Institute for Atmospheric Physics

Weather and climate

	Global climate The global climate is changing. According to IPCC a large fraction of this change is anthropogenic due to the emissions of greenhouse gases, their precursors or other directly and indirectly radiatively active substances (e.g., water vapour from aircraft, which triggers contrails).
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	Regional climate Climate simulation models as they are used to estimate global climate changes, have limitations with respect to regional features. The reason for this is the fact that the regional climate and its possible changes are strongly influenced by the regional topography (mountains, coasts) that cannot be sufficiently resolved by global climate models.
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	UV-Radiation Radiation in the ultraviolet part of the solar spectrum, especially at the shorter UV-B wavelengths from 280 to 315nm, is potentially harmful to a wide range of biological systems. Furthermore, atmospheric photochemistry is controlled by UV radiation.
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	Weather and mountains Precise analyses and forecasts of weather situations which tend to be particularly complicated above mountain complexes remain a demanding task for atmospheric research. Precipitation processes are of special significance.
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Radiation in the atmosphere

Solar and thermal radiation is the main driving force of atmospheric circulation and chemistry. In addition, radiation reflected or emitted by the Earth's surface and atmosphere is utilised by remote sensing techniques to derive information about properties of the atmosphere and the surface from observations in space. A profound knowledge of radiation and its interaction with the atmosphere is therefore essential for many fields in atmospheric science.

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Global climate

Regional climate

UV-Radiation

Weather and mountains

Radiation in the atmosphere