Projects
Here you can find on-going projects of our group.
TerraDT
Objective: Aim of the 'Digital Twin of Earth System for Cryosphere, Land Surface, and Related Interactions – TerraDT' is to enhance the DestinE infrastructure by developing a Digital Twin of the Earth system focused on the cryosphere, land surface, and related interactions. The project is led by the CSC and includes several partners over Finland. The role of our group, together with the Climate System Modeling group of FMI, is to develop an aerosol component using a machine learning/AI-based scheme for aerosol processes to be integrated into high-resolution global climate models (the DestinE Climate Digital Twin). During the project, a new aerosol model will be implemented into the IFS atmospheric model. Funded by: EU Horizon Europe Contact person in the group: Anton Laakso Duration: 1.1.2025-31.12.2028 Project webpage: https://terradt.eu/ X: @terradt.bsky.social LinkedIn: terradt-eu
IBA-Cristal
Objective: The objectives of the Climate knowledge for Resilient Transport and Logistics in the Baltic Region (IBA-Cristal) project are to improve the operational reliability and crisis resilience of the transport network in the Baltic Sea region and to enhance the understanding of stakeholders in the Baltic Sea region regarding the impacts and risks posed by climate change on transport conditions and infrastructure. Furthermore, we aim to develop the capacity of transport system operators for climate risk management. Funded by: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland Contact person in the group: Tero Mielonen Duration: 1.12.2024-31.12.2026 Project webpage: https://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/iba-cristal
CLAIMS
Objective: In CLAIMS (From climate change to attribution of extremes and their impacts in Finland and northern Europe) we study climate change attribution on weather extremes by developing new methods to analyze attribution. Our group, in collaboration with the Climate System Modeling group at FMI, uses the HCLIM regional model with pseudo-global warming simulations to analyze observed extreme weather events in counterfactual climates. The goal is to place these extremes in the context of a climate without anthropogenic climate change, as well as in a future warmer climate. Funded by: Research Council of Finland Contact person in the group: Anton Laakso Duration: 1.9.2024-31.8.2028
Certainty
Objective: Cloud-aerosol interactions & their impacts in the earth system (CERTAINTY) project, funded by the Horizon Europe program, aims to advance our comprehension of clouds and aerosols in the climate. This project aims to refine and use observations and models to understand and describe the intricate interactions between clouds and aerosols within climate and weather systems. Emerging observation technologies are being launched to increase our understanding of aerosol-cloud interactions. The new EarthCare satellite was launched in 2024 and will provide new, more accurate satellite-based observations of clouds, aerosols, and radiation. In addition, observational infrastructures provide global coverage of the properties of the atmosphere. This data will be the main source of data for complex computer modelling used for predicting and understanding the role of clouds and aerosol to weather and climate. Funded by: EU Horizon Europe Contact person in the group: Harri Kokkola Duration: 1.1.2024-31.12.2028 Project webpage: https://certainty-aci.eu/
OCEANIDS
Objective: OCEANIDS aims to build user-driven applications and tools, which act as an enabling technological layer for regional authorities and stakeholders in order to achieve a more resilient and inclusive systemic pathway to a Blue Economy in coastal regions. Under a single-access window platform for Climate-Informed Maritime Spatial Planning (CI-MSP), the project will allow a more integrated seascape management of coastal regions. The overarching concept is to collect, harmonize and curate existing climate data services, making data accessible, reusable and interoperable for the development of local adaptation strategies. OCEANIDS facilitates access to knowledge, data and digital services critical for better understanding and managing climate risks, enhancing adaptive capacities and supporting transformative innovations. In addition, OCEANIDS sees inclusivity as an enabling, and required, factor towards a Blue Economy. The project has a strong focus on behavioral change, both on individual as well as on a systemic level, enabling participating regions and communities to better understand and use potential social tipping points and systemic leverage points to accelerate transformative changes towards climate resilience. To achieve this, it promotes inclusive and deliberative governance through meaningful engagement and dialogue between citizens and stakeholders. This will be achieved using case-specific tools (i.e. ephemeral social networks) leveraging local citizens assemblies for bottom up deliberation, cultivating a culture of civic engagement, thus empowering individuals to take action in their own communities. Finally, the project will contribute to mobilizing sustainable finance and resources towards adaptation at scale and closing the climate protection gap. Funded by: EU Horizon Europe, under the call: HORIZON-MISS-2022-CLIMA-01-01 Contact person in the group: Anton Laakso Duration: 1.12.2023-30.11.2026 Project webpage: https://www.oceanids-project.eu/
