PIK Biennial Report 2000-2001 - Potsdam Institute for Climate ...

A Network for Our Future
Understanding the Earth system is a tremendous task
that no institution or country can tackle alone. PIK
closely collaborates with many international partners,
including those making measurements in the field, satellite
observations or experimental studies. PIK is playing
an active role in activities such as the International Geosphere-Biosphere
Programme (IGBP, e.g. BAHC and
GAIM), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC), the International Human Dimensions
BAHC
Biospheric Aspects of the Hydrological Cycle
Executive Officer: Holger Hoff
Project Officer: Sabine Lütkemeier
Administration: Wilhelmine Seelig
The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
(IGBP), of which BAHC is one of the Core Projects, is
moving into a new phase of integrated research for sustainability.
The BAHC project, which has focused on the
question "How does the land surface interact with the
physical processes of the hydrosphere?" is supporting
IGBP in its transition to the new phase through preparing
two major activities:
• the new Joint Water Project of IGBP and its partners,
the International Human Dimensions Programme of
Global Environmental Change (IHDP) and the World
Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and
• the new Land/Atmosphere Component of IGBP.
The International Project Office (IPO) of BAHC,
hosted by PIK since 1995, facilitates and co-ordinates
the international science programme by synthesizing the
results of BAHC research, preparing new science activities,
and co-ordinating with stakeholders, in particular by
organizing and conducting scientific meetings. Some
highlights of IPO activities in 2000/2001 are given
below.
Synthesis
The BAHC Synthesis was a major effort co-ordinated by
the IPO, which will be completed in 2002 with publication
by Springer-Verlag. Under the title "Vegetation,
Water, Humans and the Climate: a New Perspective on
an Interactive System" it will cover questions like "Does
Programme of Global Environmental Change (IHDP),
the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), the
European Climate Forum (ECF), and the Millennium
Assessment. PIK co-ordinates a number of large European
and national research projects (cf the list of cooperations
on page 141). We are thus part of a growing
global network for sustainability science, dedicated to
our common future.
land surface matter in climate and weather?" or "How
measurable is the Earth system?" and will summarize 10
years of BAHC existence.
New Initiatives
The IPO of BAHC has launched a new African initiative
on sustainable use of groundwater resources.
The IPO is co-organizing a series of events in a new dialogue
between climate science and water management in
the Dialogue on Water and Climate.
Meetings Conducted Through the IPO
The IPO organized and conducted several conferences,
workshops and meetings, e.g. the BAHC Scientific Steering
Committee (SSC) meeting in Caracas in 2000 in conjunction
with a South American workshop on "The Role
of Biosphere in the Climate System: the tropical South
America Case" and the BAHC SSC meeting in 2001 in
conjunction with the Open Science Conference "Challenges
of a Changing Earth" in Amsterdam of which the
IPO organized several sessions.
Project Co-ordination
• The IPO is co-ordinating partner of the GLOWA Jordan
River project and supported the proposal, preparation
and kick-off of that project.
• The IPO is supporting the development of the WADI
project at PIK.
This project has been funded by the German Federal Ministry of
Education and Research.
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