Programme Topic 2: Interactions between bio-, hydro-, and atmosphere

Programme topic 2 aims at enhanced predictive understanding of biospheric, hydrospheric and atmospheric (BHA) interactions, including their response to global climate and land-use change. The Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research with its division IMK-IFU in Garmisch-Partenkirchen performs all research in this Topic.

The focus is on the regional scale in climatically sensitive, and socio-economically significant regions, such as mountain areas, semi-arid regions, conurbations (megacities). To achieve this overarching goal, PT2 studies fundamental processes from the molecular scale (e.g., production of biogenic volatile organic compounds, BVOC), ecosystems (chemical pathways of BVOCs and biophysical feedback mechanisms associated with the cycling of N, C, H2O, and energy through soil, vegetation and atmosphere; hydrological / micrometeorologcal transport mechanisms), to the regional scale (particularly in fragmented landscapes and complex terrain). In the context of its topic, PT2 can claim world-wide leadership in manipulative experiments, instrument development, observational and modelling techniques. Synthesis of process ensembles across scales is achieved by massively coupled BHA-climate models, as the basis for climate change impact studies, to study the regional expression of global climate change scenarios on water resources, air quality, tourism, agro- and silviculture.

To tackle the scientific challenge of understanding and predicting the impact of Global Change on BHA interactions and its feedback to Global Change, and to contribute to establishing the scientific basis for adaptation and mitigation strategies as well as for future sustainable development, PT2 utilizes an integrative, transdisciplinary approach. This approach is supported by a comprehensive research strategy and comprises a) biogeochemical process studies, lab studies, field experiments as well as observation programs on the local, landscape and regional scales, b) high resolution simulations of climate, hydrology, air quality and biogeochemical processes, c) the calculation of local, national and global emission/deposition inventories of trace substances and d) the establishment of regional vulnerability maps of future flooding and drought risks as well as for the identification of regions with high susceptibility to air pollution. PT2 will address the following major objectives with a special focus on the impact of regional climate change in complex terrain:

• Quantification of the impact of regional climate change and land-use change on biosphere-atmosphere exchange and atmospheric trace-gas budgets.
• Investigation of the impact of regional climate change on urban-rural interactions.
• Analysis of regional climate change and its impact on water availability in regions vulnerable to flooding and extensive droughts.

Responsible and contact: Prof. Dr. Hans Peter Schmid (IMK-IFU)