Christine Klaas

Dr. Christine Klaas is a Senior Scientist at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) in Bremerhaven, affiliated with the Biosciences school and the Marine Biogeosciences department. Her research focuses on plankton ecology, biogeochemistry, and the Southern Ocean. She leads studies on phytoplankton dynamics, iron fertilization effects, and carbon cycling in polar and subpolar regions.

Her work integrates field expeditions aboard the R/V Polarstern with laboratory experiments, emphasizing the interplay between environmental factors and marine ecosystems. Key projects include analyzing carbon export processes, atmospheric deposition impacts, and diatom growth rates using advanced techniques like the PDMPO fluorescent probe. Dr. Klaas contributes to large-scale initiatives such as the MOSAiC expedition and maintains a strong commitment to open science through data archiving on platforms like PANGAEA.

Her research has advanced understanding of Southern Ocean biogeochemical cycles, with recent publications addressing uncertainties in Antarctic sea-ice extent and the role of iron in phytoplankton productivity. She collaborates closely with international teams to address climate change impacts on marine systems.