Five HITEC postgraduates for the University of Wuppertal
Using ratios of stable carbon isotopes, Ayaz Khan (Lund University, Sweden) will study the chemical conversion of levoglucosan in the atmosphere. Levoglucosan is an organic compound which can only be released into the atmosphere by burning biomass, as such it is an important “marker” substance for determining the impact of burning biomass on air pollution. The data generated from such studies forms an essential basis for climate models. (Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ralf Koppmann, atmospheric physics)
Based on measured temperature fields, Isabell Krisch (TU Munich) will initially generate a high-resolution, three-dimensional reconstruction of gravity waves in the atmosphere. The data required to build such a model will be retrieved during the “Gravity Wave Life Cycle” experiment being conducted with the HALO research plane in Kiruna, Sweden, during winter 2015/2016. (Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Riese, atmospheric physics)
By using a new kind of spectrometer, Corinna Kloss (University of East Anglia, Norwich) will determine how much carbonyl sulfide (COS) flows from the troposphere into the stratosphere. COS is released by burning biomass, among other things, and is a major source of stratospheric aerosol. The instrument will be used during the STRATOCLIM campaign on the Russian high altitude research aircraft GEOPHYSICA during summer 2016. (Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thorsten Benter, physical and theoretical chemistry)
Michael Deiml (TU Munich) will develop prototypes for small-scale satellites (CubeSat) which can be used to study temperatures and wave activities in the upper atmosphere. The Jülich research centre and the University of Wuppertal will collaborate on this joint satellite development project. The data captured from such satellites will help us to understand the coupling processes which are induced by waves and which occur between the layers of the atmosphere. (Supervisor: Prof. Koppmann)
Song Rui (Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences) will also work on developing these satellites. He is assigned with the task of developing a computer model to combine all the individual measurements taken by the satellite in order to create a three-dimensional image of the atmosphere, similar to tomography. (Supervisor: Prof. Koppmann)
The University of Wuppertal is a partner of the Jülich research centre in the HITEC graduate school, together with the universities of Aachen, Bochum, Cologne and Düsseldorf. There are currently 167 doctoral students studying to become specialists in the fields of energy and climate at the graduate school.
Prof. Koppmann: “By taking part in this special training programme, students have the possibility to strengthen their specialist and methodological background beyond subject-specific expertise. What’s more, they also have the opportunity to position their own research against an international backdrop, work with subject areas that extend across disciplines and benefit from a network of researchers who have undergone similar training."
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Ralf Koppmann
Tel. 0202/439-2605
Email koppmann[at]uni-wuppertal.de
