News

Kick-off for excellence project “AIR-MoPSY” - research for better safety in the Baltic Sea

Kühlungsborn, 02.07.2025 - On June 30, 2025, the official start of the new excellence research project AIR-MoPSY took place in Greifswald. The aim of the four-year project is to develop a GPS-independent, radio-based navigation solution for the Baltic Sea. The aim is to sustainably strengthen maritime safety in the region. AIR-MoPSY is an interdisciplinary research network coordinated by the University of Greifswald. Other project partners are the DLR Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics, the DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation in Neustrelitz, the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) and the Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) in Kühlungsborn. AIR-MoPSY is being funded as part of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state competition for application-oriented excellence research with five million euros from the European Regional Development Fund.  Science Minister Bettina Martin emphasized the importance of the project at the kick-off: “The project is an outstanding example of application-oriented research and has rightfully been selected as one of five projects in the competition for excellence research.” Further information on the project can be found on our project page.

Fascinating world of clouds - IAP in new Arte documentary

Kühlungsborn, 03.06.2025 - The new Arte documentary “The Mysterious World of Clouds” focuses on the fascinating and complex phenomena of clouds. The documentary was first broadcast on May 31, 2025 and is now available in the Arte media library. Part of the filming took place at the Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics in Kühlungsborn. The focus was on our research into noctilucent clouds - the highest clouds on Earth, which occur at an altitude of around 80 kilometers in the polar summer mesosphere. Prof. Gerd Baumgarten explains in an interview how these extraordinary clouds are observed using special lidar systems and what scientific insights they offer for our understanding of the middle atmosphere. The documentary shows other international research projects - from the cloud tower in Leipzig and measurement flights in Australia to cloud utilization in the Canary Islands - and poses the question of how human influences could change the cloud system.

17th International Symposium on Equatorial Aeronomy (ISEA 17)

Successful participation in the Long Night of Science in Rostock

Kühlungsborn, 20.05.2025 - On May 15, 2025, the Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics took part in the Long Night of Science in Rostock. Under the title “Research at the edge of space”, we presented our work in the boundary region between the atmosphere and space - an altitude range of around 100 km that is of great importance for understanding climate-relevant processes and for space travel. The information stand in the physics research building was well attended throughout. Numerous visitors came to learn about our measurement methods with lidars, radars, sounding rockets and satellites and asked many interested questions. Dr. Staszak also gave a public lecture in Lecture Hall 3 of the Physics Department on the topic“Insight into the Ignorosphere - Growing Challenges at the Boundary to Space”. The current state of knowledge on the little-understood interface between the atmosphere and space was highlighted and new challenges posed by the industrial use of near-Earth orbit were discussed. We would like to thank all guests for their keen interest and are already looking forward to the next Long Night of Science.

IAP at the Long Night of Science in Rostock

IAP at the Long Night of Science in Rostock

Kühlungsborn, 14.05.2025 - On May 15, 2025, the Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics will be taking part in the Long Night of Science in Rostock. From 4 to 10 p.m., we will be providing information about our research at the boundary to space in the physics research building (Albert-Eisntein-Straße 23). The focus will be on atmospheric processes around 100 km altitude and their significance for climate and space travel. At 7 p.m., Dr. Staszak will give a public lecture in Lecture Hall 3 of the Physics Department (Albert-Einstein-Straße 24):“Insight into the Ignorosphere - Growing Challenges at the Boundary to Space” Further information about the event and the complete program can be found under the following link: https://lange-nacht-des-wissens.de/ 

Open Day 2025

Kühlungsborn, 12.05.2025 - Great interest in science in Kühlungsborn: around 750 guests took the opportunity to get to know the Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) last Saturday at the open day. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., visitors were able to take a look behind the scenes - with exciting insights into atmospheric physics research. At themed stations throughout the institute, scientists presented insights into current projects - from radar and lidar measurements to numerical models and sounding rockets. The introductory lectures also met with great interest and gave guests a compact overview of the diverse research activities at the institute. The children's program was also particularly popular, with young guests being able to experiment and make their own paper rockets, which were then shot into the air using compressed air. The highlight of the day was the launch of a weather balloon in the late afternoon. The consistently positive feedback from the guests showed that there is a great deal of curiosity about science - many of them expressed their desire to be there again next time. The next Open Day is expected to take place in 2027. 

Open House 2025

Open House 2025

Kühlungsborn, 21.01.2025 - On May 10, 2025, the Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) in Kühlungsborn will open its doors to the public from 1 pm to 5 pm. Visitors are cordially invited to take a look behind the scenes of atmospheric physics research. Short introductory presentations will give you an insight into the institute's diverse fields of research - from weather and climate processes to the dynamics of the middle atmosphere and satellite-based observations. What you can also expect:Throughout the institute, our scientists will provide vivid insights into their work at themed stations - from radar and lidar measurements to numerical models and sounding rockets. Children's program:Young guests can also experience science up close! Exciting hands-on experiments await them in the children's area - and as a special highlight, a large weather balloon will be launched at 4:15 pm. Getting here:You are welcome to use the cycle path along Schloßstraße (L11). A limited number of parking spaces are also available. You can also reach us with the Rubi call bus (more information). We are looking forward to your visit and an informative afternoon together at the IAP! Presentation program:- 13:30 & 15:00 - Introduction to the IAP and satellite data analysis working group- 13:45 & 15:15 - Radar remote sensing department- 14:00 & 15:30 - Optical and Rocket Soundings department- 14:15 & 15:45 - Modelling of Atmospheric Processes department

Successful dissertation: Thorben Mense defends his thesis at the University of Rostock

Kühlungsborn, 21.01.2025 - On Friday, January 17, 2025, Thorben Mense successfully defended his dissertation at the University of Rostock. The thesis is entitled: “Multi Field of View Observations of Wind, Aerosol and Temperature using a Compact, Frequency Scanning Lidar”.In his research, Dr. Mense has significantly advanced the VAHCOLI system (Vertical And Horizontal COverage by LIdar) developed at the IAP. The Doppler lidar system was extended to enable simultaneous measurements of wind, temperature and aerosols with multiple viewing directions. Technological innovations such as an improved telescope design, new mechanisms for beam switching and integrated temperature management systems formed the basis for this extension.  The performance of the system was demonstrated in measurement campaigns at the IAP between December 2022 and April 2023. Results included the determination of 3D winds up to heights of 25 km, precise aerosol measurements and the calculation of temperatures in aerosol-rich layers. The quality of the measurements was also confirmed by comparisons with weather models and satellite data. The work highlights the potential of VAHCOLI, particularly for future measurement campaigns and the validation of space-based lidar systems.  Furthermore, this defense marked a special moment: Thorben Mense was the last PhD student under the supervision of Prof. Franz-Josef Lübken, the former director of the IAP.We congratulate Dr. Mense on this success!