This project is a collaboration among seven Helmholtz Centers within the research field of Earth and Environment (AWI, FZJ, GEOMAR, GFZ, Hereon, UFZ, and KIT). The SOLVe project investigates solar and volcanic fingerprints in changing climates, including potential shifts associated with a future hothouse state. It will examine natural variations over the past 42 millennia and study how these changes influence the fingerprints of extreme solar/volcanic activities in the climate system. The proposed research involves data-modeling with chemistry-climate models on equilibrated simulations disrupted by extreme solar and volcanic events. The experiments will incorporate Miyake events, examining their dynamical and chemical effects, cosmogenic nuclide production modulated by the geomagnetic field, and their subsequent surface deposition. Using machine learning approaches, we will analyze atmospheric responses, with a particular focus on stratosphere-troposphere-ocean coupling. To assess the role of natural forcings, model simulations will cover the last 400 and future 100 years with chemistry-climate models. Furthermore, a mesoscale hydrological model will be employed to evaluate the consequences of solar and volcanic forcing on hydrological extremes, facilitating a unique regional risk assessment related to extreme solar and volcanic events modulated by anthropogenic activities. The GFZ is involved in work of the past solar extremes by estimating 4D production rates of cosmogenic isotopes; examining the effects of long-term climate change and geomagnetic field variations on the signatures of cosmogenic isotopes; assessing radiation risks; and analyzing ozone responses to past and potential future Miyake events.

Project duration

01.01.2025 – 31.12.2027

Funding

Helmholtz Innopool

Principal Investigator

• Dr. Florian Adolphi (AWI) - Lead-PI
• Dr. Wenjuan Huo (GEOMAR)
• Dr. Tobias Spiegl (AWI)
• Dr. Sanja Panovska (GFZ)
• Prof. Dr. Stephanie Fiedler (GEOMAR)
• Prof. Dr. Gerrit Lohmann (AWI)
• Prof. Dr. Michaela I. Hegglin (FZJ)
• Dr. Eduardo Zorita (Hereon)
• Dr. Stephan Thober (UFZ)
• Dr. Miriam Sinnhuber (KIT)