Basic research within the Hans Ertel Centre
The Hans Ertel Centre for Weather Research (HErZ) generates knowledge and competence on complex research topics through networked cooperation between German universities and research institutes, and the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD). The goals of the HErZ are:
- to accelerate innovation in DWD's weather, climate and environmental services for the benefit of society
- to combine basic research and teaching in atmospheric sciences with the challenges of operational weather and climate services more effectively
HErZ has established itself as an internationally visible centre of excellence and as a forum for the development of ideas and impulse-setting. HErZ improves the meaningfulness, relevance, usability and acceptance of meteorological and climatological information and services. This strengthens meteorological education at universities and ensures personnel development for weather research at DWD and at the research institutions involved.
The current research focus of HErZ is "Earth System Prediction and Novel Data Acquisition for Weather and Climate Services". It is addressed in a transdisciplinary approach with the integration of expertise from the HErZ competence areas below and considers the entire meteorological value chain from observation, earth system modelling, processing and evaluation of data to the generation of risk-based information to its provision, communication and communication of recommendations for action.
The HErZ current competence areas are:
- Data assimilation and predictability
- Model development
- Climate monitoring and Earth system forecasting
- Integration of measurement data and modelling
- Optimal use of weather and climate information
DWD scientists lead the competence areas and enable close cooperation between the funded research institutions and the DWD. Areas of competence and research questions are updated ever four years by the Programmrat, if necessary.
The cooperation between the HErZ projects is presented in a jointly developed umbrella concept. It includes three clusters:
- Seamless Prediction
- Novel Observations
- Communication and Co-Design
Seven projects work in HErZ to achieve the aims mentioned above:
Click here to find out why the Hans Ertel Centre for Weather Research is called like this.