Das Projekt "Fire - climate feedback in the Earth System" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie durchgeführt. Fires are an integral Earth System process, which is controlled by climate and at the same time impacts climate in multiple ways. As such fires form a feedback mechanism in the Earth System, which might amplify or dampen climate change. At present this feedback is not well understood nor is it represented in current generation Earth System models used to study climate change. The proposed research project aims to quantify the fire-climate feedback by incorporating the integral role of fires into an Earth System Model (ESM). Together with improved observational based process understanding the project will analyze how fires have developed throughout Earth history and how single fire driven processes contribute to the overall fire climate impact. A mechanistic terrestrial biosphere fire model will be implemented into the ESM and fire mediated climate relevant processes will be coupled between the different ESM compartments, including the atmosphere, ocean and cryosphere. This cross-disciplinary research project will foster the understanding of past climate change and will hopefully allow a better assessment of human induced future climate change by further constraining the climate sensitivity of the Earth system.
Das Projekt "Water and global Change (WATCH)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung e.V. durchgeführt. Der globale Wasserkreislauf ist ein integraler Teil des Erdsystems. Er spielt eine zentrale Rolle in der globalen atmosphärischen Zirkulation, kontrolliert den globalen Energiekreislauf (mittels der latenten Wärme) und hat einen starken Einfluss auf die Kreisläufe von Kohlenstoff, Nährstoffen und Sedimenten. Global gesehen ist das Angebot an Frischwasser bei weitem größer als die menschlichen Bedürfnisse. Allerdings ist davon auszugehen, dass gegen Ende des 21. Jahrhunderts diese Bedürfnisse die gleiche Größenordnung erreichen werden wie das gesamte verfügbare Wasser. Für diverse Regionen jedoch übersteigt der Wasserbedarf (u.a. für die Landwirtschaft sowie die Nutzung in der Industrie und in den Haushalten) schon heute das regionale Angebot. Ansteigende CO2-Konzentrationen und Temperaturen führen zu einer Intensivierung des globalen Wasserkreislaufs und somit zu einem generellen Anstieg von Niederschlag, Abfluss und Verdunstung. Obwohl die Vorhersagen von zukünftigen Niederschlagsänderungen relativ unsicher sind, gibt es deutliche Hinweise, dass einige Regionen, wie z.B. der Mittelmeerraum, mit einer Abnahme des Niederschlags zu rechnen haben, während in einigen äquatornahen Regionen, wie z.B. Indien und der Sahelzone, der Niederschlag zunehmen wird. Hinzu kommt, dass sich auch jahreszeitliche Verläufe ändern könnten, die neue und manchmal auch unerwartete Probleme und Schäden verursachen können. Eine Intensivierung des Wasserkreislaufs bedeutet wahrscheinlich auch einen Anstieg in dessen Extremen, d.h. vor allem Überschwemmungen und Dürren. Es gibt Vermutungen, dass sich auch die interannuale Variabilität erhöhen wird und zwar einhergehend mit einer Intensivierung der El Nino und NAO-Zyklen, was zu mehr Dürren und großskaligen Hochwassersituationen führen würde. Diese Zyklen sind globale Phänomene, die diverse Regionen gleichzeitig beeinflussen, wenngleich dies oft auf verschiedene Art und Weise passiert.
