Max Planck Institute for Meteorology: Search

85.

New Generation of Climate Models Sheds First Light on Long-Standing Pacific Puzzle

World map, gray continents, colors ranging from red to blue indicate sea surface temperature.

Researchers have long been puzzled by the observed cooling of the eastern tropical Pacific and the Southern Ocean accompanying global warming. Existing climate models have failed to capture this pattern. At the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, researchers have come a significant step closer to the answer: Using a new generation of more physical climate models, they have demonstrated the first successful representation of the observed trend in a climate simulation and have delivered an…

86.

Mourning for Erich Roeckner

Mourning for Erich Roeckner The Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (MPI-M) mourns the loss of one of the most influential researchers in its history. “The news of Erich Roeckner’s death makes us all very sad,” says Jochem Marotzke, Managing Director of the MPI-M. “Erich Roeckner was one of the protagonists in establishing climate modeling here at the institute, a mentor to many whose careers began here, and a colleague who was greatly appreciated by all. His modest, wise manner left a…

87.

Tatiana Ilyina Appointed Director at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology

Tatiana Ilyina in the stairwell at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology

Tatiana Ilyina has been appointed director at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen. The Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, where she headed the “Ocean Biogeochemistry” group, cordially congratulates her on this success.

88.

Condolences

Mourning for Erich Roeckner The Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (MPI-M) mourns the loss of one of the most influential researchers in its history. “The news of Erich Roeckner’s death makes us all very sad,” says Jochem Marotzke, Managing Director of the MPI-M. “Erich Roeckner was one of the protagonists in establishing climate modeling here at the institute, a mentor to many whose careers began here, and a colleague who was greatly appreciated by all. His modest, wise manner left a…

89.

Hamburg Climate Researcher Erich Roeckner Has Died

Erich Roeckner, one of the most influential researchers in the history of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, passed away in February 2026, at the age of 84.

90.

Fewer Storms, More Extremes

High waves at sea, a ladder leading into the water is flooded.

Storms over the northeast Atlantic and the German Bight regularly cause major damage, placing a strain on people and the environment. At the same time, it is unclear how the frequency, strength, and trajectories of such storms will be altered under climate change. A study by the Helmholtz Centre Hereon and the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology addresses this knowledge gap. The analysis reveals that most current climate models predict a decrease in storm activity in the future. However, when…

91.

Study Reveals Previously Unknown Teleconnection Between Northern Hemisphere Ice Sheets and West Antarctica

Photo of massive icebergs in Antarctica in front of a clear blue sky.

Changes in the Northern Hemisphere ice sheets can propagate through the climate system and affect even the remote region of Antarctica. Idealized simulations of the past 8,000 years with a novel, coupled climate-ice sheet model have revealed a previously unknown teleconnection that ultimately sends periodic pulses of warm water to West Antarctic ice shelves, triggering a self-amplifying retreat of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

92.

How Ocean Eddies Influence the Intensity of Tropical Cyclones

Image of a hurricane, visible through white cloud vortices, from above.

Depending on whether they carry warm or cold water, ocean eddies can intensify or weaken tropical cyclones. A study conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology using a global storm- and eddy-resolving simulation shows for the first time that this applies not only to individual cases, but more generally.

93.

How Will Sea Level Rise Affect the Global Economy?

Turquoise surf breaks against a stone seawall with drainage outlets; water washes the walkway, buildings to the left, open sea to the right, and a coastal town on the horizon under a pink‑blue sky.

Global sea level rise will have severe consequences for coastal regions and beyond. However, it has not been adequately represented in integrated impact assessments. A new model, “Feedback-Based Knowledge Repository for Integrated Assessments of Sea Level Rise Impacts and Adaptation” (FRISIA), enables the study of the socioeconomic impacts of sea level rise and associated feedback mechanisms.

94.

Sailboat Measurements Improve Estimates of Ocean CO2 Uptake

Team Malizia's sailboat yacht "Seaexplorer" at sea.

During training cruises and regattas, sailors collect valuable data for climate research at sea. A recent study showed that this data can help improve estimates of the marine carbon sink.

95.

Nils Brüggemann Appointed Professor at ZMT Bremen

Nils Brüggemann is moving from the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology to the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research in Bremen to start a professorship in cooperation with the University of Bremen. He and his team will develop Earth system models to study tropical coastal regions.

96.

History of the Institute

Our History - 50 Years of Climate Research Our History - 50 Years of Climate Research