Modeling of Atmospheric Processes

Overview

In the Modeling Department, model systems of different dimensions and complexity for the micro- to mesoscale are developed, verified and applied to describe the complex atmospheric processes in the troposphere. They are used both for the investigation of scientific tasks and for answering questions on air quality in the legislative field.

Natural aerosols

In the Modelling Department, emissions and transport of natural aerosol species such as mineral dust, marine or biogenic aerosol are studied. Interactions between aerosol emissions, transport and deposition and meteorology or climate processes are studied on regional and global scales.

Dust

Characterization of the atmospheric dust life-cycle and its controlling mechanism.

Marine aerosol

Quantifying marine emissions of sea salt and primary marine aerosol particles, their atmospheric transport and effects on regional and global scale

Smoke aerosol from wildfires

Model studies of smoke aerosol from vegetation fires that are expected to strengthen in a warming climate

Biogenic aerosol

Simulation of tree species-specific emission strength and composition of pollen and biogenic volatile organic carbon compounds

Aerosol processes and effects

In the field of tropospheric multiphase processes detailed process models are developed that are applied for process studies as well as for the interpretation of laboratory and field measurements. Furthermore, these models are used for deriving appropriate parameterizations for more complex atmospheric model systems.

Modelling of Multiphase Chemical Processes

Development of aerosol and cloud modules that combine complex multiphase chemistry with detailed microphysics.

Modelling of Cloud Microphysics

Investigations of aerosol-cloud interaction in mixed phase clouds using spectral aerosol and cloud physics models

Radiative forcing of aerosols

Influence of aerosol on radiation fluxe – direct and via impacts on atmospheric dynamics and cloud properties

Urban air quality

TROPOS investigates the effects of meteorology and urban structures on air quality with a focus on the concentration of fine particulates in the Leipzig region. In the regional scale complex chemistry processes are considered, while novel model approaches make fast and accurate simulations within the city feasible.

Urban Modelling

Effects of different building structures and land use on urban air quality

Regional air quality and long-range transport

Simulations of emissions allow to estimate the concentration of pollutants and their dispersion.

Numerical methods

In general, modeling complex atmospheric systems is very time-consuming. The models must give sufficiently accurate results, and should run efficiently on the available computer architectures. Therefore, the development and parallelizing of efficient numerical methods plays an important role within the Modeling Department.