The ATMOchange PhD Days 2024, which took place from December 3 to 5 at the GenoHotel Karlsruhe, brought together around 30 doctoral researchers from Helmholtz centres and institutions, including AWI, FZ Jülich, GFZ, Hereon, and KIT. As part of the Topic 1 "The Atmosphere in Global Change" within the Helmholtz program "Changing Earth - Sustaining our Future," this annual event fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and the exchange of methodologies, providing a dynamic platform for researchers to share their work, engage in discussions, and explore synergies across atmospheric science. Our PhD students Tianqi Xiao and Xintai Yuan, from GFZ/Section 1.1 and Technische Universität Berlin, contributed to this exchange by presenting their work, further enriching the vibrant exchange of ideas.
Dr. Annika Oertel from KIT delivered the keynote address, sharing insights from the "Swabian MOSES 2023" research campaign. Her presentation focused on thunderstorm initiation and mesoscale flow conditions, drawing from both observational and numerical weather prediction models.
The event featured a series of research presentations, covering a wide range of topics. Researchers discussed the variability of the Asian Summer Monsoon, secondary organic aerosol formation, and climate-related flooding risks from typhoons, providing a comprehensive view of current atmospheric research.
Tianqi Xiao and Xintai Yuan participated in the poster session, with Tianqi presenting on AI-driven GNSS-Reflectometry applications, while Xintai presented research on improving snow depth estimation using GNSS reflected signals.
Throughout the event, participants explored the intersections of their research and aligned their work with the goals of the "Changing Earth" program, fostering deeper interdisciplinary connections. The event also included a workshop on science communication where participants worked in small groups and focused on strategies for effectively communicating research to diverse audiences and explaining complex scientific concepts in an accessible way.
The ATMOchange PhD Days continue to serve as an important platform for emerging researchers, providing them with the tools and connections necessary to address global atmospheric challenges.