Master's programme Sustainablility Economics and Management: 95 p. (first reviewer)

It is an inexhaustible topic to compare the two polar seas, which differ in their composition, climate and political perspective in an unusually large way from all other areas of the earth, and to try to depict the extremes of both sides side by side. The polar worlds show an unconditionally harsh climate on both sides. Nevertheless, this work shows the differences between the polar seas, which are greater than the layman might assume at first glance.

Climate protection in the polar seas is a highly explosive issue, as the predicted global warming of up to 5° Celsius by the year 2100 and the associated rise in sea level of up to seven metres would change a great deal on Earth. The fact that the hole in the ozone layer is getting bigger and the earth is getting warmer is already changing a lot. Exhaust fumes are certainly one of many small problems, although the lobbyists are also playing their part here, because cars with extremely high exhaust emissions are still on the roads. Even the exhaust emission zones in the various major cities are ultimately not having the desired effect, as would be necessary to protect the climate. The hole in the ozone layer has many causes, as does climate change. In the interest of protecting our planet, every individual is called upon to make a contribution. There is a lot of talk about the big picture, but even this will not be effective unless every inhabitant of this planet shows some insight and does their bit to protect against further global warming.

Although there is no existing legal regulation in the north, it is clear that the northern Arctic Ocean, in contrast to the southern Arctic Ocean, with its unmistakably milder climate, seems mysterious and raises many questions. With an average temperature of -18° Celsius at the North Pole, many a brave explorer is tempted to venture there. The dangers seem small at first glance, but the explorers' factual reports speak a very different language. But even at a temperature that already seems quite cold for us in Germany, we are still a long way from the temperature in the south, which averages -50° Celsius directly at the pole. The Arctic continues to attract the attention of politicians, scientists and ecologists, as the melting of the ice due to rising temperatures has been clearly established. In principle, one would assume that a maximum temperature rise of 2° Celsius overall, as repeatedly emphasised at climate summits and laid down in the IPCC, would not be so dramatic. However, the facts prove otherwise. The ecological consequences, which were discussed in detail in Chapter III, cannot be ignored and call for swift action. An ice-free Greenland would not be good for the flora and fauna, and the Greenlanders would also have to fundamentally change their behaviour. The melting of the ice in the Arctic Ocean could cause sea levels to rise, and the creatures in the Arctic Ocean are also at great risk. The melting of the ice also has the effect of reawakening the neighbouring states, which are all reaffirming their interest in the mineral resources and raw materials available. It is assumed that there are many raw materials and natural resources under the ice. Of course, every nation wants a piece of the presumably abundant raw materials and mineral resources that lie peacefully under the thick layer of ice. But who really owns what? There is still no legal provision that specifically defines sovereign rights. The problem also arises from the fact that the Arctic is a glacier that cannot be subject to international law. The Convention on the Law of the Sea is able to regulate the legal situation of the littoral states on the surface. Nevertheless, as has been made clear in this paper, the Convention on the Law of the Sea is only partially applicable. Everything outside the Exclusive Economic Zone, i.e. the area close to the North Pole, is still not regulated. This repeatedly gives rise to disputes over resources. For the future, it would be desirable on the one hand to create a peaceful agreement to regulate the territories in the Arctic in concrete terms. If the Arctic continues to melt, it cannot be ruled out that the disputes could take on dangerous forms. The Russians took a pioneering step in this direction in 2007 by placing a Russian flag on the seabed in the Arctic to symbolise their claim. The northern Arctic Ocean is still a long way from the kind of peaceful unification that exists in the south.

Since 23 June 1961, the Southern Ocean has had the Antarctic Treaty, which regulates the claims in this region. This treaty is invaluable and once again reflects the fact that it is entirely possible for different nations, some of which have very different ideas, to coexist peacefully in a limited area by mutual agreement. Antarctica is used exclusively for scientific research purposes. To this end, a treaty was signed with the 12 states in 1959, which regulates the co-existence of the member states under international law. It is admirable that this treaty has a legal effect for this part of the world despite all the adversities that the various nations involved have to fight out with each other.

The many research stations in Antarctica, which have all sent their scientific staff to this region, support each other if necessary and conduct research peacefully side by side. This is an impressive occurrence by our local standards. For 60 years, there has been a treaty under international law that accepts and respects several nations side by side, although it should not be forgotten that international law has no binding effect. This makes the value of these relations in the Southern Ocean all the greater. Until the year 2041, Antarctica may "only" be explored, not "mined". This means that there are no political stakes at the present time. In 2041, however, things could look very different. We will have to wait for that. For ecological reasons, it would certainly be desirable if the extraction of mineral resources were to continue to be prohibited beyond 2041. In the near future, there will certainly still be a lot to discuss in this regard, which we can definitely look forward to. The political level in the northern hemisphere, however, promises to attract considerable interest in the coming years. There is currently much more to regulate here than in the southern hemisphere. Here, too, we can assume that there will be a lot of political movement in the near future. The north is seething, not least because of global warming.
In conclusion, the polar seas have so many facets that you could easily fit a lot more content into a paper like this. Never before have I come across a topic that was as spectacular, mystical, dangerous, appealing and impressive as this one. It's wonderful to dedicate yourself to this topic, especially when you realise that even if you're already deep into the subject, you can still discover new things and learn unknown things.

