News: iap

07.04.2025 , News

Open House 2025

Kühlungsborn, 21.01.2025 - On May 10, 2025, the Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) in Kühlungsborn will open its doors to the public from 1 pm to 5 pm. Visitors are cordially invited to take a look behind the scenes of atmospheric physics research. Short introductory presentations will give you an insight into the institute's diverse fields of research - from weather and climate processes to the dynamics of the middle atmosphere and satellite-based observations. What you can also expect:Throughout the institute, our scientists will provide vivid insights into their work at themed stations - from radar and lidar measurements to numerical models and sounding rockets. Children's program:Young guests can also experience science up close! Exciting hands-on experiments await them in the children's area - and as a special highlight, a large weather balloon will be launched at 4:15 pm. Getting here:You are welcome to use the cycle path along Schloßstraße (L11). A limited number of parking spaces are also available. You can also reach us with the Rubi call bus (more information). We are looking forward to your visit and an informative afternoon together at the IAP! Presentation program:- 13:30 & 15:00 - Introduction to the IAP and satellite data analysis working group- 13:45 & 15:15 - Radar remote sensing department- 14:00 & 15:30 - Optical and Rocket Soundings department- 14:15 & 15:45 - Modelling of Atmospheric Processes department

21.01.2025 , News

Successful dissertation: Thorben Mense defends his thesis at the University of Rostock

Kühlungsborn, 21.01.2025 - On Friday, January 17, 2025, Thorben Mense successfully defended his dissertation at the University of Rostock. The thesis is entitled: “Multi Field of View Observations of Wind, Aerosol and Temperature using a Compact, Frequency Scanning Lidar”.In his research, Dr. Mense has significantly advanced the VAHCOLI system (Vertical And Horizontal COverage by LIdar) developed at the IAP. The Doppler lidar system was extended to enable simultaneous measurements of wind, temperature and aerosols with multiple viewing directions. Technological innovations such as an improved telescope design, new mechanisms for beam switching and integrated temperature management systems formed the basis for this extension. The performance of the system was demonstrated in measurement campaigns at the IAP between December 2022 and April 2023. Results included the determination of 3D winds up to heights of 25 km, precise aerosol measurements and the calculation of temperatures in aerosol-rich layers. The quality of the measurements was also confirmed by comparisons with weather models and satellite data. The work highlights the potential of VAHCOLI, particularly for future measurement campaigns and the validation of space-based lidar systems. Furthermore, this defense marked a special moment: Thorben Mense was the last PhD student under the supervision of Prof. Franz-Josef Lübken, the former director of the IAP.We congratulate Dr. Mense on this success!

10.01.2025 , News

Insight into the Ignorosphere: Inaugural lecture by Prof. Baumgarten

Kühlungsborn, 10.01.2025 - Yesterday, Prof. Gerd Baumgarten gave his inaugural lecture entitled “Insight into the Ignorosphere: Growing Challenges at the Edge of Space” at the University of Rostock. The lecture offered exciting insights into research in the upper atmosphere. Prof. Baumgarten explained the importance of atmospheric dynamics at an altitude of around 100 km, a region that transports energy and momentum through the entire atmosphere. He particularly highlighted the innovative development of Doppler lidars, which make it possible to measure temperatures and wind up to altitudes of 80 km. One focus of his lecture was the so-called “ignorosphere” - the largely unexplored altitude range between 50 and 200 km. Prof. Baumgarten explained how this observational gap makes it difficult to understand and model physical processes in this area and how optical remote sensing techniques help to reduce this gap. The lecture was rounded off with explanations of new problems arising from the industrial use of near-Earth space and the increasing pollution of the upper atmosphere. Prof. Baumgarten pointed out the importance of targeted research to accompany these developments and understand the impact they have on the atmosphere. The event highlighted the key role of atmospheric research in understanding our environment and shaping the sustainable use of space.

20.12.2024 , News

Prof. Jorge Chau honored as SCOSTEP Fellow

Kühlungsborn, December 20, 2024 - Prof. Jorge Chau, Head of the Radar Remote Sensing Department at the Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics, has been named a SCOSTEP Fellow. This lifetime recognition honors his outstanding contributions to the study of the upper atmosphere at various latitudes and his commitment to the scientific goals of SCOSTEP and its capacity building focus. SCOSTEP, the Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics, was founded in 1966 by the International Science Council (ISC). Since then, SCOSTEP has initiated numerous pioneering programs, including studies on magnetospheric research, processes in the middle atmosphere and cycles of solar activity. The SCOSTEP Fellows Program was established in 2021 and honors sustained and influential contributions to the field and to SCOSTEP's initiatives. Prof. Chau's achievements exemplify the goals of the program and underscore his commitment to interdisciplinary research and international collaboration. The IAP congratulates Prof. Jorge Chau on this prestigious award.

