Independent research, institutional impact

Big data sets also play an important role in the research of Franziska Glassmeier, head of the Lise Meitner Research Group “Multiscale Cloud Physics” since June 2025. She uses data both from satellites and from high-resolution models to investigate the emergent properties of clouds. In this way, she aims to remedy a shortcoming of current climate models, which are based on the assumption that the individual cloud and the large-scale circulation to which it belongs can be separated. Her research focuses on the self-organization of clouds on the mesoscale, i.e. the spatial scale ranging from a few kilometers to hundreds of kilometers.

"The MPI-M is one of the best places worldwide for conceptual work," says Glassmeier. "Here, I can pursue the questions I want to address with the greatest possible scientific freedom." As part of the Lise Meitner Excellence Program, Glassmeier's group works independently of the institute's three departments. However, there are natural links, for example with the work done in the “Climate Physics” department, which performs cloud observations and develops climate models with a resolution of a few kilometers, among other things. "I expect that we will support and inspire each other, and I hope to contribute my scientific perspective to the discussions."

Cathy Hohenegger is a W2 group leader in the “Climate Physics” department. She studies convection and precipitation in the Earth's atmosphere, as well as the role of the land and ocean surfaces in these processes. "Thunderstorms occur locally, which is why I initially focused on regional phenomena," says Hohenegger, who has been a researcher at the MPI-M for 15 years. She has recently been pushing the development of comprehensive Earth system modeling on a kilometer scale at the institute. "This allows us to place such regional processes in a global context—which can generate entirely new insights."

For example, Hohenegger and her doctoral researcher Arim Yoon recently showed that the average precipitation in the Amazon would not decrease significantly even if it were completely deforested, because the large-scale atmospheric circulation carries extra moisture into the region, compensating for the loss of in-situ moisture after deforestation. This was not predicted by traditional models and gives an idea of the significant progress in climate research made possible by global models that resolve processes on the kilometer scale. Hohenegger plays a key role in further developing these models at the MPI-M. She believes it is important to contribute her ideas to various committees at the institute: "I want to attract good people to the institute and help providing a thriving research environment, which is why I enjoy providing strategic impetus."