ACINN Graduate Seminar - WS 2025/26

2025-11-19 at 12:00 (on-line and on-site)

High-Resolution Climate Modeling - Mountain Climate at the Kilometer-Scale Resolution

Nikolina Ban

ACINN, University of Innsbruck

 

In this presentation, I will present the results contained in my habilitation thesis which investigates how the water cycle is represented in high-resolution, kilometre-scale climate simulations over mountainous regions. Using unprecedented multi-model and multi-physics ensembles for the Alps and High Mountain Asia, the studies demonstrate clear improvements in simulating precipitation - especially heavy, sub-daily events - as well as clouds, snow, hail, and lightning compared to coarser models. The work also explores future climate responses, showing stronger sub-hourly precipitation intensification, potential loss of permanent summer snow cover above 3000 meters, and notable changes in cloud characteristics under warming. Additional research highlights improved representation of wind systems, precipitation - temperature relationships, and reduced model uncertainties. Despite these advances, key challenges remain, including limited added value over complex terrain and difficulties in modelling low-level clouds. The thesis emphasises the need for coordinated efforts, to refine parameterizations and enhance km-scale climate models through integrated observational and modelling strategies.

 

The content of this webpage is the author’s opinion and the author’s intellectual property. ACINN has the author’s consent to make this information available on the webpage for the announcement of the seminar presentation and in the seminar archive.