Research

The Polar Climate research group focuses on the climate system in the Arctic and Antarctic. In order to be able to say something about the causes of changes in weather, ocean currents and ice conditions, we need to understand the basic state of the system. Our research is about documenting and improving the data base and our understanding of the mechanisms in the climate system.

Under the research theme Global Climate, we look at how surface temperature, wind patterns, ocean currents and precipitation change under different climatic conditions. The processes that cause these climatic changes operate on different time scales, from days or seasons to time scales of centuries and even longer.

The study of the carbon cycle or biogeochemical processes provides important knowledge about the links between the ocean, land and atmosphere and how these can affect the Earth's climate. In particular, we investigate how much of the CO2 emissions are absorbed by the ocean and the biosphere and how much remains in the atmosphere.

The research group "Climate Hazards" combines observations, reconstructions and simulations of different types of extreme events that can be a risk to society. This includes extreme weather and high sea levels, circulation changes in the ocean and atmosphere, as well as unstable conditions in the ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica.

Climate models are indispensable tools when studying past, present and future climate. Using models we can explore complex processes and develop climate projections for the future.

The Bjerknes Climate Prediction Unit (Bjerknes BCPU) is developing skillful climate predictions for these intermediate timescales, bridging the gap between weather forecasting and long-term climate change projections.