Utrecht researchers involved in two major Horizon Europe climate projects
Research into extreme weather, climate change and ocean circulation
Utrecht climate researchers are involved in two major projects funded by Horizon Europe’s climate programme. Among the contributors are assistant professor Lu Zhou and professor Henk Dijkstra from the Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht. Learn more about the projects and the contributions from Utrecht University below.
Extreme weather and climate change
To what extent are extreme weather events influenced by climate change? What impacts do these events have, and how can we improve their prediction? Lu Zhou is part of the SUNRISE project, which has received €6 million in funding to address these urgent questions. Her research focuses specifically on how changes in Arctic sea ice and ocean circulation shape climate extremes.
Zhou will contribute by designing and analysing dedicated climate model experiments focused on the North Atlantic and Arctic regions. These simulations will help clarify how changes in a major ocean current, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) affect extreme weather events, and what role is being played by natural climate variability. In addition, Zhou will work to deepen understanding of the impacts of extreme sea-ice loss and the interactions between sea ice and the ocean, and how these processes influence climate extremes.
Future changes in the ocean circulation
Henk Dijkstra is involved in the Horizon Europe project OceanNexus. Within this project, he coordinates the research line in which scientists use very high-resolution climate models to map how global ocean circulation may evolve over the next ten to one hundred years.
These models are designed to provide a clearer picture of how shifts in ocean currents influence regional climate. The results will then serve as the basis for follow-up research within the project on impacts on ecosystems and socio-economic systems.
Researcher René van Westen is also involved on behalf of Utrecht University. Drawing on his expertise in ocean dynamics, he contributes to the model studies and the further development of the climate scenarios.