The Institute of Atmospheric Physics AS CR, also designated as the IAP, is part of the

Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic The Czech Academy of Sciences (abbr. CAS, cs, Akademie věd České republiky, abbr. AV ČR) was established in 1992 by the Czech National Council as the Czech successor of the former Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences and its tradition goes back ...

(AS CR). Within the IAP research institutions are combined in order to cover the whole field of

science Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...

and

humanities Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture. In the Renaissance, the term contrasted with divinity and referred to what is now called classics, the main area of secular study in universities at the t ...

. The IAP was established in 1964, developed from a previously existing institute. This former institute's main focus was observation, and interpretation of data of

tropospheric The troposphere is the first and lowest layer of the atmosphere of the Earth, and contains 75% of the total mass of the planetary atmosphere, 99% of the total mass of water vapour and aerosols, and is where most weather phenomena occur. From ...

processes. In 1994 another former institute joined the IAP which then extended its

research Research is "creativity, creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It involves the collection, organization and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular att ...

purview to the entire

atmosphere An atmosphere () is a layer of gas or layers of gases that envelop a planet, and is held in place by the gravity of the planetary body. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A s ...

, from the

boundary layer In physics and fluid mechanics, a boundary layer is the thin layer of fluid in the immediate vicinity of a bounding surface formed by the fluid flowing along the surface. The fluid's interaction with the wall induces a no-slip boundary condi ...

up to

interplanetary space Interplanetary may refer to: *Interplanetary space, the space between the planets of the Solar System *Interplanetary spaceflight, travel between planets *The interplanetary medium, the material that exists in interplanetary space *The InterPlanet ...

. In 2007-2008 the IAP organized several international workshops and meetings. The institute is staffed by 111 persons (2008) and forty percent of those hold the PhD degree or its equivalent. Throughout the years staff members have published research in a variety of international and national

peer review Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work (peers). It functions as a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer review ...

ed journals, as well as various books, chapters in books, and

monographs A monograph is a specialist work of writing (in contrast to reference works) or exhibition on a single subject or an aspect of a subject, often by a single author or artist, and usually on a scholarly subject. In library cataloging, ''monograph ...

. Also, the IAP participates in international research programs, and many international research projects. For example, it participates in the Climate and Weather of the Sun-Earth System (CAWSES) program, and the GEO-6 (Galileo for Scientific User Community) research project.List of Publications 1992 - 2008
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Science investigations

Scientific investigation for the IAP is defined by the vertical extent of the atmosphere. Types of investigations include theoretical models,

numerical simulation Computer simulation is the process of mathematical modelling, performed on a computer, which is designed to predict the behaviour of, or the outcome of, a real-world or physical system. The reliability of some mathematical models can be deter ...

, and

experiment An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into Causality, cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome oc ...

for the Earth's

troposphere The troposphere is the first and lowest layer of the atmosphere of the Earth, and contains 75% of the total mass of the planetary atmosphere, 99% of the total mass of water vapour and aerosols, and is where most weather phenomena occur. From ...

, middle atmosphere,

ionosphere The ionosphere () is the ionized part of the upper atmosphere of Earth, from about to above sea level, a region that includes the thermosphere and parts of the mesosphere and exosphere. The ionosphere is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an ...

and

magnetosphere In astronomy and planetary science, a magnetosphere is a region of space surrounding an astronomical object in which charged particles are affected by that object's magnetic field. It is created by a celestial body with an active interior dynam ...

. The main research topic areas currently include mesoscale, dynamical, and applied

meteorology Meteorology is a branch of the atmospheric sciences (which include atmospheric chemistry and physics) with a major focus on weather forecasting. The study of meteorology dates back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not ...

. Furthermore, the processes of the atmospheric boundary layer are also of interest. In addition, climate variability and

climate change In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...

are studied. Other research is conducted that concerns the

ozone Ozone (), or trioxygen, is an inorganic molecule with the chemical formula . It is a pale blue gas with a distinctively pungent smell. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope , breaking down in the lo ...

, along with the previously mentioned ionosphere and magnetosphere. Regarding these upper atmosphere domains, the IAP conducts its own

satellite A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioisotope ...

experiments. Other research extends into space

plasma physics Plasma ()πλάσμα
, Henry George Liddell, R ...

and solar-terrestrial interactions.

Department of Climatology

The Department of Climatology of the IAP is concerned with two broad research areas. These are climate change research, and statistical climatology.

Climate change research

Climate change research includes the observation, analysis, and establishing trends regarding the variations of long-term extreme warm and cold temperature phenomena in central and south-eastern Europe. Of note is a prevailing warming trend when analysing both the warm and cold events during the 20th century. Also of note are changes in the atmospheric circulation patterns.

Global Circulation Model A general circulation model (GCM) is a type of climate model. It employs a mathematical model of the general circulation of a planetary atmosphere or ocean. It uses the Navier–Stokes equations on a rotating sphere with thermodynamic terms ...

(GCM) outputs are related to the region of the Czech Republic and central Europe. In addition, this department is developing a ''Regional Climate Model'' in conjunction with another Czech institute and

Charles University ) , image_name = Carolinum_Logo.svg , image_size = 200px , established = , type = Public, Ancient , budget = 8.9 billion CZK , rector = Milena Králíčková , faculty = 4,057 , administrative_staff = 4,026 , students = 51,438 , undergr ...

. Included in this departments work are impact assessments by constructing

climate change scenarios Climate change scenarios or socioeconomic scenarios are projections of future greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions used by analysts to assess future vulnerability to climate change. Scenarios and pathways are created by scientists to survey any long ...

for selected experimental units in the Czech Republic.

Statistical climatology

Various validated statistical models and predictors are employed which provide a platform for research in climate change. These include ''extreme value analysis'', ''non-linear time series analysis'', ''statistical downscaling'', and the ''stochastic weather generator''.

Research projects

The Department of Climatology is involved in research projects listed from ''starting in 2004'' to ''starting in 2008''. Some of the titles are as follows:

2008

* Probabilistic climate scenarios for the Czech Republic. * Extraterrestrial effects on atmospheric circulation in mid and high latitudes. * Effect of climate variability and meteorological extremes on the production of selected crops between 1801 and 2007.

2007

* Meteorological causes and human mortality impacts of extreme hot weather in summer: a comparative study. * Effects of short-term and long-term variability of weather on mortality.

2006

* Central and Eastern Europe Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerability Assessment (CECILIA). * Climate change impacts on the crop growth and development of selected crops.

Department of Space Physics

This department is ''Space Plasma Group'', which was founded in 1998 as the Department of Space Physics of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics. Primary investigations of this department are space plasma process which occur in solar-terrestrial interactions. Simulated and experimental data are applied in these studies.

Other departments

There are also several other departments, along with five observatories and one detached unit. Notable work from these areas will also be included.

Organizational structure

The IAP has a Director, deputy director, and Scientific Secretary which comprises the institute's ''Management''. The Scientific and professional section is divided into six departments, two of which have been discussed above. Each department has its own department head. The administration is made up of the administrative head, librarian, and Secretary to the Director. There is also a board which lists internal and external seated members. In addition, there is a supervisory board with six members, one of whom functions as secretary.

References

External links

IAP CAS website
{{authority control Astronomy institutes and departments Astrophysics institutes Environment of the Czech Republic Environmental research institutes Earth science research institutes Physics institutes Research institutes in the Czech Republic Research institutes established in 1964 1964 establishments in Czechoslovakia