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Stability of the atmosphere over Europe

STATME

Project timeline
Start:
May 2005
Duration:
48 months
End:
April 2009
General Information
Climate and its variability exert fundamental influence on the natural environment and human life. The Third Assessment Report of the IPCC states that "since the start of the satellite record in 1979, both satellite and weather balloon measurements show that the global averaged temperature of the lowest 8 km of the atmosphere has changed by 0.05±0.10°C per decade, but the global average surface temperature has increased significantly by 0.15±0.05°C per decade". Higher lapse rate creates instability in the troposphere and makes atmospheric processes more dynamical. It may manifest in stronger convection and increasing storminess.
The project will evaluate the NCEP re-analysis gridded daily data and available station soundings from Europe to analyse the temporal variability of temperature gradients near the ground and up to the middle troposphere. The temporal variability of mean and extreme lapse rate will be related to variability of precipitation totals and seasonal course in different regions of Europe. Various downscaling methods will be used. The frequencies of extremely stable and unstable events will be examined as well as extremely deep lows and high pressure gradient cases.
The project will constitute an excellent opportunity for transfer of knowledge between the University of Lodz (the contractor) and other European research organisations relevant in the above field, including the Institute for Coastal Research at GKSS in Germany and the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis at Lund University in Sweden.
EU-Programme Acronym and Subprogramme AreaFP6-2003-Mobility-4: Transfer of Knowledge
Project TypeMarie-Curie Action; Transfer of Knowledge
Contract NumberMTDK-CT-2004-014222
Co-ordinatorUniversity of Lodz (PL)
Total Eligible Costs (€) Hereon Eligible Costs (€) EC Funding for Hereon (€)
273.3428.0008.000
Contact Person at Hereon Prof. Corinna Schrum, KS, Institute for Coastal Research, Phone: +49 4152 87 1833 (initial contact: Prof. Hans von Storch, Institute for Coastal Research)
E-mail contact
Worldwide Europe

Participants
Lunds Universitet (SE), University of Lodz (PL)

(completed April 2009)

Last Update: 16. April 2021