Das Projekt "B 1.2: Efficient water use in limestone areas - Phase 2" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Bodenkunde und Standortslehre durchgeführt. The elevated areas of Northern Thailand highlands are inhabited by ethnic minorities. On the other hand, the Thai majority prefers the valley bottoms. Population growth of all groups, reforestation and commercialisation of agriculture lead to an increasing pressure on land and water resources. Therefore, intensified land and water use systems are desired which are resource conserving at the same time. Here, special problem areas are the karstic limestone catchments due to the limited of surface waters.Own pre-investigations together with subproject A1 have shown, that land use systems there are subsistence oriented and local farmers do not use irrigation. But they would like to develop such technology, especially in order to increase staple crop production (highland rice, maize). But lack of irrigation possibilities is also responsible for the lack of diversification of land use systems with respect to orchards. One possibility to increase staple crop yields is to prolong the vegetation period by use of water harvesting technologies. Aim of this project is to develop such low cost water harvesting technologies (together with subproject B3.1) based on a participatory approach and to model the effect of these on the water balance at the catchments scale. This will be done on the basis of the previous variability studies and should lead to model tools, which allow to evaluate ex ante SFB innovation effects on the water balance. The project area is the Bor Krai catchments. Here, weirs will be installed to quantify surface water availability. An investigation plot will be situated near the village of Bor Krai which serves for water balance measurements (TDR/densitometry) and at the same time as demonstration plot for the local community. Here water harvesting by means of filling the soils field capacity at the end of the rainy season by gravity irrigation in order to prolong the vegetation period will be researched. Through cropping of participatory evaluated varieties the crop yield should be increased. The water consumption of traditionally managed and dominant crops (including orchards) will be measured at three further sites in the catchment (TDR, tensiometer). The water balance of the soil cover in the karst catchment will be based on the coupling of a SOTER map with a water transport model. The data base will be completed by soil type mapping, spatially randomised collection of soil physical properties (texture, bulk density, infiltration, water retention curve) and determination of the ku-function at two representative sites. As project results the available water amount for irrigation purposes will be quantified. The effective use of this water reserve will lead to increased productivity of the dominant crops and limitations to orchard productivity will be reduced. (abridged text)
Das Projekt "Der Einfluss der Klimaerwärmung auf die Stabilität des Filchner Ronne Shelfeises und Folgen für die Drainage des mächtigen Antarktischen Eisschilds" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung - Fachbereich Klimawissenschaften durchgeführt. New ocean-modelling data indicates that the impact of global warming might lead to a substantial regime shift of the Warm Deep Water path in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, during the 21stcentury. This coincides with a significant increase of ice-shelf basal melting underneath the second largest Antarctic ice shelf, the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf (FRIS), which is located in the southern Weddell Sea. When ice shelves shrink, the reduced buttressing presumably triggers an increased drainage of the ice sheet in the hinterland. Significant parts of the West- and East Antarctic Ice Sheet drain through the FRIS. Hence, the possible impact on sea-level rise is expected to be large. Melting and an adjusting ice-shelf geometry then again have an impact on the ocean circulation. This emphasizes the necessity of a coupled ice sheet-ice shelf-ocean model to project the overall contribution of increased FRIS-melting to sea-level rise. We propose to quantify this contribution in three steps: First, a coupled ice sheet/shelf model of the FRIS region will be forced with basal melting, attained from Ocean General Circulation Models (OGCMs). Second, the altered ice shelf geometry modifies the ocean model's geometry. Finally, the feedbacks between ice and ocean are iteratively coupled. As a final result, we will quantify the drainage of the Antarctic Ice Sheet through FRIS and hence its likely contributionto sea-level rise for the next centuries.
Das Projekt "Water consumption and carbon capture by trees of an evergreen and a dry forest in the Andes of South Ecuador as functional indicators of slow environmental changes" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Bayreuth, Fachgruppe Biologie, Bayreuther Zentrum für Ökologie und Umweltforschung (BayCEER), Lehrstuhl für Pflanzenphysiologie durchgeführt. This transfer project contributes to the development of a multifactorial indicator prototype for global change effects. It uses water and carbon relations of trees as primary functional indicators of subtle environmental changes which cannot be directly observed. Acquisition of carbon by a tree and its concomitant water loss by transpiration is coupled as water use efficiency (WUE), which as a parameter integrating two ecophysiological processes should display a high sensitivity to ambiental conditions. The project is based on a new model allowing computation of the entire crown. Parameterization of the model is by data of leaf gas exchange, total water loss, and structural data of the crown. Total water consumption will be determined either by stem flow monitoring or by the D2O injection method. Net carbon gain by the entire crown can be calculated from a crown-specific WUE. The described measurements will be supplemented by data on stem growth, phenology (longevity of leaves and foliage dynamics), long-term water relations (13C discrimination data) and tree hydrology (natural abundance of deuterium). To extend the indicator from the single tree scale to a wider area, project C5 will collaborate with project C6 which will investigate WUE using multispectral satellite and airborne data. For calibration transfer functions to remotely sensed data must be developed. Since Eddie covariance analysis cannot be used, project C6 will measure atmospheric dynamics of heat and water vapour above the canopy of an assemblage of such trees by scintillometry. These measurements shall be calibrated by C5. Of all trees on the study plots total transpiration will be measured and correlated with simultaneously recorded scintillometer data. Thus projects C5 and C6 will use the same plots and trees. Using the calibrated scintillometer data, project C6 will up-scale the functional indicator WUE to the landscape level. Because of their general applicability, functional indicators like WUE are especially useful for modelling approaches.
