Atmosphere and climate

The atmosphere is a protective envelope sustaining life on Earth. It governs the natural variations of weather and climate on a wide range of scales, and it transports atmospheric constituents around the globe in a matter of weeks, yet can hold them for centuries or longer.

The Institute of Atmosphere and Climate Science (IAC) focuses on atmospheric and climate processes, including links to the hydrosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere. Research is directed at understanding how human activities alter these processes via changes in greenhouse gases, aerosols, chemical constituents, and land surfaces and how this impacts upon climate, ozone, UV radiation, pollutant exposure, ecosystems, water resources and extreme events. Emphasis is placed on the improvement of the predictive capabilities on weather and climate time scales and on knowledge transfer between basic sciences, applied sciences, and society.

IAC is responsible for the specialisation in atmosphere and climate science at the Bachelor and Master level within ETH. It teaches students the necessary concepts and methods, so as to enable them to understand the relevant processes of weather and climate change and to contribute to solutions of climate-related environmental problems.

Research groups

• Prof. Reto Knutti: Chair of Climate Phyics »»
• Prof. Thomas Peter: Chair of Atmospheric Chemistry »»
• Prof. Ulrike Lohmann: Chair of Experimental Atmospheric Physics »»
• Prof. Christoph Schär: Chair of Climate and Water Cycle »»
• Prof. Sonia Seneviratne: Chair of Land-Climate Interactions »»
• Prof. Heini Wernli: Chair of Dynamical Meteorology »»

Associated groups

• Prof. Urs Baltensperger: Chair of Atmospheric Chemistry »»