Next phase approval for Collaborative Research Centre (CRC)/Transregio (TR 172) at the University of Cologne
Understanding Arctic climate change: CRC/TR 172 ‘Arctic Amplification: Climate Relevant Atmospheric and Surface Processes and Feedback Mechanisms (AC)³’
The aim of CRC/TR 172 ‘Arctic Amplification (AC)³’, which has been funded since 2016 and has now been extended, is to monitor and understand the dramatic climate development in the Arctic using various methods to improve the reliability of models for predicting observed on-site warming. The above-average warming – known as Arctic amplification – is due to a variety of factors that affect the climate in the Arctic, but are not yet fully known.
In the first phase, the participating researchers carried out three complex cloud measurement operations in the Arctic. In the second phase, the investigations were extended to the inner Arctic and to a whole year as an observation period in order to quantify seasonal differences. At the same time a unique modelling chain has been developed. In the following third funding period, the focus will be on bringing together the various observations and modelling approaches to form an overall understanding for better predictions. A special focus is on how clouds develop during the transport of air masses into and out of the Arctic. In addition to analyses of the MOSAiC campaign, the long-term measurements in Ny-Ålesund and modelling on the hectometer scale, special measurements will be carried out with the new Cologne-based GRAWAC large-scale instruments from the Polar 5 aircraft over sea ice.
The approved sum for the new funding period amounts to almost 4 million euros. Co-applicant Professor Dr Susanne Crewell from the University of Cologne says: “In recent years, we have gained a large number of new measurements in the Arctic that show the strong dynamics of the climate system there. Over the next four years, we now want to use these to improve numerical models in order to better predict the future development of the Arctic in a warmer climate.” (copied from article of University of Cologne – full press release article link see below)
Speaker
Prof. Dr. Manfred Wendisch (University of Leipzig)
Deputy Speaker
Prof. Dr. Justus Notholt (University of Bremen), Cluster Speaker B
Prof. Dr. Susanne Crewell (University of Cologne), Cluster Speaker E, CCA4 Leader