Susann Henkel

Susann Henkel is a Researcher in the Marine Geochemistry department at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) in Bremerhaven, Germany. Her work focuses on understanding biogeochemical processes in marine sediments, particularly iron cycling, pore water geochemistry, and stable isotope analysis. She investigates processes such as benthic iron fluxes, microbial interactions in methanic sediments, and the impact of environmental changes on sedimentary carbon and trace metal dynamics.

Her research spans sub-Antarctic fjords, the Southern Ocean, and the North Sea, with a strong emphasis on the Helgoland Mud Area as a key study site. Recent work includes studies on iron transport pathways from South Georgia, the role of iron in DOM retention, and the effects of warming on Antarctic sediment microbial communities.

Henkel employs advanced techniques like UV laser ablation MC-ICP-MS for multi-element isotope analysis and integrates field data with laboratory experiments. Her contributions address critical questions in marine geochemistry, including carbon sequestration (Blue Carbon) and the bioavailability of essential metals in polar ecosystems.