Summary

An overarching focus is to understand the general circulation of the atmosphere, and its role in Earth System dynamics. Our particular emphasis is on processes that regulate the flow of energy through the system, especially the distribution of clouds and water vapor. Questions that interest us include: What controls the planetary albedo? What determines the structure of the hydrological cycle? How do stratospheric processes influence climate? Initiatives within the department include the development of a next generation Earth System Model (ICON) and the development of a new observational facility for investigating the interplay of aerosols, clouds and precipitation.