Das Projekt "Transports and variability-driving mechanisms in Flemish Pass at the western boundary of the subpolar North Atlantic (FLEPVAR)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Hamburg, Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Institut für Meereskunde durchgeführt. Labrador Sea Water (LSW) formed in the Labrador Sea constitutes the lightest contribution to North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW), a conglomerate of water masses that form the cold return flow of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC). Climate variability can be modulated by changes in the MOC strength; such changes are thought to be linked to variations in LSW formation. The Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC) is the main southward pathway for newly formed LSW. Topographic obstacles at the southern exit of the Labrador Sea split the DWBC into an upper branch carrying LSW through Flemish Pass (1200m sill depth) and a branch carrying all NADW components along the continental slope around Flemish Cap. Up to now, transports through Flemish Pass and their contribution to the MOC are still uncertain, the importance of the pass for the export of LSW and its associated variability are yet unknown. In this project the transports through Flemish Pass will be quantified, and mechanisms driving and governing the variability of the flow will be investigated. The project focuses on the following questions: What is the magnitude of transports for waters passing through Flemish Pass and their associated variability? Which processes drive the variability? What is the relevance of the deep water export through Flemish Pass for the MOC, especially when compared to the DWBC export? Are both deep water export pathways (through Flemish Pass or around Flemish Cap) coupled? What processes govern the inflow of deep water into Flemish Pass? To answers these questions, ship-based measurements and time series from moored instruments in the Flemish Pass will be analyzed in conjunction with output from two state-of-the-art Ocean models run at high-resolution.
Das Projekt "Climate Impact Expert System (CIES)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung e.V. durchgeführt. Today, plenty of data is available on the climate, agriculture or forestry which is neither integrated nor easily consumable by individuals or companies. However, climate data alone and integrated with other data sources is valuable information for economically relevant sectors such as agriculture, forestry, hydrology and (bio)energy production. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), IT partner (wetteronline GmbH) and Bayer AG (specifically Bayer CropScience) are among the leading entities in their areas of expertise worldwide. The proposed work combines their expertise in the following fields: PIK: Climate research IT partner: Information systems Bayer: Plant protection The goal is in a first step to develop a consultant software product for agricultural problems (including hydrology and forestry) influenced by weather and climate. This product will achieve new levels of sophistication, with potential applications to various regions and areas of the economy (energy, water availability, forestry, health, stakeholder consultations etc.). Key innovations are as follows: - PIK is well stocked with different models for the computation of climate scenarios, hydrology and water resources, vegetation dynamics (including forestry and agriculture) which are to be coupled into a tool. There is no such model chain in the shape of an integrative tool so far. - The project aims at developing a client-server based system, which integrates climate and climate scenario from PIK, open data available in the internet, as well as knowledge about crops from our partner Bayer AG CropSciences. Access will be provided via a variety of web-enabled devices. - Although some institutions supply climate data and climate scenario data, the resulting effects on economically relevant sectors such as hydrology, agriculture or energy production are lacking. Within this pilot study, such scenarios integrating both climate and sectors will be provided for Germany to start with. - In turn, the scenario data compiled by the model system will be the foundation and data basis for a user tool that will enable future users to apply the data according to their specific demands in a very user-friendly format. - The aim is to deploy this information for as many regions and users as possible worldwide. Germany and selected regions from other climatic zones such as China and Africa will serve as pilot regions.
Das Projekt "ORCAS- Ocean-Reef Coupling in the Andaman Sea Zeitraum" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Leibniz-Zentrum für Marine Tropenökologie (ZMT) GmbH durchgeführt. Korallenriffe sind hochproduktive benthische Ökosysteme in nährstoffarmen tropischen Meeren, die variablen Nährstoffeinträgen durch monsunbedingte Veränderungen in Niederschlägen, Durchmischung, Zirkulation und Auftrieb unterliegen. Eine Besonderheit der Andamanensee ist, dass ihre Korallenriffe internen Wellen mit enormen Amplituden ausgesetzt sind. Diese solitären Wellen (oder Solitonen) werden durch Gezeitenströme über die flachen Schwellen entlang des Andamanen-Nikobaren Inselbogens erzeugt. Sie breiten sich als Wellenpakete durch die tiefe Andamanensee entlang der Dichtesprungschicht zwischen dem warmen Oberflächen- und kalten Tiefenwasser nach Osten hin aus. Mit bis zu 80 m Amplitude und Phasengeschwindigkeiten von 2 m s-1 sind diese Wellen sehr energiereich. Wir postulieren, dass sie in seichterem Wasser auf den Boden auftreffen und als interne Brandung auslaufen. Die damit zusammenhängende Turbulenz und küstennormale Advektion ist ein bislang nicht untersuchter, potentiell wichtiger Faktor für den Nährstoff- und Larventransport. In dem vorliegenden Projektantrag soll untersucht werden, welche Rolle Solitonen für die Rekrutierung und Nährstoffversorgung der Similan Inseln spielen, die als Koralleninselgruppe auf dem äußeren Schelfrand liegen und 2004 durch den Tsunami stark in Mitleidenschaft gezogen worden sind. Wiederholte Messungen in verschiedenen Gezeitenperioden, Monsunsituationen und Jahren sollen Aufschluss geben über die für trophische Dynamik und Rekrutierung relevanten Zeitskalen. Da Solitonen in der Andamanensee und anderen Insel- und schwellengesäumten Meeren allgegenwärtig sind, sind sie ein mutmaßlich wichtiger Mechanismus für die Strukturierung benthischer Gemeinschaften in oligotrophen tropischen Meeren.
