Understanding the interactions between air pollution, extreme weather and climate

At the MAC Air Center, researchers aim to develop better measures to tackle air pollution and climate change

Environmental conditions in the atmosphere are changing very rapidly in China, providing a unique opportunity to investigate how the changing composition of the atmosphere affects air quality, weather and climate. Researchers at the MAC-Air Center (Max Planck – Asia Center for Unravelling the Nexus of Air Pollution, Extreme Weather, and Monsoon in a Warming Climate: Pathways to Global Solutions) are investigating the interactions between aerosols, solar radiation and clouds in order to lay the foundations for more effective measures against air pollution and climate change, as well as for more reliable forecasts of extreme weather. In addition to the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, other leading organisations are involved in the collaboration: the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Seoul National University (SNU), Tsinghua University (THU), Nanjing University (NJU) and the University of Helsinki (UHEL).

EarthLab: Supercomputer infrastructure for atmospheric research

For their studies, the researchers measure atmospheric chemistry data using, among other things, the 325-metre-high Tall Tower Observatory in Beijing. In addition to measurements, they also rely on model simulations using the supercomputer infrastructure of EarthLab (Earth System Science Numerical Simulator Facility). Their aim is, on the one hand, to understand the mechanisms by which atmospheric chemistry affects weather and climate, and, on the other hand, to produce corresponding forecasts. In addition to the computing infrastructure, they can utilise extensive atmospheric chemistry datasets from the recent past as well as AI-supported models for meteorological forecasts.

“The scientific findings are also directly relevant to Europe and Germany,” says Yafang Cheng, director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, who heads the MAC-Air Center together with Hang Su from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the CAS. “After all, floods, heatwaves and other environmental damage are on the rise here too. Research can help to improve forecasts, adaptation strategies and resilience.” In the long term, the MAC-Air Center aims to help reduce exposure to particulate matter, make cities more climate-resilient and improve early warning systems for extreme weather.

Supporting young researchers also plays an important role. Joint supervision, exchange programmes and cross-site training are designed to help them gain experience with different datasets, methods and research approaches.