13th Deutsche Klimatagung Highlights AI in Climate Research, Biodiversity Impact

The 13th Deutsche Klimatagung (DKT13) climate conference took place on March 12, 2024, featuring presentations from climate experts on various aspects of climate change. Topics included summer drought in Northeast Germany, record global average temperatures in 2023, and the dynamics of extratropical cyclones in the North Atlantic.

The conference also explored the use of artificial intelligence in climate change research, the impact of climate change on biodiversity and sustainability, and the attribution of extreme weather events to climate change. It featured a special lecture by Prof. Johan Rockström from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

What are the Key Discussions at the 13th Deutsche Klimatagung?

The 13th Deutsche Klimatagung (DKT13), a significant climate conference, took place on March 12, 2024. The conference was a platform for various climate experts to present their research and findings. The conference was divided into several sessions, each focusing on a different aspect of climate change and its impacts.

The opening session was chaired by Barbara Früh and included presentations on topics such as summer drought in Northeast Germany, analysis and communication of observed climate trends in Germany, and the causes of the record global average temperatures in 2023. The session also included a discussion on the use of GNSS Precipitable Water Vapor for Climate Monitoring, presented by Jens Wickert and his team.

The second session, chaired by Gerhard Helle, focused on the dynamics of extratropical cyclones in the North Atlantic in a warmer climate. This session also included presentations on the quantification of long-term atmospheric and hydrospheric mass variations using numerical weather prediction models and space geodetic observations. The session concluded with a presentation on a user-oriented climate service based on weather, seasonal, and decadal climate forecasts.

How is Artificial Intelligence Utilized in Climate Change Research?

The conference also included a session on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in climate change research. This session was chaired by Maximilian Gelbrecht, Walter Acevedo Valencia, and Niklas Boers. The session began with an overview of the impact and application areas of AI in climate change research, presented by Christian Burmester and Teresa Scantamburlo.

The session also included presentations on the use of machine learning for the analysis and reconstruction of North Sea surface temperatures, bias correction and downscaling of precipitation simulations from Earth system models, and a comparison between Reservoir Computing with Recurrent Analogs in predicting dynamical systems. The session concluded with a discussion on a hybrid deep learning model for El Niño Southern Oscillation Dynamics.

What is the Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity and Sustainability?

The conference also included a session on the impact of climate change on the environment, biodiversity, and sustainability. This session was chaired by Thomas Hickler, Christopher Reyer, Ingolf Kühn, and Nadine Ruehr. The session included presentations on forest-cloud interactions, projections of disturbances in boreal forests under the influence of climate change, and the potential of rewetted peatlands as natural CO2 sinks.

The session also included a discussion on an integrated scenario study on the water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus in the Danube catchment area, using maize irrigation as an example. The session concluded with a presentation on monitoring flying insects with Doppler cloud radar and in situ precipitation sensors.

What were the Special Features of the Conference?

The conference also included a special plenary lecture by Prof. Johan Rockström from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. His lecture was titled “Taking the pulse of our planet with safe and just Planetary Boundaries.”

In addition to the presentations and discussions, the conference also included guided tours of the Telegrafenberg, the Süring House and the weather kitchen, and a visit to the new branch of the DWD.

What were the Discussions on Attribution Research and Extremes?

The conference also included a session on attribution research and extremes, chaired by Marlene Kretschmer, Sabine Undorf, and Frank Kreienkamp. This session focused on the attribution of extreme weather events to climate change, a critical aspect of climate science. The details of the presentations in this session were not provided in the original text.