12.12.2024 , News

Dr. Toralf Renkwitz appointed honorary professor at Wismar University of Applied Sciences

The Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics congratulates Dr.-Ing. Toralf Renkwitz on his appointment as honorary professor at Wismar University of Applied Sciences, where the official appointment ceremony took place on December 10, 2024. Dr. Renkwitz will represent the field of Communication Technology in the future. Dr. Renkwitz has been supporting the Faculty of Engineering at Wismar University of Applied Sciences since 2018. After a one-year deputy professorship, he has since been active with regular teaching assignments in the field of electrical engineering and computer science. In addition, he heads the “Telecommunications Engineering Project” in the Information and Electrical Engineering Master's program and gives students the opportunity to benefit from his extensive practical experience. As a senior research scientist at the IAP, Dr Renkwitz has many years of expertise in radar technology for research into the dynamics and ionization of the middle atmosphere. This expertise not only enriches teaching at Wismar University of Applied Sciences, but also enables students to gain their own research experience as part of their final theses. This combination of science and practice promotes young scientists in a significant way. Dr. Renkwitz's appointment as an honorary professor is a tribute to his commitment, as his teaching and research make a vital contribution to the education of future engineers.

26.11.2024 , News

Successful PhD defense by Ashique Vellalassery

On Friday, November 22, Ashique Vellalassery, PhD student at the IAP, successfully defended his dissertation entitled “Long-term trends and solar cycle response of Noctilucent Clouds” at the University of Rostock. The thesis investigated the highest clouds in the Earth's atmosphere - noctilucent clouds (NLCs) - as indicators of atmospheric background conditions. The focus was on the influence of the 11-year solar cycle and the effects of increasing greenhouse gas concentrations on NLCs, water vapor and temperatures over 170 years. A key finding is the altitude-dependent response of water vapor to the solar cycle in the presence of NLCs, which becomes more pronounced after 1960. Congratulations on this success!

12.11.2024 , News

Inaugural lecture of Prof. Claudia Stephan at the University of Rostock

Last Thursday, Prof. Claudia Stephan, Professor of Theoretical Atmospheric Physics at the University of Rostock since the beginning of the year, gave her inaugural lecture on the topic of “Weather forecasts and climate predictions to the edge of space”. It provided insights into the changes currently taking place in the Earth's atmosphere and highlighted the challenges and potential of modern atmospheric models. While the troposphere is warming as a result of climate change, the middle and upper atmosphere is cooling at rates of up to -2°C per decade, leading to a shrinking of these layers. This process has a direct impact on the lifespan and trajectories of satellites and space debris. At the same time, the use of space for civil, commercial and military applications is increasing rapidly, which increases the need for precise models for the upper atmospheric layers. Against this background, Prof. Stephan emphasized the importance of a new numerical model that can provide weather and climate data for altitudes above 50 km. Her research therefore aims to improve the modeling of the atmosphere at altitudes beyond 50 km in order to provide sound insights into an area that is becoming increasingly important for scientific and technical applications.

27.09.2024 , News

Jennifer Hartisch wins U.R.S.I. poster award

At this year’s Kleinheubacher Tagung, held by the U.R.S.I. Landesausschuss in Deutschland in celebration of its 70th anniversary, Jennifer Hartisch achieved a third-place in the Young Scientist Best Paper Awards (YS-BPA). Out of 20 submissions, evaluated by at least two reviewers from various commissions, 10 Young Scientist Awards were granted, with the top three receiving the coveted YS-BPA. The Kleinheubacher Tagung covers the entire spectrum of the Union Radio-Scientifique Internationale (U.R.S.I.), with this year's program featuring 81 presentations across eight regular and three special sessions. In addition, two plenary lectures were delivered by Dr. Julius Zimmermann of the University of Pavia, Italy, and Prof. Ari Sihvola, the President of U.R.S.I. and Professor at Aalto University, Finland. Congratulations to Jennifer Hartisch for this outstanding achievement! Photo: from left to right: Prof. Simon Adrian (Scientific Conference Director), Dr. Alexander Kraus (Head of the Award Committee), Jennifer Hartisch, Prof. Ari Sihvola (President of U.R.S.I. and Professor at Aalto University, Finland), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ludger Klinkenbusch (Chairman of the U.R.S.I. National Committee in Germany e.V.). Photographer: Prof. Klinkenbusch, member of this year's organizing team on behalf of the national chairman of URSI Germany

