Institute for Atmospheric Physics

Institute of Atmospheric Physics
Affiliation: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany

Prof. Dr. Markus Rapp
Head of the Institute, Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling

Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre

The Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre is located in the DLR Campus Oberpfaffenhofen. It focusses on the research of the physical and chemical processes of the troposphere and lower stratosphere. About 100 people work in the institute. It is structured in five departments. The institute investigates the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere in the troposphere and stratosphere. The knowledge of dynamical, cloud physical, and chemical processes constitute the basis for many aerospace applications. On both, regional and global scales the relevant processes and changes of the state of the atmosphere are quantified and systematically investigated using remote sensing, research aircraft, and computational models.

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News

SALTRACE-Falcon-campaign on climate effects of Saharan dust started

June 2013
Within the international project SALTRACE scientists of the DLR Institute of Atmospheric Physics perform airborne measurements with the DLR research aircraft Falcon on the Cape Verdes and the Caribbean. The effect of dust from deserts on clouds and weather is a great uncertainty in climate prediction. The scientists aim at better understanding the climate effects of such small particles.

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New findings about the arctic ozone layer

New findings about the arctic ozone layer
As a major finding of the EU project RECONCILE, which was completed in February 2013, it is expected that, according to recent measurements, the ozone layer over the North Pole should recover by the end of the century. Scientists from 35 research institutions, among them the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of DLR, and universities in 14 countries spent four years investigating the chemical process of ozone depletion. Their findings verified once again that chlorine compounds are indeed responsible for this. The scientists used the new insights to improve existing climate models. These models facilitate more reliable predictions on how the ozone layer will develop in future and on the possible consequences of climate change for the stratosphere.

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WxFUSION – Forecasting of weather hazards – HGF supports the start-up of a new company

January 2013
The novel system “WxFUSION” for forecasting thunderstorms has been developed at the department of cloud physics and traffic meteorology of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics. The technology uses satellite and ground-based radar data to identify, track and forecast thunderstorms up to one hour. In addition, the system automatically sends thunderstorm warnings via email as soon as a thunderstorm is detected within 100 km of a chosen location, e.g. an airport. Overall, the new technology contributes to increase safety and efficiency in aviation. The high temporal and spatial resolution of the thunderstorm information, every 5th minute and every 1km at best, and output in an international standard format aiming at a small data volume are considerable benefits for the users. This allows the data also to be transmitted into the cockpit of aircraft via data link technology.

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'Atmospheric Physics' – a distinguished book about atmospheric research

January 2013
The Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IPA) at DLR celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012. On this occasion, a book titled 'Atmospheric Physics: Background – Methods – Trends' has been published. Editor is Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schumann who led the institute from 1992 to 2012. The book should bring a better understanding of the diverse subject areas and capabilities within the institute to a wide readership. The goal is to reach the many people who come into contact with atmospheric physics in their work, be this in science, education, a wide range of institutions or the numerous partners collaborating with the Institute of Atmospheric Physics. The book has now received its first award – on 9 January 2013, at the conference of the American Meteorological Society, Atmospheric Science Librarians International announced that the book had received an honorable mention in the Science category 'Best Books of the Year' for its outstanding topical contributions.

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Messkampagne ESMVal mit HALO erfolgreich

Oktober 2012
Das im August 2012 an die Wissenschaft übergebene Forschungsflugzeug HALO (High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft) ist von seiner ersten erdumspannenden Mission zurückgekehrt. Für die Überprüfung globaler Klimamodelle absolvierte HALO in nur zehn Tagen Messflüge vom norwegischen Spitzbergen bis zum Rand des antarktischen Kontinents.

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22/10/2012

Recovery of the ozone layer continues

30/08/2012

Increase of Arctic pollution due to climate change – IPA investigates emission sources in the Arctic

August 2012

Aviation-induced cirrus cover detected from diurnal cycle over North Atlantic

June 2012

50 years Institute of Atmospheric Physics

June 2012

Measurement flights on the formation of ozone by thunderstorms