POLF - recent articles

Buchrezension: Der geträumte Norden

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 19:27:51 +0100

Buchrezension: Der geträumte Norden
Cornelia Lüdecke
Polarforschung, 94, 43–44, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-94-43-2026, 2026
This is a review of a compilation of historical events that deal with the Far North in a variety of ways covering a total period of 2332 years.

Buchrezension: Ada Blackjack: Überleben auf der Bäreninsel

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 19:27:51 +0100

Buchrezension: Ada Blackjack: Überleben auf der Bäreninsel
Cornelia Lüdecke
Polarforschung, 94, 45–46, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-94-45-2026, 2026
It is a review of a book on an Inupiaq woman written for 8 year old children, who took part in an expedition to Wrangel Island in 1921–1923 and who survived as only person. The book describes her life as loving mother who struggled for her children against racism.

From fossils to conservation: an overview of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic penguins

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:27:51 +0100

From fossils to conservation: an overview of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic penguins
Raven Quilestino-Olario
Polarforschung, 94, 17–41, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-94-17-2026, 2026
Penguins have survived for over 60 million years, yet many colonies are now changing rapidly. This overview links fossils, ancient colony remains, and modern surveys to place today’s trends in a long context. Some populations are expanding, but ice-dependent species are at high risk where sea ice breaks up earlier, and food shortages can worsen where fishing overlaps. These results support protecting key breeding and feeding areas, and limiting disturbance and catches in possible warming scenarios.

12th International Conference on Permafrost in Whitehorse, Canada: early career researchers' insights and contributions

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:27:51 +0100

12th International Conference on Permafrost in Whitehorse, Canada: early career researchers' insights and contributions
Verena Bischoff, Pia Petzold, and Melanie Stammler
Polarforschung, 94, 11–15, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-94-11-2026, 2026
The International Conference on Permafrost 2024 brought together researchers and local voices in Whitehorse, Canada, to explore diverse perspectives on permafrost thaw and adaptation to the changing Arctic environments. With support from the German Society for Polar Research, three early career researchers from Germany joined this global exchange, gaining insight, inspiration, and valuable new connections within the scientific community.

Book review: Antarctic Basalt: An Antarctic Quest in the Days of Dog-sledge Travel

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:27:51 +0100

Book review: Antarctic Basalt: An Antarctic Quest in the Days of Dog-sledge Travel
Wilfried Bauer
Polarforschung, 94, 9–10, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-94-9-2026, 2026
Lewis Juckes tells his once-in-a-lifetime adventure of being a young geologist in East Antarctica. Sent on a 2-year trip by Prof. Lester King to find geological evidence for a former connection between southern Africa and East Antarctica in Gondwana, he not only has to deal with a hostile climate and complex geology but also needs to master a dog-sled team.

In memoriam Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Spaeth (* 14. Dezember 1930 – † 14. August 2025)

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:27:51 +0100

In memoriam Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Spaeth (* 14. Dezember 1930 – † 14. August 2025)
Wilfried Bauer, Heinrich Siemes, and Joachim Jacobs
Polarforschung, 94, 5–7, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-94-5-2026, 2026
This an obituary in German for the late Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Spaeth, a polar researcher who participated in six Antarctic expeditions between 1982 and 1994.

Buchrezension: The Belgica Expedition 1897–1899: The First Expedition to winter in Antarctic waters

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:27:51 +0100

Buchrezension: The Belgica Expedition 1897–1899: The First Expedition to winter in Antarctic waters
Cornelia Lüdecke
Polarforschung, 94, 3–4, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-94-3-2026, 2026
I submit a review of the interesting book by Patrick De Deckker on the Belgica expedition 1897-1899. It describes the expedition and evaluates the results for the first time.

Buchrezension: Cold words: a polar dictionary

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 19:27:51 +0100

Buchrezension: Cold words: a polar dictionary
Cornelia Lüdecke
Polarforschung, 94, 1–2, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-94-1-2026, 2026
Review of the book by Bernadette Hince "Cold Words - A Polar Dictionary".

