Welcome to the Homepage of the Global Modelling Group (MOD)

The Earth's atmosphere and hence the climate is influenced by natural and anthropogenic processes. As the atmosphere is a complex system determined by dynamical, radiative and chemical processes it is necessary to understand these processes in detail in order to make a reliable prediction of the future development of the atmosphere. Beside measurements computer simulations of atmospheric processes are a prerequisite to understand the behaviour of the atmosphere.

To contribute to the improvement in the understanding of the processes in the atmosphere the Global Modelling Group (MOD) is performing global simulations being used in the interpretation of the measurements obtained by the other groups of the IMK-ASF but also by other partners. In particular our group is interested in the processes controlling the ozone budget in the upper troposphere and stratosphere as these altitude regions and also ozone itself plays a important role in controlling the climate. 

The main scientific objectives of our group are

  • to better understand the long-term behaviour of the stratosphere with respect to the dynamics (age of air) and also to the time development of ozone depleting substances and radiatively important species as O3 and water vapour
  • to better quantify the budgets of nitrogen (NOy), chlorine (Cly) and hydrogen (HOx) containing species in the stratosphere with respect to the relative importance of transport and chemistry and their possible connection to climate change (e.g. due to denitrification)
  • to investigate the solar influence on the composition of the middle atmosphere
  • to better understand the exchange of trace gases between stratosphere and troposphere (STE)

To achieve these objectives our group is involved in several national and international projects (see Projects) and makes use and participates in the development of global simulation models (see Models).