Will extreme weather events, such as the strong rainfalls and associated floodings in May and June 2016, become more frequent? Are they related to global warming? How can models help better understand regional impacts of climate change and develop strategies for adaptation? These and similar questions have been dealt with by science, municipalities, and insurance companies for many years now. They will also be discussed at the 6th REKLIM Regional Conference “Klimawandel in Regionen” (Climate change in regions) that will take place on October 5, 2016, 9.30 hrs, at the Gartensaal of Karlsruhe Palace. The conference is organized by researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The interested public is cordially invited.
The spectrum of contributions by scientists working in the research alliance “Regionale Klimaänderungen” (REKLIM, regional climate changes) of the Helmholtz Association as well as by representatives of insurance companies and municipalities will extend from fundamentals of climate modeling to adaptation to climate change.
The conference will focus on challenges of climate modeling and extreme events. “Regional climate models are of enormous importance to the question whether extreme weather events, such as strong rainfalls or storms, become more frequent or even stronger. The information derived is not only relevant to forecasts and protection, but also to the development of strategies for adaptation to climate change. These strategies have to be tailored individually to every region,” the scientific coordinators of the conference, Professor Peter Braesicke and PD Dr. Michael Kunz, KIT, explain.
One of the contributions in the session on extreme events (from 1.30 p.m.) will focus on why it cannot simply be concluded that “global warming means more extreme weather events.” Other contributions will deal with the risks of disasters from the point of view of an insurance and reinsurance company, on the strategy of the city of Karlsruhe for adaptation to climate change, and on extreme events and disasters in the history of Baden-Württemberg. The session on challenges of climate modeling (from 11.15 a.m.) will cover the accuracy of model forecasts as well as the modeling of climate-relevant trace gases and the value added of regional climate modeling.
“Anpassung an den Klimawandel – was sind die Anforderungen der Praxis und was kann die Klimaforschung leisten?” (Adaptation to climate change – what are the requirements of practice and what can climate research do): These are the questions covered by the panel discussion of representatives of public administration, nature protection organizations, municipalities, insurance companies, and science at 3 p.m..
The conference will start at 9.30 a.m.: Professor Oliver Kraft, Vice President for Research, Helmfried Meinel, Head of Department of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection, and the Energy Sector, and Klaus Stapf, Mayor of the City of Karlsruhe, will open the conference.
The 6th REKLIM Regional Conference will be closed by the KIT Climate Lecture: “Sozialwissenschaftliche Kontextualisierung der Klimaforschung” (social science context of climate research) at 6.15 p.m., by Professor Hans von Storch, climate researcher and meteorologist from Hamburg.
For the complete program, further information, and registration, click: http://www.reklim.de/konferenz-2016
The conference language is German.
About REKLIM
The Helmholtz Climate Initiative REKLIM (Regional climate change) is a consortium of nine research centers of the Helmholtz Association established in 2009. REKLIM uses the competences pooled in the Helmholtz Association for regional observations and process studies coupled with model simulations to improve regional and global climate models, which provide a solid basis for climate-related decision support.
More information: www.reklim.de
More about the KIT Climate and Environment Center: http://www.klima-umwelt.kit.edu/english.
Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.