What helps municipalities to deal better with climate change?

The BMBF is funding the development of an advanced urban climate model to support local authorities with the necessary climate adaptation measures using the latest scientific findings and tools. This open source software, called “PALM-4U“, is to be used in urban planning and is being developed by scientists from the Institute of Meteorology and Climatology (IMUK) at Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover as part of the BMBF funding programme “Stadtklima im Wandel – Urban Climate Under Change [UC]²“.

Using five weather stations and two drones, a team of researchers led by PhD student Gregor Meusel from IMUK in Hanover is measuring meteorological parameters to test the climate model. In the summer of 2020, the scientists carried out the measurements in Hanover’s southern city by the Maschsee lake, and in the summer of 2021 at Hanover’s Eilenriede urban forest in the eastern city. The respective cooling effect on the city is being investigated. The meteorological parameters of air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed and direction will be measured. “If the model and ‘measured reality’ show far-reaching cooling effects, this contributes to the further establishment of ‘green’ climate adaptation measures in cities (e.g. street trees or façade greening) and to the protection of existing green elements in the periphery of settlements. In addition to beautifying the cityscape, this ensures valuable climate equalisation – especially on hot days,” says Gregor Meusel.

We followed him and his team on camera in summer 2021 and provide an insight into the researchers’ work in our film. Among other things, we show how the parameters mentioned are measured 24 hours a day using drones at heights of up to 300 metres. – Many thanks to Mr Meusel and his team for the exciting collaboration.