A hand with a pan that writes equations into the air.

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Research focus areas

We, at CLIMERS, conduct research on various aspects of the global water, carbon, and energy cycles. Below, you can explore our main research focus areas.

Soil moisture

Soil watered from a watering can

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Soil moisture is vital for plant growth and thus food security. It helps maintaining ecosystem stability and is an integral part of the hydrological cycle aiding climate regulation.

Irrigation

Aerial photo of many circular irrigated fields

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Over 70 percent of global fresh water withdrawals are used for irrigation. Knowing where, when, and how much water is being irrigated is thus vital for water resources management.

Drought

Corn field with cracked soil caused by drought

© JJ Gouin | stock.adobe.com

Climate change is exacerbating droughts with great socioeconomic consequences. Monitoring the frequency and severity of droughts is vital for improving human well being.

Quality Assurance

Illustration of the quality assurance concept

© Murrstock | stock.adobe.com

Monitoring our planet with satellites that are orbiting in space at a speed of several kilometers per second is dauntingly complex. Assuring the quality of satellite observations is critical for making impactful decisions when facing key human challenges. 

Vegetation

Aerial image of forested hills

© bilanol | stock.adobe.com

Vegetation is a vital component of global ecosystems and a key resource for humans. It serves us for wood and food production, helps the planet to maintain biodiversity, and is a great asset in the fight against climate change by storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Wildfires

Aerial image of a forest fire

© Nebojsa | stock.adobe.com

Wildfires affect about four percent of global vegetated area each year. The human society and economy are greatly impacted by fire due to the loss of lives and the destruction of livelihoods and critical infrastructure.

Machine Learning

Conceptual image of a neural network, hovering over a night view of the Earth

© ECMWF

Today's computational resources have heralded a new era for artificial intelligence. Machine learning can help us to model and understand even the most complex biogeophysical processes and is thus a great asset to Earth system science.