Bachelor's programme in Environmental Sciences: 83 p. (First reviewer)

Based on the question of how the northwest German landscape west of the Jade Bay developed during the Holocene, a borehole was drilled to 6.15 m in the area of the former "Black Brack" using a double-pipe method. The drill core was then examined sedimentologically and palynologically, interpreted with regard to its structure and genesis and the results were supplemented analytically using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. By recording the Holocene base and evaluating the pollen analysis, it was possible to classify the drill core in terms of time.The organic basal sequence of fen peat following the Pleistocene sands, the Geest, represents the basal peat, which reflects sub-boreal peat growth in the analysed core. In general, peat growth in the Jade Bay began in the Atlantic or Subboreal, the earliest onset of which can be dated to an age of ca. 6225 cal. BD based on previously obtained radiocarbon samples (Wartenberg & Freund 2011).Pollen analysis of the basal peat revealed that peat growth in the western Jade Bay area began with an alder swamp forest and relatively humid conditions. A gradual drying of the fen led, at least locally, to increased heather and sweet grass occurrences. The two peat layers are separated by a splitting sequence, the mineral intercalation of which consists of almost lime-free sediments of the brackish-lagoon environment, mostly interspersed with plant and root remains or reed-rooted sediments, which temporarily interrupted the growth of the bog. According to Wartenberg & Freund (2011), this interruption of sedimentation occurred in the western Jade Bay around 3,000 cal BC. However, before the region was completely dominated by marine conditions, a fen grew up again, which developed from an alder swamp forest into a mixed oak forest with locally frequent heath occurrence and was ultimately replaced by a marine system. The top of the organic cover sequence was dated to the beginning of the Subatlantic on the basis of pollen analysis, and the profile is completed with a clastic cover sequence consisting of marine tidal deposits with sand and mixed mudflats.The late Holocene palaeoenvironment of the western Jade Bay and its immediate surroundings has been characterised by at least one extreme natural event, which can be found at the top of the peat of the investigated core by a layer several mm thick, which was diatomologically clearly assigned to the marine environment in the neighbouring environment.

Diploma Programme Landscape Ecology: 66 p. (first reviewer)

This thesis deals with the investigation of the distribution of diatom species in six transects in bay, backshore and open tidal flats in the northwest German North Sea coastal area. In each transect, surface and 30 cm depth samples are taken from the MTnw line to the MThw line, and environmental parameters are measured: site height, conductivity (to calculate salinity), pH value and sediment type. Furthermore, the influence of various environmental factors on the species inventory of a site is investigated using linear gradient analyses (PCA and RAD).

In addition, the results of the surface and depth samples are analysed with regard to diatom associations. The results show that the Standardised water-level index (SWLI), the sediment type and, to a certain extent, distance from the MTnw line are the most important influences on the distribution of the diatom flora.

According to the present study, the pH value and the salinity of a site play a subordinate role. The diatom associations of the mudflats differ from those of the salt marsh. Bay, backshore and open tidal flats contain a similar species inventory.

Bachelor's programme in Environmental Sciences: 79 pp. (first reviewer)

The Oberahn fields are described in detail by LÜDERS (1937) and SCHÜTTE (1927, 1939). Their destruction by tidal erosion was completed by the middle of the last century at the latest, so that they are no longer mapped from 1952 onwards.

Based on the question of whether remains of these former marshlands could be found again, a 6 m core was sunk in this area at low tide using a double-pipe drilling method. This was then examined in detail using optical-haptic, sedimentological and diatomological methods and interpreted in terms of structure and genesis. It was not possible to record the Holocene base by drilling and an age classification of the drill core is not possible at the time of this work.

The drilled sediments are predominantly sandy near-shore moving water deposits with varying proportions of silt. In the upper area between 0.83 - 2.49 m below ground level, sediments of a more silty character can be found, which are interpreted as brackish water deposits or coastal still water deposits due to vertical Phragmites rooting. It is highly probable that these are the clays described by SCHÜTTE, which were found in the Oberahn fields during the profile survey. Intercalated horizons in the third and fourth metres of the drill core, heavily enriched with humic peat detritus, indicate the proximity to erosion areas in the coastal region.

Geologically, there is no evidence of the former marsh islands in this drill core. A section of the drill core with brackish water and marine, partly humic sediments was examined diatomologically. Predominantly marine species were identified throughout. A high fraction of fractures indicates high sedimentary re-deposition energies. Small, strongly silicified and thus relatively stable species dominate, as is typical in coastal, sandy mudflats. Characteristic species compositions for the sedimentologically defined zones are found. Ecological diatom groups are used to make statements about paleoecological depositional conditions.