Research Theme 2

Coupled regional modelling

(AWI, Hereon, KIT, UFZ, GEOMAR)

The goal of this research topic is to provide high-resolution simulations of the regional climate in key regions of Europe, the North and Baltic Seas, and the Arctic, so as to improve our ability to interpret regional observational data and to understand the causes of, and trends in, regional climate change. This will require an improved grasp of feedback processes between various climate components, e.g. the water cycle; feedbacks between aerosols, clouds, radiation and the land surface; interactions between the atmosphere, ice and ocean; and connections with the ecosystem ‘ocean’. We will use models to simulate e.g. extreme events like storms, heavy precipitation or dust loads, as well as the impacts of extreme events on coastal erosion and the height of ocean waves.

Key questions for RT2:

  • What are the most important atmospheric processes at the regional scale that need to be reflected in models?
  • How do the land surface and ocean interact?
  • Can we identify and forecast the effects of, and changes in, extreme atmospheric and oceanic events and their relation to one another?

RT2 Speakers

Dr Ha Hagemann
Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon
Max-Planck-Strasse 1
D-21502 Geesthacht
E-Mail: Ha.Hagemann(at)hereon.de

Dr Heidrun Matthes
Alfred-Wegener-Institut
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Telegrafenberg (Room A45 alt-203)
D-14473 Potsdam
E-Mail: Heidrun.Matthes(at)awi.de