Every year, geoscientists gather together for the major European conference organized by the EGU, the European Geosciences Union, covering all disciplines of the Earth, planetary and space sciences.
Contributions from SMHI researchers
The program consists of a wide range of lectures and posters, divided into different sessions. During the conference, SMHI's researchers participate both with posters, lectures and an exhibition. A researcher also shares his experience of being a woman and leader in geoscience research.
Effects at specific warming levels in Europe
How does the climate look like in Europe when the global average temperature has risen by 1.5°, 2°, 2.5° and 3°C, respectively, compared to pre-industrial conditions? Researchers from SMHI can show that already at a lower level of global warming (1.5° and 2°C) the climate changes, and the change is increasing with rising temperatures. Erik Kjellström from SMHI shows a poster (EGU2017-12609).
Climate change in South America and Central America
With detailed regional estimates of climate change, researchers can show how climate change can affect a particular region. SMHI researchers have calculated climate change in South America and Central America, which show, among other things, possible regional changes in temperature and precipitation during the current century. The researchers can also show how the results are affected by different emission scenarios and they show changes in extreme temperatures and precipitation. Erik Kjellström and Grigory Nikulin from SMHI are giving orals (EGU2017-12819 and EGU2017-8716).
Variations in the Arctic sea ice extension affect winter temperatures
Winters in the northern hemisphere are affected by the Arctic Sea Ice extension. Despite the fact that the Arctic sea ice extension does not seem to have a decisive influence on temperature trends, except in north-eastern Canada, the Arctic sea ice extension seems to be an important factor for temperature variations in Europe and Asia. However, there is a great natural variation between different winters. This means that the models fail to recreate the cold winter season 2009/2010, but will succeed better in winter 2010/2011. Torben Königk from SMHI shows a poster (EGU2017-6292).
Cloud interaction and extreme precipitation
By experimental studies of how clouds are affected by rising temperatures, scientists have been able to show that there are convective clouds that co-operate and reinforce each other that accounts for the increasing rain intensity. Clouds that do not interact show no increase in intensity at higher temperatures. The researchers believe that this collaboration in the form of self-organization is a key factor in explaining the connection between clouds and rising temperatures. Peter Berg from SMHI is giving an oral (EGU2017-11716).
Woman, researcher and leader
It can be difficult to categorize people in groups, since all are individuals with unique characteristics. However, when some groups are underrepresented, valuable skills can be lost, equal working groups can become less effective and less prepared for new focuses. Berit Arheimer, a researcher at SMHI with 25 years of experience in geoscience, presents her experience and gives tips on how to find strategies for equal opportunities in research (EGU2017-10606).
SWITCH-ON - Virtual Water Laboratory
With open data and transparent research in a virtual water laboratory, researchers can collaborate and share their experiments even before they are published. It speeds up the advances in research and makes it open for review. During the conference, the SWITCH-ON project demonstrates a new virtual water laboratory and discusses visions and challenges for the e-infrastructure (EGU2017-10659, workshop and discussion session SMP11 and hands-on training session SC26). Demonstration of the virtual water laboratory every day at 10:15 and 15:15, exhibition venue #56.
Entire program for the EGU
The entire program can be found on the EGU website for the conference, where you search for SMHI to find SMHI contributions.