Research area Atmosphere, ocean and climate science

Research in atmospheric science, oceanography and climate science covers a wide range of fields. For example chemical and dynamic processes in the atmosphere, polar stratospheric clouds, ocean currents, and aerosols are studied.

Scientists and graduate students study the mechanisms, components and interactions of the climate system. They use computer models and advanced experimental methods to obtain a better understanding of our changing environment and climate.

 

 

 

Aerosols, Clouds and Climate

To understand the trajectories of the changing climate, much of our current research focuses on atmospheric particulate matter, a key component of the Earth's energy budget.

Air Quality and Human Health

Acquiring the knowledge for maintaining and improving air quality is one of the critical environmental challenges of the future as it is estimated that poor air quality causes several million premature deaths each year.

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

The atmosphere is a multi-phase system, with solids, liquids and gases existing and constantly interacting.

Climate change over time

Studying climate and climate change involves exploring long-term patterns and variations in weather conditions over time and in different places of the Earth.

Climate dynamics and climate change

Over long timescales, the circulation systems co-evolve with ice sheets, mountain ranges, and redistributions of carbon in the climate system. Researcher study the circulation and associated feedback mechanisms that influence exchanges of energy and materials between compartments of the climate system, and create teleconnections and climate variability.

Meteorology and atmospheric science

Research in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science deals with the atmosphere's three layers: the Troposphere, the Mesosphere and the Stratosphere. We study how and why the atmosphere moves, how aerosols (small particles) form, are transported and interact with clouds, precipitation and solar radiation, and how this affects polar climates.

Nexus of Air Pollution and Climate Change

The Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP; northern Pakistan, N. India and Bangladesh) as well as the eastern corridor of China are two examples of hotspot regions with massive anthropogenic effects on public health and climate with a myriad of cascading effects on other environmental systems.

Oceanography

The field of oceanography encompasses both surface currents and deep water circulation. Surface currents and the overturning water that forms deep water currents, distribute heat and salt between different regions of the Earth as well as with depth in the oceans.

Permafrost-biogeochemistry-climate Interactions

The Arctic is warming 3-4 times faster than the global average and already now shows rapid thaw of land and subsea permafrost, vegetation shifts, increased coastal erosion, sea ice decline and changes in ocean currents.