Major issues of the Atmosphere and Climate Program include changes of the chemical composition of the atmosphere by natural impacts and man’s acting, the water cycle and natural catastrophes, processes in the stratosphere above about 12 km height and in the transition layer to the troposphere below as well as consequences of climate changes in sensitive regions.
Work comprises the application of different methods ranging from laboratory experiments on the degradation of ozone in test chambers and large field measurement programs with aircraft, balloons, and radar devices to the modeling of individual aerosols in the air and using the global stratosphere model. Novel measurement instruments and processes are developed and applied for measurements on the ground (soil humidity, turbulence in the air layer close to the ground), in the free atmosphere (balloon probes, aircraft sensors, research aircraft HALO), and from satellites (ENVISAT environmental satellite with the MIPAS instrument). Models also cover the interaction with the biosphere (exchange of energy, water, and trace gases with plants).
In cooperation with other Helmholtz Centers, models are coupled with all other components of the Earth’s system. Methods and measurement techniques developed are not only applied in fundamental research, but to problems like air cleaning and emergency protection. Activities form part of a network of national and international cooperative ventures, but also comprise direct cooperation projects with associations and industries.