Das Projekt "Ökoeffizienz der Entsorgung in Bayern, Deutschland und der Schweiz" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von bifa Umweltinstitut GmbH durchgeführt. Im Auftrag des Bayerischen Landesamtes für Umwelt hat bifa den erstmals 2003 durchgeführten Ökoeffizienzvergleich der Entsorgungsstrukturen Bayerns, Deutschlands und der Schweiz erweitert und aktualisiert. Die Ergebnisse aus dem Jahr 2003 zeigten, dass der bayerische Weg zur Gestaltung der Abfallwirtschaft in seiner Ökoeffizienz im Vergleich mit den Entsorgungsstrukturen der Schweiz und dem deutschen Durchschnitt am besten abschnitt. Nach der, im Rahmen der aktuellen Beauftragung, durchgeführten Datenaktualisierung, der Bilanzierung zusätzlicher Wertstoffströme und der Berücksichtigung des Verbots der Ablagerung nicht vorbehandelter Abfälle rücken die Entsorgungsstrukturen hinsichtlich Ihrer Ökoeffizienz deutlich enger zusammen. Die Entsorgungsstruktur Bayerns weist im Vergleich zur Entsorgungsstruktur Deutschlands zwar noch ein geringfügig besseres ökologisches Gesamtergebnis auf, ist aber gleichzeitig mit leicht höheren Gesamtkosten verbunden. Die Entsorgungsstruktur der Schweiz ist etwas weniger ökoeffizient. Die Ursachen dafür sind eine geringere Umweltentlastung im ökologischen Gesamtergebnis, gepaart mit vergleichsweise hohen Entsorgungskosten. Methoden: Analyse und Moderation sozialer Prozesse, Ökobilanzierung und Systemanalyse, Ökonomie und Managementberatung.
Das Projekt "How is the stratosphere-troposphere coupling affected by climate change, and how strong is the climate feedback? (SHARP-STC)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Abteilung Dynamik der mittleren Atmosphäre durchgeführt. The focus of this project is to determine the role of the interaction between the stratosphere and troposphere in a changing climate, in particular to assess the impact of a changing stratosphere on the troposphere- surface system. Observations and model studies have shown that the troposphere and stratosphere influence each other on different time scales, but the mechanisms responsible are not well understood. Questions that will be addressed also in Phase II of this project are if the importance of the coupling between the stratosphere and the troposphere will change in a changing climate and what the consequences will be for surface climate and weather. Transient simulations of the past and future as well as complementary sensitivity simulations with state-of-the-art Chemistry-Climate models (CCMs) will be performed and analysed to study how well current models are able to reproduce the observed coupling, to understand the responsible mechanisms, and to predict its future evolution. New aspects in Phase II are the extension of our studies to the effects of radiative and chemical coupling processes on the troposphere-surface system. The relevance of additional climate feedback processes associated with ocean coupling will be addressed by applying a CCM with an interactive ocean model. The role of the representation of stratospheric processes for stratosphere-troposphere coupling will be studied in simulations with an Earth System Model (ESM) with different spatial resolutions.
| Origin | Count |
|---|---|
| Bund | 128 |
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Förderprogramm | 128 |
| License | Count |
|---|---|
| offen | 128 |
| Language | Count |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | 128 |
| Englisch | 112 |
| Resource type | Count |
|---|---|
| Keine | 93 |
| Webseite | 35 |
| Topic | Count |
|---|---|
| Boden | 118 |
| Lebewesen & Lebensräume | 117 |
| Luft | 104 |
| Mensch & Umwelt | 128 |
| Wasser | 101 |
| Weitere | 128 |