From the point of view of an external observer in orbit around Earth, sea ice is an ultra-thin layer capping the polar oceans. This layer regulates the interactions between the atmosphere and the ocean. However, when taking a closer look, sea ice appears as a heterogeneous material governed by complex dynamic and thermodynamic processes on a wide range of scales.

The excess freshwater in the Arctic due to global warming is causing a weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The question of how climate change will impact the stability of the AMOC, however, remains unclear.

Search for life in the Universe is one of the main reasons for space exploration and has been blooming since the 1960’s, as being one of the most fundamental questions for Humankind: “are we alone in the universe?”. For now, extraterrestrial life has not been detected anywhere in the Universe. Nevertheless, the notion of habitability, i.e.

The sublimation and condensation processes of the seasonal Martian caps are linked to the CO2 cycle, the main cycle on Mars. Observing the seasonal growth/recession rates of the caps provides insight into the local and global environment. These seasonal processes strongly influence the global energy budget of Mars.