23.09.2024 , News

Successful MST16/iMST3 conference in Rostock

The Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics recently organized the 16th International Workshop on Technical and Scientific Aspects of MST Radar and Lidar (MST16/iMST3) at the historic Aula of the University of Rostock. This prestigious event brought together 150 experts from 20 countries across six continents, reflecting the global scope of the conference. Held from September 9 to 13, 2024, MST16/iMST3 marked the second time IAP hosted the event, following the MST13 conference in 2012 in Kühlungsborn. This year’s workshop stood out by integrating lidar science into the traditionally radar-focused agenda, providing fresh opportunities for collaboration between radar, lidar, and satellite observations. The conference aimed to push the boundaries of atmospheric science by focusing on radar and lidar research, covering topics such as atmospheric dynamics, gravity waves, and turbulence in the troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere. Preceding the conference, the iMST Lidar and Radar School 2024 was held at IAP in Kühlungsborn. The school offered participants an introduction to the scientific foundations of atmospheric layers, from the troposphere to the thermosphere, alongside practical exercises in lidar and radar technology. Through this program, attendees gained essential skills in modern measurement techniques, vital for advancing atmospheric research and understanding the dynamics of atmospheric processes. Following the school, the conference featured a week of in-depth discussions and presentations, where a wide range of topics was explored. Highlights included a keynote by Prof Mamoru Yamamoto from Kyoto University, who reflected on 40 years of the MU radar and its enduring impact on atmospheric research. The third day featured a poster session and guided tours at the IAP’s facilities in Kühlungsborn, offering hands-on insights into the institute’s research. Since its inception in 1984, the MST workshops have been at the forefront of cutting-edge atmospheric and ionospheric research. MST16/iMST3 continued this tradition by incorporating lidar observations, broadening the scientific scope and fostering global cooperation. The conference concluded with discussions on 'Recent Advances and Future Plans,' paving the way for continued collaborations and future innovations in atmospheric research. The IAP and the International Steering Committee are eager to carry forward the momentum and are looking forward to future editions of the MST conference.

04.09.2024 , News

ALOMAR: Three decades of cutting-edge research in the Arctic - retrospective and outlook

On 16 June 1994, the ALOMAR Observatory (Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmosphere Research) was opened on the island of Andøya in northern Norway. To mark its 30th anniversary, a symposium was held last week at the Andøya Rocket Range to reflect on and discuss the past, present and future of the research site. The spirit of ALOMAR In his welcoming remarks, Kjell-Are Johansen, Mayor of Andøya, emphasised the special significance of the observatory: ‘ALOMAR is more than just an observatory. It is a symbol of what can be achieved when science and engineering work hand in hand.’ Gerd Baumgarten, head of the Optical and Sounding Rocket Soundings Department at the IAP, emphasised this idea and described ALOMAR as a place where challenges are mastered together - he called this the ‘spirit of ALOMAR’. After the mayor's welcome, Eivind Thrane, one of the co-founders of ALOMAR, had the honour of giving the first lecture of the symposium - just one day after his 90th birthday. He recalled the beginnings of the observatory and conveyed greetings from Ulf von Zahn, another co-founder and first director of the IAP, who was unfortunately unable to attend in person. The following presentations by the scientists provided a comprehensive overview of the observatory's research activities and successes. Martin Flügge, Director of Ground-based Instrumentation at Andøya Space, spoke about the tropospheric measurements at ALOMAR and emphasised the ideal conditions of the site. Kolbjörn Blix, Vice President for Sub-Orbital at Andøya Space, highlighted ALOMAR's role in the development and realisation of rocket experiments. A scientific hotspot for atmospheric research However, the symposium not only focussed on past successes, but also on the future of ALOMAR. Gerd Baumgarten, for example, promised ALOMAR a bright future - not least because of the increase in noctilucent clouds, which are the subject of his research. Ralph Latteck, scientist in the department Radar Remote Sensing of the IAP, gave an overview of the development of radar research at ALOMAR. He also presented current projects such as MAARSY3D and the further expansion of the SIMONe network. The prominent role of ALOMAR as a scientific hotspot due to its unique location and the special atmospheric conditions in the Arctic was emphasised by Claudia Stolle, Director of the IAP. In her vision for the future of the observatory, she emphasised the importance of the continuation of long-term time series for climate modelling, the analysis of trends and the expansion of mobile instrumentation. In addition, in light of the newly opened Andøya Spaceport, ALOMAR can make an important contribution to supporting space traffic and analysing its effects. The 30th anniversary of the ALOMAR observatory emphasises its importance as an international research facility. With its multidisciplinary approach and sophisticated instruments, ALOMAR is well equipped to continue to play a key role in atmospheric research in the future.