Climate and climate change, but also weather depends to a certain degree on the composition of the atmosphere, including gaseous and particular trace species and hydrometeors. Consequently, our workgroup focusses on the composition of the atmosphere and how it influences clouds, weather and climate. We are using a dual methodological approach:

  • We are developing and applying numerical models of the atmosphere and the Earth System to investigate topics of weather analysis & forecasting and climate & climate change from the local to the global scale.
  • We are developing and applying instruments for aerosol and cloud research. This includes both aircraft as well as balloon borne analysis of the atmosphere from the surface to the upper atmosphere. Additionally, we are interested in remote sensing of cloud and aerosol parameters.

We focus on three research topics using the two above mentioned approaches:

  • Atmospheric (multiphase) chemistry:
    • We conduct gas and multiphase chemistry simulations from box models to the global scale.
    • We investigate the impact of radiatively active species (gases and aerosols) on weather and climate.
    • We measure and analyse aerosol particles and hydrometeors in situ and with remote sensing devices..
  • Atmospheric convection:
    • We conduct model experiments with simulations of individual clouds up to parameterised convection on the global scale.
    • We investigate the role of convective transport and scavenging in the vertical redistribution of trace species with models and observations.
    • We investigate cloud properties from remote sensing data.
  • Holistic Earth System Modelling:
    • We conduct model experiments with a focus on the terrestrial biosphere and human-atmosphere interactions.

  1. Angewandte atmosphärische Vertikalsondierung
    Instructor: Dr. Ralf Weigel
  2. Computerkurs zur Erdsystemmodellierung
    Instructor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Holger Tost
  3. Erdsystemmodllierung
    Instructor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Holger Tost
  4. Meteorologische Programmierung und Numerik
    Instructor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Holger Tost
  5. Meteorologisches Grundpraktikum
    Instructor: Dr. Ralf Weigel
  6. Methodenkenntnis
    Instructor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Stephan Borrmann; Dr. Heiko Bozem; Univ.-Prof. Dr. Peter Hoor; Dr. Michael Riemer; Univ.-Prof. Dr. Peter Spichtinger; Dr. Miklos Szakall; Univ.-Prof. Dr. Holger Tost; Prof. Dr. Thomas Wagner
  7. Projekt Umweltwissenschaften
    Instructor: Dr. Heiko Bozem; Univ.-Prof. Dr. Holger Tost
  8. Synoptische Meteorologie II
    Instructor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Holger Tost
  9. Umweltschutz in der Praxis
    Instructor: Dr. Ralf Weigel
  10. Wetterbesprechung zur Synoptischen Meteorologie II
    Instructor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Holger Tost

SoSe 2025

For general inquiries regarding open research positions please contact Prof. Tost (tosth@uni-mainz.de)