Sebastian Zeppenfeld

Dr. Sebastian Zeppenfeld serves as a Researcher in the Atmospheric Chemistry Department at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig, Germany, focusing on chemical processes at the ocean-atmosphere interface.

His core research encompasses:

• Chemical composition of marine atmospheres (carbohydrates, alkylamines, inorganic ions)
• Ocean-atmosphere exchange mechanisms
• Development of analytical techniques including ion chromatography and electrodialysis for aerosol/cloud water analysis
• Design and execution of international field campaigns across extreme environments

His methodological innovations support critical climate research in polar and tropical regions.

Dr. Zeppenfeld contributes to major collaborative projects:

• Arctic Amplification (AC3): Transregio project (2016-2028) investigating climate feedback loops in the Arctic
• TransArctic: DFG-funded initiative (2025-2028) tracking atmospheric transport across polar regions

He has led field operations during the ORIGAMY campaign (2023, Cape Verde), BELUGA balloon studies (2021/2022, Svalbard), PI-ICE Expedition (2019, Southern Ocean), and PASCAL/SiPCA missions (2017, Arctic Ocean).

Within TROPOS' Atmospheric Chemistry Department, he collaborates with international research vessels and observatories to advance understanding of marine aerosol impacts on cloud formation and climate systems.