NCCR Guide 2013 - Schweizerischer Nationalfonds (SNF)

• Department of Forestry and
Natural Resources, Purdue
University, West Lafayette, US
• Department of Geography,
San Diego State University, US
• Department of Geosciences,
University of Massachusetts,
Amherst, US
• Department of Meteorology,
University of Reading, GB
• Department of Physics,
University of Oxford, GB
• Department of Plant Biology,
University of Illinois, Urbana, US
• Deutsches Institut für
Wirtschaftsforschung, Humboldt-
Universität zu Berlin, DE
• Ecosystem Modelling and
Biodiversity Studies Group,
Lund University, SE
• Energy-Economic-Environment
Modeling Laboratory, Institute of
Communication and Computer
Systems, Athens, GR
• Energy and Climate Change,
Centre for European Policy Studies,
Brussels, BE
• Environmental Change Institute,
University of Oxford, GB
• European Centre for Medium
Range Weather Forecast,
Reading, GB
• Fachbereich Volkswirtschaftslehre,
Universität Trier, DE
• Fondazione Eni Enrico Matte,
Milano, IT
• Fraunhofer-Institut für
System- und Innovationsforschung,
Karlsruhe, DE
• Fundação da Faculdade de Ciências,
Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, PT
• Geographical Institute,
University of Mainz, DE
• Geology and Geophysics
Department, Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution, US
• GKSS Research Centre Geesthach, DE
• Groupe d’Etudes et de Recherche
en Analyse des Décisions
(GERARD), Mc Gill University,
Montréal, CA
• Hadley Centre for Climate
Prediction and Research, Exeter, GB
• Institut für Energiewirtschaft und
Rationelle Energieanwendung,
Universität Stuttgart, DE
• Institut für Umweltphysik,
Universität Heidelberg, DE
• Institut National sur la
Recherche Agronomique,
Clermont-Ferrand, FR
• Institute of Geography, Justus-
Liebig-University Giessen, DE
• Institute for Energy Environment
Economy, Tsinghua University,
Beijing, CN
• Institute of Geography,
University of Augsburg, DE
• Institute of Geography,
University of Würzburg, DE
• Institute of Geophysics,
University of Copenhagen, DK
• Institute of Meteorology and
Geophysics, University of Vienna,
Vienna, AT
• Institute of Soil Science,
TU Berlin, DE
• International Institute for
Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA),
Laxenburg, AT
• International Pacific Research
Center, University of Honolulu, US
• International Research Institute
for Climate Prediction, Columbia
University, New York, US
• Joint Research Center, Ispra, IT
• Judge Business School,
University of Cambridge, GB
• Laboratoire de Glaciologie et
Géophysique de l’Environnement,
Grenoble, FR
• Laboratoire des Sciences du
Climat et de l’Environnement,
Gif-sur-Yvette, FR
Climate Variability,
Predictability and Climate Risks
NCCR Climate
Achievements of the previous years
The SNSF Review Panel
stated in the Assessment
Report 2004: “The NCCR
Climate is unique in its
interdisciplinary focus,
not just for Switzerland or
Europe, but globally”.
Building on firm structural
and institutional foundations,
the NCCR Climate
network led to signifi
cant achievements in
four areas: distinct scientific
impact, international
leadership through networks,
sustained education
at postgraduate level,
and extended public relations.
The Graduate School
“Climate Sciences” (M.Sc.
and Ph.D. University of
Bern) concerted with the
M.Sc. “Atmospheric and
Climate Sciences” (S-EN
ETH) opened in 2006/2007.
Stephan Gunter, Prof.
Stocker Thomas, Prof.
Thalmann Philippe, Prof.
Turton Hal, Dr.
Wild Martin, Dr.
Wokaun Alexander, Prof.
Science
The NCCR Climate shaped
the profile of Swiss climate
research through collaborative
novel and timely
scientific contributions
with a high impact. Examples
are the reconstruction
of temporally highlyresolved
European temperature
and precipitation
fields back to AD 1000 or
the assessment of extreme
climate such as the European
summer 2003 being
the hottest of the last
500 years. Simulations
with different climate
models show that about
every second summer can
be as warm or warmer
in 2070 - 2100 than the
summer 2003. With a focus
on Switzerland, a set of
scenarios for severe
climate events (heat-waves,
wind, drought, heavy precipitation,
flood) has been
produced, and the impact
on society, agri culture and
forests has been assessed.
Information about extreme
events in a changing climate
is vital for risk assessment
in financial business
(e.g., investment and insurance).
Operational tools for
the climate forecast of up to
six months were developed,
novel ways of coupling
climate and economic models
were explored, and
future ways of the Kyoto
process were studied.
Evidently, a hierarchy
of state-of-the-art models
(global and regional
Volkswirtschaftliches Institut, Universität Bern
Abt. Klima- und Umweltphysik, Universität Bern
Lab. de recherches en économie et management
de l’environnement, EPF Lausanne
Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen
Institut für Atmosphäre und Klima, ETH Zürich
Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen
cli mate models, regional
and local impact models)
and large observational
datasets are a prerequisite
to address such targets.
Other Aspects
NCCR Climate researchers
take leadership in the
UNFCC, IPCC process and
in international programmes
(IGBP, WCRP, WMO,
ERA). The NCCR Climate
Summer School is a highly
competitive internation
-ally recognised platform
for young scientists and
attracts distinguished
teachers. The NCCR Climate
works closely with
stakeholders, governmental
agencies and the private
sector. Public interest in
NCCR Climate research is
unprecedented. In 2007 the
NCCR Climate had its first
major structural impact: the
University of Bern inaugurated
the Oeschger Centre
for Climate Change Research!
In 2008 the Center
for Climate System Modelling
C2SM was inaugurated
at ETH Zurich.
Further information see
www.nccr-climate.unibe.ch
48 | Guide 2013