Background and Goals
Climate change will take different forms in different regions. Farmers, coastal engineers, urban planners and political and business decision makers need first-hand information so that they can equip themselves to deal with climate change in their region. The Helmholtz community has therefore decided to establish a network of climate offices across Germany.
To do this, four regional climate offices collate and communicate research findings on regional climate change, identify information needs and integrate these into research programmes:
1. Northern German climate office - focuses on the research areas of storms, storm floods and waves, and energy and water cycles in Northern Germany;
2. Climate office for polar regions and sea level rises - covers climate change issues in polar regions, with particular focus on sea levels;
3. Southern German climate office - provides expertise in regional climate modelling and extreme events such as heavy precipitation and flooding;
4. Central German climate office - provides information on the impact of climate change in terms of the environment, land use and society, as well as proposing adaptation strategies.
Objectives:
The regional effects of climate change observed and possible in the future have brought a constant increase in the demand for advice and information about climate change in recent years. As a response to this, the UFZ has set up the Central German Climate Office in conjunction with the environmental authorities and ministries in Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. The Central German climate office provides information on the impact of climate change in terms of the environment, land use and society, as well as proposing adaptation strategies. The key objective of the climate office is to collate, publish and communicate this information with a regional focus on the states of Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. In return, practical information requirements will be identified. This will enable research projects to be more focused on needs and thus more targeted.
Content time
Research area/region
- Germany
- Saxony
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Thuringia
- Erz Mountains, Thuringian Forest and Bavarian Forest
- North-East German lowland
- North-West German lowland
- South-Eeastern basin and hills
- Central low mountain ranges and Harz
Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change
Step 1: Understand and describe climate change
Based on IPCC 2007 and current regional climate models
- Higher average temperatures
- Dry periods
other climate parameters from regional climate models
Step 2a: Identify and assess risks - climate effects and impact
Provision of information about visible and future effects of climate change for the environment, land use and society.
Step 3: Develop and compare measures
Supporting adaptation to climate change with information and communication.
- 2011–2040 (near future)
- 2021–2050 (near future)
- 2036–2065
- 2051–2080 (far future)
- 2071–2100 (far future)
Participants
Helmholtz Association
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ)
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ)
Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4
D-06120 Halle/Saale