The Section for Meteorology and Oceanography (MetOs) researches and teaches in subjects in the fields of meteorology, oceanography and climate. The section includes three research groups.
Meteorology is often associated with weather forecasts, but the research field includes phenomenasuch as extreme weather, intense polar lows, the jet streams in the atmosphere, the formation of raindrops and the ozone hole over Antarctica. Our researchers are interested in a variety of atmospheric phenomena and processes and employ numerical simulations, mathematical analysis and field work. Central themes include atmospheric dynamics, radiation theory, cloud physics and atmospheric chemistry.
Physical oceanography is the study of the «weather» of the ocean. It includes the dynamics of the Gulf Stream and the thermohaline circulation on large scales, and convection and seawater properties on small scales. The research group studies oceanic dynamics, wave processes (over a wide range of scales), turbulence, thermodynamics and diffusion. We use a range of tools, from full complexity numerical models to idealized mathematical models and ocean observations. Oceanography is important for sea forecasts, for fisheries, for the oil industry (both for production and pollution), and for understanding climate.
Global warming is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Understanding how CO2 and other gases affect the climate system is a complex task, as it is necessary to distinguish the natural climate variability which also occurs, on various time scales. Climate research concerns the processes that affect the atmosphere/ocean/cryosphere and biosphere over multi-year time scales. The field is multi-disciplinary including meteorology and oceanography, but also other disciplines. To study climate, we primarily use statistical and numerical analysis. Climate research is important for long-term prediction, including the effects of climate change on ecosystems and mankind, but also to understand the complex processes that occur on Earth.