Research & Transfer

From ground to the thermosphere

Excellence in theory and practice

The Institute of Atmospheric Physics investigates the physics and chemistry of the global atmosphere from the Earth's surface up to the upper boundary of the middle atmosphere at about 120 kilometres altitude. As an institute of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) we answer questions associated with atmospheric processes and with relevance to the research programmes "Aeronautics, Space, and Transportation" and "Energy" of the Helmholtz Association. The institute covers a full variety of methods comprising the development of sensors, observations on different spatial scales (local to global), analysis, theory construction, and numerical modelling including predictability.