Marcel Nicolaus

Dr. Marcel Nicolaus is a sea ice physicist and deputy head of the Sea Ice Physics Section at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) within the Climate Sciences division. His research focuses on the critical role of sea ice and snow cover in global climate regulation through atmospheric-oceanic exchange processes.

His primary research interests include:

• Physical properties of Arctic and Antarctic sea ice
• Snow cover dynamics and albedo effects
• Energy budget analysis of polar ice systems
• Development of autonomous observation technologies
• ROV-based underwater sea ice surveys
• Climate modeling of polar feedback mechanisms

Nicolaus leads research on contrasting Arctic sea ice decline with Antarctic stability patterns, utilizing data from drifting buoys and the MOSAiC expedition. His work emphasizes improving snow representation in climate models to enhance prediction accuracy for polar amplification effects.

He actively contributes to major international projects including MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate), where he participated in the historic year-long Arctic expedition aboard Polarstern. Nicolaus delivered a keynote address on MOSAiC findings at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), highlighting connections between polar changes and mid-latitude climate impacts.

His technological innovations in autonomous systems and ROV methodologies enable continuous real-time monitoring of sea ice properties, advancing understanding of seasonal and regional variations in both polar regions.