Weather extremes such as droughts, heavy rain, and heat waves are increasing – and all of them are consequences of climate change. To better understand the processes in the atmosphere, Jülich researchers launch weather balloons, fly measuring instruments around the world, and use supercomputers to calculate complex climate models. They are seeking ways to reduce our planet’s warming trend and improve the air quality for humanity.
The atmosphere is considered a protective cover for our planet. The gases and particles in it ensure that some of the energy that reaches the Earth from the sun does not radiate back into space. Without this natural greenhouse effect, the Earth would be a hostile ice planet. Since the beginning of industrialization, however, enormous amounts of combustion gases such as carbon dioxide have been released into the atmosphere. They heat up the “greenhouse” even more and thus upset the finely balanced climate system of our planet. Jülich scientists are investigating exactly how this happens. They are immersing themselves in the complex world of our atmosphere, exploring how gases and particles are produced and transported around the globe, and how they interact with each other. The aim is always to limit global warming and reduce air pollution.
From ground level to high altitudes, our researchers collect data on climate events worldwide. Stratospheric balloons rise up to 40 km and explore, for example, the concentration of trace gases in the atmosphere above the North Atlantic. The measuring instruments in the IAGOS project determine the concentration of greenhouse gases up to an altitude of 12 km. Since the 1990s, the technology of the European research platform, which is coordinated by Jülich, has been flying around the world on board commercial aircraft. The long-term measurements have already revealed trends. For example, the researchers found that climate change is causing peak concentrations of harmful ozone to occur earlier and earlier in the year. The scientists are also coordinating or participating in international campaigns, for example with the HALO research aircraft – and they are using unusual platforms such as the Zeppelin NT airship to learn more about processes in the lowest layer of the atmosphere.
IAGOS has developed into a research infrastructure of international standing and occupies a central position in the global system for observing the atmosphere. Our freely and openly accessible measurement data is currently used by around 300 organizations worldwide.
In the unique SAPHIR and SAPHIR-PLUS atmospheric simulation chambers, scientists on the Jülich campus can produce air mixtures under laboratory conditions. They use these chambers to investigate, for example, how harmful gases and particles form and what happens to the volatile organic compounds released into the air by plants.
Our research sets the course for a sustainable future. To this end, we are researching the Earth system, developing innovative technologies and working on strategic solutions. We want to help ensure that our planet can sustain human society and the biosphere as a whole.
Helmholtz KLIMA is the dialogue platform that bundles the climate-relevant research and expertise of all 18 centres of the Helmholtz Association. It brings together researchers, policy-makers and civil society actors to develop the best science-based solutions and possible actions to meet the challenges of climate change. As an independent and competent body for climate-related policy advice, the Helmholtz KLIMA dialogue platform shows pathways to climate neutrality and adaptation to climate change. The topics covered range from energy, matter and information to health, aeronautics, space and transport as well as Earth and environment. Helmholtz KLIMA integrates the expertise of other scientists and cooperates with research and technology partners.
How can we tackle carbon dioxide, which remains in the atmosphere for up to 1,000 years? Materials researchers are developing new types of filters to prevent it from escaping from chimneys in the first place. Early-career scientists at Jülich, for example, have developed a highly efficient sponge for the greenhouse gas. Only CO2 molecules adhere to the mesh of ultra-thin polymer fibres. The carbon dioxide can later be released from the material in pure form for industrial reuse.
The scientists from Jülich, however, do not only focus on the long-lived carbon dioxide – they also investigate aerosols, soot, and methane. Overall, these aerosols are just as harmful to the climate as carbon dioxide, but they are much more short-lived.
The scientists also use their data to feed the Jülich supercomputers. Only the fastest computers in the world are able to process the huge amounts of data that are used in detailed climate models and simulations. In the HClimRep project, for example, researchers are developing a deep learning model on Jülich’s new exascale computer JUPITER. They aim to use this model to make more accurate statements about the progression of global warming. The researchers run “what-if” experiments, asking questions such as: What would happen if we stopped emitting all climate-damaging substances immediately?
Their findings become part of the public discourse. With their expertise, our scientists aim to make key contributions to the fight against climate change. For example, they are involved in the United Nations’ IPCC report.
Headerbild Copyright: Forschungszentrum Jülich / Sascha Kreklau
