Climate Change Research

Atmosphere and climate have changed several times during the c. 4,5 billion years history of Earth. Warm climates and ice ages have alternated. Nowadays climate change usually refers to the ongoing anthropogenic climate change and its consequences. In the Finnish Meteorological Institute, research is conducted to improve our knowledge about present, past and future climates as well as climate change and its mitigation.

As part of a Centre of Excellence of the Academy of Finland the Finnish Meteorological Institute investigates physical, chemical and biological processes related to climate and climate change. The foundation of this work is the observation program, model development, and scientific expertise of the Finnish Meteorological Institute as well as broad international cooperation. The results of research are applied to the Finnish conditions.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute produces long, homogeneous time series on different climate variables. This is especially important when dealing with phenomena that exhibit changes only in decadal timescales.

When monitoring climate change and air quality of the Northern areas the Finnish Meteorological Institute make use of the concentration measurements of fine particles and greenhouse gases carried out eg. in the Pallas-Sodankylä station. The Finnish Meteorological Institute takes part also in research of air pollution problems in Asia by carrying out ambient air measurements of fine particles in India and China.

3.11.2010