The overarching theme of the research is the investigation of interactions between atmospheric
processes and other compartments of near-natural and anthropogenically shaped geo-ecosystems. We
use a wide variety of methods, including meteorological and air chemistry measurements as well as
numerical modelling of atmospheric and hydrological processes in the fields of regional climatology
and urban climatology.
In addition to measurements with automatic weather stations, turbulent heat fluxes are recorded with
eddy-covariance systems. In the long term, the Chair of Climatology operates an Urban Climate
Observatory in Berlin. Furthermore, so-called crowdsourcing data from citizen measuring stations are
used for research. Atmospheric processes are modelled with local and mesoscale meteorological models.
Research of hydrological processes is focused on snowmelt runoff models and water transport in snow
cover. Further focal points are energy, water and mass balances of catchment areas of glaciers,
snow-related natural hazards and thermodynamic and dynamic changes of polythermal glaciers.
Methodological approaches also include analysis of remote sensing data, creation and analysis of
digital terrain and surface models as well as automated analysis and evaluation of climatic and
air-hygienic issues for urban and regional planning.
