PD Dr. Ralf Sussmann

Studies of Physics at the Technical University of Munich, finished 1994 with a summa cum laude PhD in physical chemistry – molecular spectroscopy. In 1995-1996 postdoc in atmospheric sciences. Since 2000 leader of research group  "Atmospheric Variability and Trends" at KIT/IMK-IFU. University lecturer ("Privatdozent") at the University of Augsburg with a Venia Legendi for "Climate and Environmental Sciences".

 

Research Interests

• Physics and chemistry of the atmosphere
• Sources and sinks of climate gases
• Long-term changes of the atmosphere
• Monitoring of international protocols (Montreal and Paris agreements)
• Molecular physics and spectroscopic interaction between radiation and atmospheric trace compounds in the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet spectral range
• Optical remote sounding (inversion theory and instrument development, FTIR, Lidar)
• Satellite validation and synergetic combination of satellite and ground-based remote sounding
   

Publications

Lectures

Boards and Committees

• Associate Editor of the Journal ACP - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
• Associate Editor of the Journal AMT - Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
• Member of the Steering Committee of the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC)

Projects

• Automation of TCCON data analysis, European Space Agency grant 4000120088/17/I-EF (2017-18)
• FIRMOS project with Zugspitze far-infrared campaign, European Space Agency grant 4000123691/18/NL/LF (2018-19)
• Sentinel-5P-Validation at the FTIR stations Garmisch and Zugspitze, DLR/BMWi grant 50EE1711D (2018-2021)
• ACTRIS-D, Substantial upgrade of the “Aerosols, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure” at the Zugspitze and Garmisch National Facilities, BMBF grant 01LK2001B (2021-2026)

Networks

• NDACC, Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change, R. Sussmann, Principal Investigator for ground-based FTIR spectrometry at the mountain Zugspitze, Germany
• TCCON, Total Carbon Column Observing Network, Principal Investigator for ground-based FTIR spectrometry at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Awards

• Science award of the German Aerospace Center (DLR)
• Two first awards of the “Verein der Freunde und Förderer des IMK-IFU” for best research paper of the year

 

Email: ralf.sussmann@kit.edu
Telephone: +49 8821 183-159