Research objectives: Development of concepts, methods and models to increase insight in the functioning of the climatic system and in drivers and mechanisms of global change and to formulate new or improved adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Meteorology
Research is aimed at an enhanced understanding, experimental validation and improved model descriptions of atmospheric boundary layer and land surface processes in weather and climate models as well as air quality and earth system models.
Adaptation and mitigation
Research focuses on the development of mitigation and adaptation strategies incorporating climate change as one of the steering principles for spatial planning and multifunctional land use in developed countries and of climate neutral and climate robust rural development and food security strategies in developing countries. The integration of climate scenarios in planning instruments and procedures for water management will be studied.
Impact of changes in climate and land use
Research deals with the qualitative and quantitative improvement of the understanding of the processes, which underlie causes and effects of climate change. Particular attention will given to the effect of climate change on the hydrological cycle in relation to land use paying attention to droughts, floods, irrigation and implications for crops and vegetation. Present policies and management practices are based on ‘average’ weather conditions. The measurement and modelling of the effects of extreme events (pulses) on water quality and biodiversity will be investigated; the implications for management and policy will be assessed.
Monitoring and assessment methodologies
New methods for the measurement and assessment of causes and effects of climate change will be developed and tested. Improved monitoring strategies on local (sites), regional and national levels will be devised for international reporting and assessments of GHGs, in particular the quantitative assessment of sources and sinks of CO2, CH4 en N2O. Improved forecasting methods and assessment methodologies for ex-ante and ex-post policy evaluations will be elaborated and tested.