Extreme environments are particularly sensitive to climate change and are transforming at accelerated rates. This can have important global repercussions. EERL aims to create integrated process understanding by investigating interactions between the atmosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, ocean, land and anthroposphere. The goal is to characterize climate-change relevant and vertically-resolved processes that are directly influenced by humans, and natural processes that are simultaneously undergoing change due to climate forcing. The enhanced process understanding will enable us to better simulate the fate of extreme environments in the context of global change and resulting implications for society.
Research topics
1
We investigate the molecular-level chemical composition of aerosols with cutting edge instrumentation to determine the sources of the aerosol particles.
2
We study the vertical thermodynamic structure of the atmosphere and how aerosols are dispersed from the surface to higher altitudes where they participate in cloud formation.
3
We develop new analytical methods and facilities for vertical atmospheric measurements, notably a tethered balloon, the EERL helikite.
Our key projects
CLAVIER
We performed vertical observations of aerosols and clouds at Villum Research Station in Northern Greenland to understand how local and remote sources of aerosols impact the local climate.
EU Horizon 2020 project CleanCloud; Aarhus University, DK
GreenFjord
Using the new Swiss research sailboat Forel, we studied the ocean-ice-atmosphere interactions in Southern Greelandic fjords, specifically focusing on the difference between fjords with and without calving glaciers.
ETHZ, UZH, UNIL, Narsaq International Research Station
ORACLES
How are clouds formed in Antarctica? To answer this question we performed tethered balloon observations at Neumayer III station.
Alfred Wegener Institute, Institute for Tropospheric Research, DE
Our results and highlights
1
EERL was the first science team to operate on the Swiss research vessel Forel
2
Two PhD students graduated: Dr. Ivo Beck; Dr. Roman Pohorsky
3
Prof. Julia Schmale is leading the atmospheric science team for Tara Polar Station, a project that will study Arctic sea ice decline over the next 20 years.
4
Prof. Julia Schmale recieved the ‘best professor award’ of the Sustainable Management and Technology Master Program of EPFL, UNIL and IMD.
Team & talents
Lab team size
EERL has currently 17 members.
General skills
EERL members have educational backgrounds in engineering, meteorology, chemistry, physics and environmental science. We seek people that think creatively, love challenges, like to be outdoors in polar regions and care about environment and people.
Skills developed by the scientific team
Our skills comprise building new scientific instruments, developing analyses codes, illustrating our science results and capturing our research with stunning images.
Regional and social impacts
1
Our research helps to improve climate model simulations to better anticipate global challenges of climate change.
2
Our focus on air quality can help identify challenging weather patterns that exacerbate local pollution, particularly in winter when temperature inversions lead to high pollution in the Rhone Valley. In addition, we can quantify the impact on air pollution of Saharan dust events and long-range transported fire emissions.
3
Our routine observations in Valais at ALPOLE can guide operators of solar panels when a lot of dust deposition and hence lower performance is expected.
Perspectives and challenges
Priority 1
Study the decline of Arctic sea ice and the implications for weather in Europe
Priority 2
Understand how fast and when Antarctica will react to climate change
Priority 3
Cultivate a regenerative mind set to tackle sustainability challenges
Future Needs
New instruments that deliver high quality data and are light weight need to be developed long-lived batteries for autonous science stations are required
anti-icing materials that are environmentally friendly are needed.
Industry Partnerships
We seek partnerships with industry and start ups to work on solutions for our three main challenges.
CRYOS investigates the processes that shape snow and atmosphere in mountain and polar regions and their role in a changing climate. CRYOS also works on risk management and optimization of renewable energy production in alpine terrain based on its expertise in wind, water, and radiation processes.
Research topics
1
We study the processes at the interface of snow and ice with the atmosphere to understand and quantify the energy and mass balance which are changing in a warming climate. Results will help in predicting and adapting to climate change, in the sectors of natural hazards, alpine tourism, agriculture, and renewable energy production.
2
The lab investigates the potential of wind and solar resources for renewable energy production in mountain regions with particular focus on optimization such as better balancing summer and winter production and increasing energy production in winter to reduce the seasonal production deficit.
3
CRYOS develops and applies physics-based numerical models for snow, permafrost and the lower atmosphere, which are used in theoretical and applied research. Such models allow for predictions and for simulating scenarios of events and possible changes in alpine and polar regions.
Our key projects
SWEET EDGE
Aas part of the “SWiss Energy research for the Energy Transition” program, EDGE seeks to provide scientific evidence to fast-track the growth of locally sourced decentralized renewable energy in Switzerland, to help achieving renewable energy targets in 2035 and 2050.
Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) - Universities of Geneva, Bern, ETH Zürich, HSLU Lucern, ZHAW (project leaders)
MatterHEX
A Swiss, German, USA collaboration with experimental field work in Zermatt, Valais. The project studied the complex processes of flow and cloud formation around Matterhorn and integrated the findings in numerical models to further improve alpine weather forecasts.
Gemeinde Zermatt, Air Zermatt, Universität Mainz (DE), University of Utah, Salt Lake City (US)
Antarctic snow
CRYOS measures and models the surface energy and mass balance on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (Princess Elisabeth station) and high mountains. In 2024, the installations were complemented with a wind lidar and a series of anemometers. The study led to the development of an Antarctic wind atlas.
