The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research combines all disciplines central to Earth and Life sciences. The AWI conducts research in the Arctic, the Antarctic and at temperate latitudes. It coordinates Polar research in Germany and provides both the necessary equipment and the essential logistic back up for polar expeditions. Recent additional research themes include North Sea research, marine biological monitoring, marine pollution research, investigation of natural marine substances and technical marine developments.

The AWI has four Sections: Climate System, Pelagic Ecosystems, Benthic Ecosystems and Geosystem. The Institute was established as a public foundation in 1980 and is a member of the Hermann von Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres. The AWI runs the research vessels POLARSTERN, HEINCKE and UTHÖRN.

As one of the largest marine research institutes in Europe, AWI has an excellent organizational and scientific basis for large-scale project and data management. This includes advanced computer facilities, an interactive data base management system (PANGAEA) which is part of the World Data Center, and Geo-Information System (GIS) software and experience.

In the project BALTIC GAS, AWI is applying Geo-Information-Systems (GIS) for data visualisation as well as spatial modelling which includes characterization of biogeochemical provinces at the seafloor and calculation of budgets. Furthermore we contribute to the measurement of fluxes of methane through the sediment water interface and within bottom waters. For this purpose onsite and online mass spectrometry will be applied.