Early career researcher perspective on the 10th International Conference on Arctic Margins (ICAM-X)

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:27:51 +0200

Early career researcher perspective on the 10th International Conference on Arctic Margins (ICAM-X)
Fenna Ammerlaan and Linda Haaland
Polarforschung, 93, 29–32, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-93-29-2025, 2025
Two PhD candidates from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) were supported by the German Society of Polar Research (DGP) in attending the 10th International Conference on Arctic Margins in 2025 in Bremen, Germany. The conference covered topics such as tectonics and sedimentology, teaching and outreach, and history and geopolitics. The small size of the Arctic geoscience community made the conference an excellent platform for networking and scientific discussions.

Seelöwen mit Pinguinpelz: Tätigkeiten Deutscher Hilfskreuzer in der Antarktis während des Zweiten Weltkriegs

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 19:27:51 +0200

Seelöwen mit Pinguinpelz: Tätigkeiten Deutscher Hilfskreuzer in der Antarktis während des Zweiten Weltkriegs
Pablo G. Fontana
Polarforschung, 93, 19–28, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-93-19-2025, 2025
During World War II, the only acts of warfare in Antarctica took place due to the operations of the German Navy's auxiliary cruisers. These were armed merchant ships disguised as vessels of other nations to avoid detection by Allied patrols. Their mission was to sink or capture enemy ships. In Antarctica, they were responsible for the largest naval capture operation of the entire conflict, which led to the only war engagement between two nations on this continent.

Buchrezension: Aeroarctic – Das Zeppelin-Arktis-Projekt

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 19:27:51 +0200

Buchrezension: Aeroarctic – Das Zeppelin-Arktis-Projekt
Frank Berger
Polarforschung, 93, 17–18, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-93-17-2025, 2025

Early-career researchers at the 15th DACH Permafrost Conference

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 19:27:51 +0200

Early-career researchers at the 15th DACH Permafrost Conference
Katharina Schwarzkopf, Katharina Jaspers, Maximilian Rometsch, Katharina Wagner, and Tim Wiegand
Polarforschung, 93, 11–15, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-93-11-2025, 2025
In January 2025, for the 15th time, the DACH Permafrost Union (Arbeitskreis Permafrost) held its regular conference. Hosted by the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF), the 3 d event in Davos, Switzerland, brought together scientists working on polar and mountain permafrost. The large number of participants, and especially of young researchers, reflects the importance of the DACH Permafrost Conference, not just due to the various scientific contributions but also for workshops, field trips, and social gatherings. Five early-career scientists received financial support from the German Society of Polar Research (DGP) to present their projects and outcomes as posters and talks and to exchange with the broad permafrost community.

Else Wegener – die Frau an Alfred Wegeners Seite

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 19:27:51 +0200

Else Wegener – die Frau an Alfred Wegeners Seite
Diedrich Fritzsche
Polarforschung, 93, 3–9, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-93-3-2025, 2025
Else, Alfred Wegener's wife, has created a lasting monument to the polar explorer by publishing her husband's diaries and letters, supplemented by her own memories. The German Society for Polar Research elected her an honorary member and introduced an Else Wegener Medal, which is awarded for merits in public relations, knowledge transfer and the promotion of young talent.

In memoriam Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Thiedig (* 7. April 1933 – † 5. Dezember 2024)

Tue, 27 May 2025 19:27:51 +0200

In memoriam Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Thiedig (* 7. April 1933 – † 5. Dezember 2024)
Georg Kleinschmidt and Karsten Piepjohn
Polarforschung, 93, 1–2, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-93-1-2025, 2025

Meteorological observations from German military weather stations on Svalbard, 1941–1945

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 19:27:52 +0100

Meteorological observations from German military weather stations on Svalbard, 1941–1945
Björn-Martin Sinnhuber
Polarforschung, 92, 33–45, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-92-33-2024, 2024
Knowledge of past climate change is essential to test our understanding of the rapidly changing Arctic. One of the longest Arctic temperature time series comes from observations in Svalbard that extend back more than 125 years but have a gap during World War II between 1941 and 1945. Observations from German military weather stations on Svalbard have now been retrieved from weather maps preserved at the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), which will help close much of the existing data gap.