SNSF (CH); International Polar Foundation (BE); Alfred Wegener Institute (DE)
Our results and highlights
1
Showing how much electricity import can be avoided and how much additional revenue can be generated if hydropower resources are used optimally in a future more renewable energy mix.
2
ERC Synergy grant SnowShifts on future snow climates
3
UrbanTwin & Speed2Zero Joint Initiative projects
4
Sunwell Spin-Off
Team & talents
Lab team size
Current team : 16 (1 professor, 7 senior scientists (post-doc & scientific collaborators), 7 PhD students, 1 administrative collaborator,)
Introducing a specific team member
Yael Frischholz is a PhD student in his final year. His research perfectly bridges the labs dual domain of cryospheric sciences and optimization of renewable energy production. Yael’s innovative approaches, technical and numerical advancements are improving solar radiation maps for Alpine terrain and contribute to the goal of the long-term Swiss energy transition.
Skills developed by the scientific team
CRYOS members work very autonomously under targeted scientific guidance. They develop expertise in environmental science and engineering, fieldwork and instrument deployment, numerical modeling including Machine Learning, science communication and outreach.
Other
Marie-Curie Awardee Brandon van Schaik: Improving wind power assessment in Switzerland and Antarctica
Regional and social impacts
1
Facts and information on local consequences of climate change. Propositions for mitigating and solutions for better adapting to consequences of climate change.
2
Contribution to the management of local water resources and natural hazards. Assessment and potential of renewable energy sources in alpine regions.
3
Data and scenario simulations for ski resorts and mountain tourism in general. Knowledge, data, and simulations for hydropower sector. Support for development of high-Alpine PV and wind resources.
4
Better urban climate in Sion.
Perspectives and challenges
Main priorities
Solve the urgent problems of the energy transition in Switzerland and facilitate the contribution of the mountain areas.
Improve, snow and precipitation estimates in extreme environments and forecast non-linear changes in snow climates.
Contribute to the management of natural hazards in Canton Valais such as for rain on snow events.
Main challenges
Most teaching is based at the EPFL campus in Lausanne which poses difficulties for students, teaching assistants and lecturers. Project-based teaching and block courses could be offered in Sion. Short-term accommodation for students and teaching staff may be a partial solution.
Future Partnerships
Canton VS, Ville de Sion, and local companies for graduate student projects or research theses.
Laboratory of Catchment Hydrology and Geomorphology (CHANGE)
Prof. Sara Bonetti
Laboratory of Catchment Hydrology and Geomorphology (CHANGE)
At CHANGE we seek to improve current understanding and forecasting capabilities of land surface processes in natural and managed ecosystems. Our ultimate goal is the definition of adaptation strategies to future-proof soil and water resources in light of increasing anthropogenic and climatic pressures.
Research topics
1
Catchment water, carbon, and nutrient dynamics. We study the interactions between soil-plant dynamics, climatic variability, land erosion in natural and managed ecosystems, with applications ranging from forestry, to agriculture, and climate.
2
Ecohydrology of agroecosystems. We use and develop mathematical frameworks to tackle interlinked challenges of food security, climate change adapataion and mitigation, and environmental sustainability in agroecosystems.
3
Landscape evolution and soil erosion. We are intrested in understanding how landscapes evolve through multiple erosional and depositional processes and how these ultimately affect (and are affected by) vegetation and soil carbon dynamics.
Our key projects
SOCscape
We combine newly designed monitoring campaigns in Alpine catchments with state-of-the-art detailed numerical modeling to evaluate the dynamics of soil carbon redistribution, fluxes, and stocks in topographically complex landscapes. More here: https://www.epfl.ch/labs/change/research/assessing-soil-carbon-dynamics-in-landscapes-of-complex-topography-socscape/ .
'ETH Zurich, WSL, UNIL
SMART-AGRI
By leveraging detailed numerical modeling of soil-plant dynamics, we quantify the benefits of different climate-smart agricultural practices, and identify the combinations of practices that concurrently optimize crop production, climate change mitigation, and preservation of environmental resources in different soils and ecoregions. More here: https://www.epfl.ch/labs/change/research/global-quantification-of-the-benefits-of-climate-smart-agriculture-under-future-climates-smart-agri/
Imperial College London, University of Cyprus
Carbon removal in wetland restoration
We are developing a process-based framework that links hydrological and vegetation drivers with wetland micromorphology to assess their role in the net ecosystem carbon exchange, thus providing a tool to quantify carbon fluxes in wetland systems. More here: https://www.epfl.ch/labs/change/research/carbon-removal-in-wetland-restoration/
Mathematical modeling, advanced data analysis, project and time management, complex thinking, public speaking
Regional and social impacts
1
Food security, Climate change adaptation and mitigation, Sustainable use of soil and water resources
2
Understanding climate change impacts on Alpine ecosystems. Adapting agricultural management practices in the face of climate change.
3
Aiding the development of decision support systems, informing MRV protocols, analysis of managemetn scenarios
Perspectives and challenges
Priority 1
Understanding how ecosystem management affects and is affected by climatic changes
Priority 2
Developing science-based tools to quantitatively assess ecosystem reponses to climatic and anthropogenic pressures
Complex Ecosystems
Ecosystems are highly complex systems, characterized my complex interactions between multiple biotic and abiotic processes
Balancing Key Variabilities
High spatial and temporal variability of many key quantities – Need to balance multiple societal needs in devising optimal management strategies
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