BOKU-Met seminar, Tuesdays 11:00 – 12:00

BOKU-Met seminar, Tuesdays 11:00 – 12:00

Gregor Mendel Haus, ground floor, MENH-EG/49 Gregor-Mendel-Str. 33 A-1180 Vienna

https://bokuvienna.zoom.us/j/95795467199
 

3.März - Lea Ann Dailey, University of Vienna „Are we breathing micro- and nanoplastics?“

Abstract: How can the micro- and nanoplastic content in aerosols be determined ? Are there hotspots of high exposure? What are the potential impacts of inhaled platics on health?

https://bokuvienna.zoom.us/j/95795467199

leaann.dailey(at)univie.ac.at

10. März: Wouter Mol, University of Vien "Clouds in the middle troposphere studied through the lens of radiation"

Abstract: Clouds influence the atmosphere's radiation balance, but cloud formation and lifetime itself is also influenced by radiation. In ongoing work, I'm studying the impacts of mid level clouds, as these are common, yet difficult to resolve in models and, in my review, under-studied. 
First, I will discuss the various types of mid level clouds and their presumed origins.  Second, I will show observed climatology and some regional hot spots of mid level clouds based primarily on satellite observations. One such hot spot is the Sahel region in Africa, which shows a tri-modal cloud climatology with height, with mid level clouds peaking just above the freezing level (~ 5 km). 
Thirdly, I will show the experimental design and preliminary results of two hypothesized types of impacts mid level clouds have on the atmosphere, and how these impacts might feed back to the their own formation. These two impacts relate to cloud overlap influencing cloud lifetime through altering cloud radiative heating and modifications to atmospheric stability and thus convective mass flux. These experiments are numerical idealizations of clouds using large-eddy simulation, which will also double as a demonstration of the difficulty of representing these clouds in the middle troposphere.

https://bokuvienna.zoom.us/j/95795467199

wouter.mol(at)univie.ac.at

24.03.2026 Zachary McGraw University of Vienna Are Volcanic Impacts on Global Climate Overblown?

Large volcanic eruptions inject sunlight-blocking aerosols into the stratosphere that can influence global climate for several years. Because these aerosols reduce temperatures and alter precipitation patterns far from eruption sites, they have often been invoked as drivers of major crises – including the Black Death, the fall of the Ptolemaic Empire, and even the near-extinction of humanity. This talk critically reevaluates the climate model findings and other arguments used to support such claims. Drawing from concepts in aerosol microphysics, radiative transfer, precipitation dynamics, statistical inference, and historiography, I assess how well current evidence supports the idea of volcano-driven catastrophe. I show that no reliable evidence supports these catastrophic interpretations, and argue that the global-scale impacts of large volcanic events have been greatly overstated.

zachary.mcgraw@univie.ac.at

https://bokuvienna.zoom.us/j/95795467199

 

12.05.2026 Brigitta Goger Geosphere

https://bokuvienna.zoom.us/j/95795467199

brigitta.goger@geosphere.at

19.05.2026 Manuela Lehner University of Innsbruck

https://bokuvienna.zoom.us/j/95795467199 

manuela.lehner@uibk.ac.at

16.06.2026 Franziska Koch BOKU-HyWa

https://bokuvienna.zoom.us/j/95795467199 

franziska.koch@boku.ac.at

23.06. Alexander Dzwonek, BOKU-MET

The Occupational Ultraviolet Dose: Assessing the Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure of Outdoor Workers of different Occupational Groups in Austria based on Personal Daily Measurements

Abstract:​

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation (UVR) exposure was recognized early as a key risk factor for acute and cumulative cutaneous health damage, such as erythema (sun burn), actinic keratosis (AK) and skin cancer. Elevated incidences have been reported in populations who are exposed to high levels of UVR, particularly among outdoor workers. In a few countries, actinic keratosis and certain skin cancer types are approved occupational diseases. However, the approval depends on the individual occupational UVR exposure. The most precise way to determine personal UVR exposure (PE) is through measurements obtained with wearable UVR meters. 

In this study, we present PE measurements for 61 occupations conducted within the SEDiment project between 2022 and 2024 in Austria for the accurate assessment of occupational PE, particularly in respect to approval of occupational disease. For comparisons and the assessment of long-term UVR exposure – the key factor for developing skin cancer – the Exposure Ratio To Ambient (ERTA) and the annual occupational UVR exposure have to be determined.

The results confirm that typical occupational sectors (e.g. construction) are affected by high levels ofUV exposure, but occupational groups within these sectors differ considerably. In addition, classifying occupational activities based on objective observation showed that even within occupational groups,outdoor workers can have significantly different PE.

Detailed comparisons between studies are challenging, as no standardized protocol for occupational PE measurements currently exists, highlighting the urgent need for harmonization in occupational UVR exposure research.

https://bokuvienna.zoom.us/j/95795467199