New climate model for more accurate climate prediction: Launch of the project "Coming Decade"

We are already experiencing the consequences of climate change today, but the impacts manifest regionally and seasonally in diverse ways. Will the upcoming winters be milder and stormier, or will we experience another cold, snow-rich winter like in the early 2010s? Our climate is not simply getting warmer; complex processes and interactions can also lead to cooler climate phases. Therefore, a cold winter or summer is not contradictory to climate warming but rather a normal effect of climate variability.

To better adapt to the collective effects of climate change and variability and initiate corresponding proactive measures, it is crucial to have precise and reliable climate forecasts for the coming years. These forecasts provide all the relevant data on where and when, for example, drought or a cold winter can be expected. In December 2023, the "Coming Decade" project was launched, supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and will use a new climate model to generate more meaningful predictions for Germany and Europe over the next ten years.

In contrast to short-term weather forecasts for the next hours and days, as well as long-term climate projections for statements about the climate in roughly 100 years, medium-term climate forecasts consider the period between one month and ten years. The BMBF initiated the funding measure "MiKlip – Medium-Term Climate Forecasts" in 2011, where the DKRZ was also among the 16 partners.

The research project "Coming Decade" builds on the predecessor project MiKlip and now, based on the new climate model "ICON-Seamless," develops a new forecasting system that will operate with even more precise resolutions. The DKRZ is responsible for establishing a shared analysis platform and processing data for the new climate model "ICON-Seamless."

Are you a software coordinator or software engineer interested in contributing your knowledge and ideas to "Coming Decade" at DKRZ? Then become part of the team and apply for the following positions: Link to job openings

For information about the project kick-off "New Decade," visit the website of the DLR Projektträgers / VDI Technologiezentrum (only in German): here