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RESEARCH

Staff

Overview

The physics department investigates meteorological and physical processes of tropospheric aerosols and clouds in the field and in the laboratory.

The scientific results emerging from individual experimental studies are used to develop and validate tropospheric process models. The experimental methods include ground-based or airborne in-situ aerosol and cloud characterizations, radiation measurements, and remote sensing of meteorological data and microphysical aerosol and cloud parameters. Additionally, remote sensing methods are used to determine trace gas concentrations that are related to aerosol and cloud processes in the atmosphere. The instrumentation is largely based on in-house developments. The models used in the physics section simulate flow mechanical, thermodynamic, aerosol dynamical, and radiative transfer processes.

The experimental work of our research group Tropospheric aerosols: In-situ characterization, processes and climatology is directed towards the development of new instrumentation for atmospheric aerosols, and their comprehensive application in field experiments. From these field experiments we develop the understanding of pruduction, transformation, and sink processes of atmospheric aerosols as well as their climatic relevance in the troposphere.

IfT Cloud lab building. (© Photo: Stefan Müller-Naumann)

The Cloud group investigates the interactions between aerosol particles and clouds. In particular the formation and freezing of cloud droplets is examined. Furthermore, the interactions between in-cloud turbulence and its influences on cloud droplets is explored. The investigations are carried out in laboratory and field experiments accompanied by model simulations.
(© Photo: Stefan Müller-Naumann)

Six-Wavelength Lidar during the INDOEX-experimentr

The experimental and theoretical work of our research group Optical remote measurements - analysis of atmospheric processes with optical methods is dedicated to the development and application of measuring instruments for remote sensing of atmospheric processes. Our activities are aimed at the height-resolved determination of climate-relevant optical and physical properties of aerosols and clouds as well as at the assessment of the general atmospheric state parameters (temperature, wind, moisture). We apply various optical measurement methods which are specifically useful for tropospheric monitoring.