Climate and Environment

Preserving Our Basis of Life

Living conditions on Earth are changing as profoundly as never before: Change of climate and the environment, demographic, technical, and economic developments affect the availability and quality of air, water, and food. KIT develops strategies and technologies to preserve our natural basis of life. It is not only aimed at eliminating the causes of environmental problems, but increasingly at adapting society and the environment to changing conditions.

Research Focus

Atmospheric Change and Future Cities

With Atmospheric Change and Future Cities we seek to deepen our understanding of the atmosphere in the context of global change. We focus on the comprehensive observation, analysis, evaluation, and prediction of entire process and event chains related to climate and atmospheric dynamics. A major milestone is the development of the ICON-ART model, which for the first time enables explicit simulation of atmospheric composition and its interactions with clouds and radiation. Now adopted as the standard by the German Weather Service, ICON-ART stands out for its unique integration of mineral dust aerosols into weather forecasting.

Recognizing urban environments as pivotal arenas for 21st-century climate action, and building on our strong expertise in urban research, we further concentrate on areas such as urban planning, sustainable construction, urban climate, water engineering, ecosystem management, urban mobility, co-design, and societal acceptance. Our overarching goal is to develop integrated, effective, and sustainable strategies for climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience – particularly in urban contexts.

Research Highlights

Civil engineers, geoscientists, meteorologists, and remote sensing experts develop strategies for the protection of land and freshwater resources in the Mekong delta within the Vietnam Water Technologies Project. Work is aimed at securing in the long term the basis of life of this economically important region.

How does the structure of a landscape affect processes in the water cycle? This is analyzed by the DFG-funded research group CAOS. Atmosphere researchers use the spectacular AIDA cloud chamber to study the formation of clouds and their influence on weather and climate. Findings serve to improve precipitation forecasts and climate and weather models.

To better understand the interaction of climate and vegetation, the RESPECT research group studies processes in the tropical rainforest of South Ecuador. There, researchers document the impacts of anthropogenic environmental changes on the ecosystem and species diversity.