expert has launched a large, red-orange concrete block down the 30-degree slope from his launch site near the Weissfluhjoch near Davos, on command: “We launch in three, two, one, launch.” On its way down, the block then hit a rock – and split…

The SLF is researching permafrost and snow in Bhutan at an altitude of over 5000 meters and, together with the local population, is developing measures to reduce climate-related risks in the mountains. The Swiss National Science Foundation is funding the Cryo-Spirit project. Almost two years of intensive preparation were required. Now the time has come: Nadine Salzmann, head of the Alpine Environment and Natural Hazards research unit at the SLF, will set off for Bhutan next Saturday, September 14. In…

The Galápagos Islands are struggling with invasive species. To counter this, conservationists resort to drastic measures for removal. A biologist from Würzburg is investigating how these impact native lizards and their food webs. In 1875, Charles Darwin admired uniqueness of species found on the Galápagos Islands in his work A Naturalist’s Voyage Round the World, in particular the group of birds described today as Darwin’s finches. Kirtana Kumar and Galapagos field ranger Henry during her field work in Galapagos. (c)…

Study challenges previous assertions of Gulf Stream slowdown. A new study by scientists at the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), and the National Oceanography Centre found that the strength of the Florida Current, the beginning of the Gulf Stream system and a key component of the global Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC, has remained stable for the past four decades. There is…

Protective gloves, such as those used for work, sport or household gardening, retrieve their protective function from a special coating. This coating provides abrasion resistance, makes the material waterproof and resistant to chemicals or oil, and even protects against cuts and punctures. Until now, coatings made of oil-based polymers, nitrile rubber or latex have been the main materials used. Using innovative technologies, scientists at the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) have succeeded in developing a robust…

Membranes based on natural silk and cellulose can remove many contaminants, including “forever chemicals” and heavy metals. Water contamination by the chemicals used in today’s technology is a rapidly growing problem globally. A recent studyby the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found that 98 percent of people tested had detectable levels of PFAS, a family of particularly long-lasting compounds, also known as forever chemicals, in their bloodstream. A new filtration material developed by researchers at MIT might provide a nature-based solution…

Researchers study cloud movement in the Arctic. Precise measurement of the warming and cooling of transported air masses for the first time. Special features of the Arctic climate, such as the strong reflection of the sun’s rays off the light snow or the low position of the sun, amplify global warming in the Arctic. However, researchers are often faced with the challenge of modelling the underlying climatic processes in order to be able to provide reliable weather forecasts. Scientists from…

University of Queensland research has revealed that informing tourists visiting the Great Barrier Reef about climate impact doesn’t negatively affect their experience and can help encourage climate action. The researchers surveyed 656 reef visitors about their experiences and behaviours during boat trips. Dr Yolanda Waters from UQ’s School of the Environment said the results showed information on climate change was positively received by visitors. “Informing visitors about the impacts climate change has had on our marine environment doesn’t diminish visitor’s enjoyment of the…

SLF PhD student Patricia Asemann writes about her work on the Silvretta glacier, melting ice, falling winds and pasta with pesto. “Dancing in the moonlight” and Toto’s “Africa” sound off our phones’ speakers as we walk up the Silvretta glacier in the rhythm of the music. Our surroundings are beautiful but our eyes are fixed on the next bit of steep, bumpy, and slightly dirty ice to set our crampons on. Walking around on a glacier is usually pretty fun,…

In the Arctic Archipelago Svalbard, this August roughly 20 experts from seven German universities and research centres set up their labs and instruments for the polar research project YESSS (Year-round EcoSystem Study on Svalbard). Coordinated by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), YESSS is intended to yield new insights into climate change effects. To help make that a reality, a small team of researchers – and this is the unique aspect – will also…

In the agricultural and food industry, determining the chemical composition of raw materials is important for production efficiency, application, and price. Traditional laboratory testing is time-consuming, complicated, and expensive. New research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign demonstrates that near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and machine learning can provide quick, accurate, and cost-effective product analysis. In two studies, the researchers explore the use of NIR spectroscopy for analyzing characteristics of corn kernels and sorghum biomass. “NIR spectroscopy has many advantages over traditional…

New research adds solid evidence to the suspicion that steep declines in America’s wild bee populations stem in large part from the use of pesticides. Saving the crucial pollinators requires new approaches to managing pesky insects, say the USC Dornsife. Whether you’re strolling through a garden, wandering a park, or simply enjoying an open space in the United States, you’re likely to notice bees buzzing about the flowers. While honeybees, imported from Europe in the 17th century to produce honey,…

Bioinspired process makes marine sand more durable, resistant to erosion. New research from Northwestern University has systematically proven that a mild zap of electricity can strengthen a marine coastline for generations — greatly reducing the threat of erosion in the face of climate change and rising sea levels. In the new study, researchers took inspiration from clams, mussels and other shell-dwelling sea life, which use dissolved minerals in seawater to build their shells. Samples of seawater-soaked sand in Rotta Loria’s…

…but climate change brings uncertain future. A new analysis combines hydrology data with climate change models to help water managers prepare for hydropower’s future. In a new study assessing how climate change might alter hydropower generation across the continental United States, researchers show that except for some parts of the Southwest, hydropower generation is expected to rise in the future. The analysis also shows that in the Pacific Northwest in the future, less water will be stored in the mountains…