Tagungsbericht: Technischer Fortschritt und dessen Einfluss auf die Polarforschung

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 19:27:52 +0200

Tagungsbericht: Technischer Fortschritt und dessen Einfluss auf die Polarforschung
Laura Löslein and Johanna Strobel
Polarforschung, 92, 27–31, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-92-27-2024, 2024
From 22 to 23 September 2023, a conference of the History of Polar Research Working Group of the German Society for Polar Research took place at the 'Hugo Junkers' Museum of Technology in Dessau to mark the 100th anniversary of the Junkers aid expedition to Svalbard. The contents of the conference are summarised in this report. Additionally, the contents are reviewed on the basis of modern polar literature and a plea is made for greater interdisciplinarity in polar science.

Article review: Multi-omics for studying and understanding polar life

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:27:52 +0200

Article review: Multi-omics for studying and understanding polar life
Angelika Graiff and Julia Ehrlich
Polarforschung, 92, 25–26, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-92-25-2024, 2024

Zum 50. Todestag von Fritz Loewe (1895–1974)

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 19:27:52 +0200

Zum 50. Todestag von Fritz Loewe (1895–1974)
Cornelia Lüdecke
Polarforschung, 92, 15–24, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-92-15-2024, 2024
Fritz Loewe beschreibt in seinem letzten nicht mehr gehaltenen Vortrag, wie er als begeisterter Bergsteiger und Meteorologe begann, Gletscher zu erforschen. Wichtige Stationen waren das Jungfraujoch, die Teilnahme an Wegeners Grönlandexpeditionen (1929, 1930-31), die Überwinterung auf der französischen Antarktisstation (1951-52), die Nanga Parbat Region (1958), sowie der mehrfache Besuch Grönlands in den 1960er Jahren. Eine einleitende Biographie liefert den Hintergrund für Loewes Aktivitäten.

Auf den Spuren von Erich von Drygalski am Großen Karajak-Gletscher in Grönland

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 19:27:52 +0100

Auf den Spuren von Erich von Drygalski am Großen Karajak-Gletscher in Grönland
Reinhard Dietrich, Christoph Knöfel, Mirko Scheinert, and Ralf Rosenau
Polarforschung, 92, 1–13, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-92-1-2024, 2024
Drygalski führte in den Jahren 1891 und 1892/93 Forschungsarbeiten in Westgrönland durch, wobei zur Überwinterung eine Forschungsstation am Großen Karajak-Gletscher errichtetet wurde. An gleicher Stelle erfolgten durch die TU Dresden 2007 und 2019 geodätische Feldarbeiten. Im Beitrag werden das Areal der damaligen Station sowie die Forschungsarbeiten Drygalskis vorgestellt. Ein Vergleich mit heutigen Messungen zeigt, dass sich der Große Karajak-Gletscher in 120 Jahren kaum verändert hat.

Polarfuchs (Kolumne): Die Antarktis im Computer – wie funktionieren Computermodelle?

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 19:27:52 +0100

Polarfuchs (Kolumne): Die Antarktis im Computer – wie funktionieren Computermodelle?
Lena Nicola
Polarforschung, 91, 105–108, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-91-105-2023, 2023
There are different ways to study the icy continent of Antarctica. One way to understand various processes in Antarctica or to investigate the future of the ice sheet under climate change, is to build a computer model. Several steps are needed to represent how ice flows inside a model. These include for example the derivation of the physical equations, the construction of a coordinate system and the choice of boundary conditions.