Earth and Climate System Science

The focus of this programme lies on the analysis of the processes and interactions of the Earth system’s various components. This requires the study of human activities, population growth, food production and security, land use and management, as well as climate change. The analysis and simulation of related phenomena, such as feedbacks in the soil-vegetation-atmosphere system and their impacts on the regional climate, allow for the creation of models which provide useful insights into Earth system functions. Coupling climate models with agricultural and economic models provides a broader view of the Earth system and aids in creating concepts of sustainable development.