Within the monitoring and understanding of climate change, DTU command high-tech methods for monitoring and mapping of Arctic ice, fresh water resources, precipitation measurements, water levels in the oceans, cloud formation and coastal zones using measurements with gravimetry and radar from satellites in combination with in situ observations.
DTU assists the Danish authorities to take advantage of satellite-based systems for monitoring and surveillance and operational tasks within climate, environment, security and transport.
Coastal areas
For coastal areas DTU analyze erosion, sea level, land movements, the establishment of the coastal zone for example by placement of wind turbines, and monitoring of the coastal zone and description of developments at national, regional and international levels. The results are exploited in work with the planning of protection of low-lying countries and rural areas, low-lying cities, harbors and coastal protection nationally and internationally, as well as updating the spatial data infrastructure.
Systems understanding
Detailed knowledge about the exchange of CO2 and other greenhouse gases between the atmosphere and biosphere is important for understanding climate change.
DTU investigates effects of future climate on ecosystems, both directly in the wild and in laboratory experiments in controlled ecosystems.
Ecosystems - impact and feedback
Climate change will affect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. DTU creates an understanding of these impacts through research that enhances understanding of the mechanisms linking ecosystem responses to climate change. This knowledge shows how climate change will affect the productivity of the ocean and on land as well as feedbacks from ecosystems to the climate.
Climate models as decision support
A large number of DTU institutes are working with models and other tools that are essential elements of quantitative analysis of climate issues, including transport models, energy models, integrated energy and climate models, life cycle analysis, fisheries modeling, water modeling, melting-off modeling for ice and oceanography. The models are based on broad interdisciplinary skills within among other things technical sciences, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, economics and geography. Besides the use of specific analysis of issues within each sector, these models may also be used in integrated assessment of climate impacts, adaptation and mitigation. In this context, there may also be policy relevant analysis of Danish and more internationally based issues about how green growth and jobs can be combined with climate policy.