Research

The topic of the study is the effects of climate change on fundamental energy data, in particular on the outdoor temperature and its spatial distribution in Vienna. The aim of the study is to develop a well-founded forecast data set for the potential development of the outdoor temperature in the Vienna metropolitan region / in accordance with the current scientific scenarios (IPCC, APCC, Assessment Report AT, model worlds (+1.5 °C, +2° C, etc.)). The results of the study are to be incorporated into the district heating demand forecast and serve as a basis for analyses and strategic decisions. This includes in particular the plausibility check of the trend analysis used by Wienenergie, the provision of reference temperature time series for defined sub-areas of the city of Vienna and a final report.

The project “Enhancing the conservation of flagship migratory mammal species of Central Asia through climate change-informed management and decision making” (short title “Central Asian Mammals and Climate Adaptation” (CABAMCA)), aims to increase the resilience of flagship mountain and other migratory species of Central Asia (e.g. snow leopard, Argali sheep, Asian ibex, Tien Shan maral, Bukhara deer), their associated ecosystems and communities to climate change and related threats. e.g. Snow Leopard, Argali Sheep, Asian Ibex, Tien Shan Maral, Bukhara Deer), their associated ecosystems and communities to climate change and related threats. It will benefit both wildlife and local communities at pilot sites in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan by supporting climate change-informed, community-based wildlife management inside and outside protected areas, reducing human-wildlife conflicts and contributing to landscape permeability.

Ozone in the atmosphere is a strong absorber of solar ultraviolet radiation, thereby acting as a shield to protect us and Earth's biosphere from this harmful radiation. Manmade chemicals containing halogen compounds released into the atmosphere since the middle of the last century were determined to be responsible for the observed depletion of the ozone residing in the stratosphere, where most of the ozone is located. The Montreal Protocol and its amendments have led to decreases in the atmospheric abundance of those controlled ozone-depleting substances, which has led to increases in the upper-stratospheric ozone. However, no significant trend in total column ozone has been detected in middle latitudes so far. The total column ozone recovery since the 1990’s, especially at northern mid-latitudes is expected to be complex, with a timeline depending on many factors.