Legitimacy II
Objective: The 2035Legitimacy project builds on the idea that the 2035 carbon neutrality target cannot be imposed on a democratic society; instead, it requires widespread social acceptability and support from various actors. The project seeks to find concrete means to enhance the legitimacy of Finland’s carbon neutrality transition. Through multidisciplinary research, the 2035Legitimacy project explores issues such as the fairness and legitimacy of climate policies in general, the impacts on employment and income distribution, the concept of climate citizenship, and the barriers and opportunities for public participation in climate policy processes. Funded by: Research Council of Finland's Strategic Research Council Contact person in the group: Harri Kokkola Partners: University of Helsinki, VATT, SYKE, University of Jyväskylä, University of Eastern Finland Duration: 1.10.2023-31.9.2026 Project webpage: https://2035legitimacy.fi/2035legitimacy_en/ X: @2035legitimacy
ReMuNet
Objective: ReMuNet identifies and signals disruptive events and assesses their impact on multimodal transport corridors. ReMuNet is a system designed to respond quickly and effectively to unexpected events as they happen in real time. It helps those who provide transportation management systems (TMS) to make their route planning more adaptable to changing conditions. When disruptions occur, ReMuNet immediately shares alternative, pre-planned routes for different types of transportation (like trucks, trains, and barges) with logistics operators, who then pass this information on to the drivers and captains. By doing this, ReMuNet helps create a quicker and more flexible response across various modes of transportation. It manages the use of different routes, recommends places where goods can be transferred from one mode of transportation to another, and helps use transportation capacity efficiently. This way, ReMuNet aims to reduce negative effects of disruptions and helps get things back on track more quickly. Our role in the project is to provide information about weather related disruptions. Funded by: EU Horizon Europe, under the call: HORIZON-CL5-2022-D6-02-07 New concepts and approaches for resilient and green freight transport and logistics networks against disruptive events (including pandemics) Contact person in the group: Anton Laakso Duration: 1.7.2023- 30.6.2026 Project webpage: https://remunet-project.eu X: @ReMuNetProject
BoFF
Objective: In the Climate and air quality impacts of boreal forest fires (BoFF) project we will use a comprehensive approach to define the emission factors (the grams of a compound emitted per kg of dry biomass burned) for greenhouse gases and relevant aerosol species. We will also investigate mechanisms behind the emissions using field and laboratory measurements. Finally, by utilizing and implementing this new knowledge to global and regional atmospheric models, we will quantify the climate and air quality impact of the smoke emitted by surface fires from boreal forests. As an outcome of this project, we will produce the first comprehensive understanding on greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions of low-intensity boreal surface fires typical for Northern European and Russian forests and insights on how these emissions evolve and transform in the atmosphere. Implementing the defined emission factors will enable us to establish a full picture of climate and air quality effects of increasingly frequent forest fires in a warming climate. Funded by: Jane & Aatos Erkko Foundation Contact person in the group: Tero Mielonen Partners: University of Eastern Finland, Metsähallitus Duration: 1.5.2023-31.5.2027
BSOA-BoRe
Objective: The aim of this project is to solve how biogenic secondary organic aerosols (BSOA) affect clouds over boreal forests.We will use field observations of aerosols and satellite observations of clouds together with large eddy simulations, meteorological reanalysis data and climate model simulations. To identify the BSOA contribution on cloud properties we will use neural networks. First, we will develop these methods for Southern Finland and then extend the analysis to other boreal areas to estimate the radiative effects of BSOA in present day climate. The project will produce unprecedented information on how BSOA affects cloud properties. This is urgently needed information for the separation of natural and anthropogenic aerosol effects. Funded by: Research Council of Finland Contact person in the group: Tero Mielonen Partners: University of Eastern Finland, University of Miami Duration: 01.09.2021 - 31.08.2025