The Summer Academy in Baden-Württemberg empowers talented students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to explore diverse disciplines beyond standard curricula. Patricia Glocke and Svea Krikau taught climate and environmental sciences, covering climate science fundamentals, Python and Google Earth Engine for data processing, and sensor technology. Students developed projects like nightlight evolution and forest fire monitoring. Evening expert talks fostered rich discussions. This hands-on program enhances academic and personal growth, preparing young talents for future challenges.
Dr. Susanne Benz from KIT explained the effects of climate change on groundwater temperatures during her alleWetter interview. She highlighted how rising air temperatures also heat groundwater, with regions like the Sahel Zone and northern Australia experiencing extreme temperatures up to 34°C. This warming impacts ecosystems, human health, and energy systems, making groundwater more prone to pathogens and chemical dissolution. Additionally, warmer groundwater affects fish habitats, like salmon spawning in rivers. Dr. Benz emphasized the long-lasting nature of this warming, requiring decades to reverse even with significant climate mitigation efforts.
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At the Summer Science Slam 2024 in Hannover, hosted by VolkswagenStiftung, Patricia Glocke captivated an audience of 400 with her talk, “Hot Secrets: How the Subsurface Heats Up Air Temperatures and Why We Can Still Stay Cool.” She explained how ground temperature variations affect energy flows and air temperatures, using modeling techniques to analyze these impacts. Ending with ice pops for the crowd, Patricia made science engaging and accessible, showcasing the relevance of subsurface heat in our daily lives.
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The annual AK Klima conference, held at Klimahaus Bremerhaven in late September, brought together climate experts to discuss current issues in climatology and meteorology. GRUSS member Patricia Glocke presented her research on subsurface heat effects on atmospheric energy fluxes using the PALM-4U model during the poster session.
The event featured contributions from KIT, including five scientists from IMK-ASF led by Prof. Dr. Jan Cermak, who presented research on fog. The conference fostered scientific discussions and inspiration for future research, with KIT playing a prominent role in the program.
The PALM Model Conference 2024 (PMC24), held from September 17-20 at DWD in Offenbach, was a major gathering for the meteorological modeling community. The event focused on advancements in the PALM-4U model system, a high-resolution urban climate model designed to assess urban impacts on weather, air quality, and climate. Patricia Glocke presented her research, “Modelling Impacts of Subsurface Thermal Anomalies on Potential Air Temperatures in Berlin,” gaining valuable feedback from experts. The conference hosted 145 participants (online and in person) from 24 countries, more than doubling last year’s attendance, reflecting PALM’s increasing relevance. Discussions covered model development, validation, and applications, fostering collaboration in atmospheric science.
Groundwater, the largest unfrozen freshwater reservoir, is increasingly affected by global warming. A study by researchers at KIT, published in Nature Geoscience, predicts significant groundwater warming by 2100 under climate scenarios SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5. Groundwater temperatures are expected to rise by 2.1°C to 3.5°C, impacting millions worldwide. By 2100, 77 to 588 million people may live in areas where groundwater exceeds safe drinking limits, posing health risks and challenges for ecosystems. Warming groundwater affects water quality, biodiversity, and nutrient cycles while increasing risks like pathogen growth in water systems. Researchers urge sustainable measures to protect groundwater resources
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Environmental scientist Susanne Benz wants to recover artificial heat under large cities: Hot water pipes, boiler rooms and subway shafts constantly release heat into the ground. Near underground car parks, it is sometimes ten degrees warmer than in the surrounding area. The accumulated heat could be pumped upwards via the heated groundwater to operate heat pumps. The heat pumps extract energy from the water. The water cools down and is fed back into the depths. "Until the ground reaches the normal temperature that prevails outside the city," says Benz. With the support of a Freigeist Fellowship, she will continue to research this idea over the coming years.
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