Main Research Topics

Mountain-boundary layer (MoBL): improving our understanding of the temporal development and spatial structure of the MoBL and the processes affecting it. Research topics include, e.g., valley- and slope-wind circulations, the mountain-plains wind system, the vertical structure of the MoBL, the definition and assessment of the MoBL top, nocturnal cold-air pools, and submeso motions.

Surface-atmosphere exchange in mountainous terrain: improving our understanding of the exchange of momentum, heat, moisture, and other atmospheric components between the earth’s surface and the atmosphere over mountainous terrain. Research topics include, e.g., the surface-energy balance, the impact of different terrain and land-cover characteristics on the exchange, and air quality in urban areas.

Atmospheric turbulence in the MoBL: improving our understanding of turbulence characteristics in the MoBL and of the processes determining these characteristics. Research topics include, e.g., turbulence anisotropy, similarity scaling, submeso-scale generated turbulence, and stable boundary layers over glaciated and non-glaciated surfaces.

Mountain climate: improving our understanding of the processes by which mountains are shaping regional climates. Research topics include, e.g., high-resolution (km-scale) regional climate modeling, in particular assessing the accuracy and reliability of high-resolution climate simulations and the potential for improvement through increased resolution and more advanced physics representations.

Modeling the MoBL: (i) improving the representation of the MoBL and its processes in numerical weather and climate models and (ii) using numerical models to improve our understanding of the MoBL and its processes. Modeling activities include, e.g., high-resolution weather and climate simulations over high-mountain regions, mesoscale model intercomparison and evaluation studies for the MoBL, building-resolving LES, idealized ultra-high resolution LES and DNS studies, development of new parameterizations of surface-atmosphere exchange over mountainous terrain using physically-based approaches and machine learning, and high-resolution data analysis and re-analysis making use of the TOC observations.