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ITS – Inter- and Transdisciplinary Sessions

Programme Group Chairs: Viktor J. Bruckman, Annegret Larsen

ITS2 – Impacts of Climate and Weather in an Inter-and Transdisciplinary context

ITS2.1/CL0.7 EDI

High-impact climate and weather events typically result from the interaction of multiple climate and weather drivers, as well as vulnerability and exposure, across various spatial and temporal scales. Such compound events often cause more severe socio-economic impacts than single-hazard events, rendering traditional univariate extreme event analyses and risk assessment techniques insufficient. It is, therefore, crucial to develop new methodologies that account for the possible interaction of multiple physical and societal drivers when analyzing high-impact events under present and future conditions. This session aims to address several challenges and topics.
These include: (1) identifying the compounding drivers, including physical drivers (e.g., modes of variability) and/or drivers of vulnerability and exposure, of the most impactful events; (2) Developing methods to better shape the definition and classification of compound events, i.e. legitimate the ‘cut-offs’ in the considered number of hazard types or variables to ultimately disentangle enough information for decision-making; (3) Understanding whether and how often novel compound events, including record-shattering events, will emerge in the future; (4) Explicitly addressing and communicating uncertainties in present-day and future assessments (e.g., via climate storylines/scenarios); (5) Disentangling the contribution of climate change in recently observed events and future projections (attribution); (6) Employing novel Single Model Initial-condition Large Ensemble simulations, which provide hundreds to thousands of years of plausible weather, to better study compound events. (7) Developing novel statistical methods (e.g., machine learning, artificial intelligence, and climate model emulators) for studying compound events; (8) Assessing the weather forecast skill for compound events at different temporal scales; (9) Evaluating the performance of novel statistical methods, climate and impact models, in representing compound events and developing novel methods for constraining/reducing uncertainties (e.g., multivariate bias correction and observational constraints); and (10) engaging with stakeholders to ensure the relevance of the aforementioned analyses.
We invite presentations on all aspects of compound events, including but not limited to the topics and research challenges described above.

Convener: Yang Chen | Co-conveners: Emanuele Bevacqua, Pauline Rivoire, Wiebke Jäger, Michele Ronco
Orals
| Wed, 06 May, 14:00–18:00 (CEST)
 
Room 2.24
Posters on site
| Attendance Wed, 06 May, 10:45–12:30 (CEST) | Display Wed, 06 May, 08:30–12:30
 
Hall X5
Orals |
Wed, 14:00
Wed, 10:45
ITS2.2/G3.2 EDI

The growth and decay of large ice sheets on the Earth's surface during the past, present and future leads to Glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) triggered by the redistribution of surface ice and ocean masses, and the flow of mantle rocks. It involves radial and tangential motion, changes in sea levels, the Earth's gravity field and rotational motion, lithospheric bending and the state of stress inside the Earth. Although this process is primarily driven by ice-sheet dynamics and Earth's structure, it impacts other Earth systems like the cryosphere and hydrosphere. GIA controls relative sea-level change through vertical land motion and gravitational–rotational effects, making it fundamental for ocean sciences, hydrological sciences, and climate investigations. Furthermore, differential uplift and tilting due to GIA reshapes landscapes and drainage networks, while emergent land and basin connections drive ecosystem succession and carbon burial. GIA-related stress redistribution influences a region’s seismicity and its seismic hazard, which must be considered in nuclear waste storage safety assessments. Similarly, such stress changes can alter volcanic activity even thousands of kilometres away from the glaciated area. GIA effects are present in a wealth of standardized observational data, such as GNSS measurements, tide gauges, relative sea levels, and terrestrial and satellite gravimetry. These data help refine GIA models, which enhance our understanding of ice-sheet history, sea-level changes, Earth's rheology and near-surface processes. The GIA theory can also be applied to study other planets such as Mars.

We welcome contributions on GIA's effects across various scales, including geodetic measurements, complex GIA modelling, GIA-induced sea-level changes, the Earth's response to current ice-mass changes, and overview on emerging GIA data collections. We also invite abstracts on GIA's impact on nuclear waste sites, volcanism, groundwater, permafrost, and carbon resources. We especially appreciate new model developments in local, high spatial and temporal resolution for GIA assessments, results of fully coupled ice dynamics-GIA models, studies of broader environmental relevance, and improved GIA corrections for other geoscientific fields.

SCAR
Convener: Matthias O. Willen | Co-conveners: Holger Steffen, Caroline van Calcar, Svetlana Jevrejeva
Orals
| Mon, 04 May, 10:45–12:30 (CEST)
 
Room -2.31
Posters on site
| Attendance Mon, 04 May, 14:00–15:45 (CEST) | Display Mon, 04 May, 14:00–18:00
 
Hall X2
Orals |
Mon, 10:45
Mon, 14:00
ITS2.4/CL0.18 EDI

Climate change is reshaping the conditions that sustain human health. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and intensifying extremes are linked to diverse risks, from heat-related illness, kidney disease, and suicide to mortality from wildfires, tropical cyclones, and infectious diseases. These impacts extend beyond health to affect labor capacity, energy demand, and economic productivity, underscoring the interconnectedness of climate and society.

This session invites contributions that investigate the different pathways linking climate extremes to human health and well-being worldwide. We particularly encourage studies that leverage diverse data sources, including observations, health and socio-economic data, reanalyses, climate models, large ensembles, and AI-based models, to deepen our understanding and improve prediction and projection across various time scales.

Works addressing vulnerability, inequality, early warning systems, and strategies for adaptation and resilience are especially welcome, as well as interdisciplinary approaches bridging climate science, epidemiology, economics, and public health.

Convener: Alexia Karwat | Co-conveners: June-Yi Lee, Whanhee Lee, Eun-Soon Im, Lei Yuan
Orals
| Wed, 06 May, 10:45–12:20 (CEST)
 
Room -2.62
Posters on site
| Attendance Wed, 06 May, 08:30–10:15 (CEST) | Display Wed, 06 May, 08:30–12:30
 
Hall X5
Orals |
Wed, 10:45
Wed, 08:30
ITS2.5/CL0.5 EDI

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) plays a critical role in regulating Earth’s climate. Therefore, a potential future weakening or even collapse of the AMOC could have major climatic and societal impacts. While some of these changes and impacts have been investigated, their wide-ranging nature has led to scattered knowledge with limited intercomparisons between different lines of evidence. In this session, we bridge multiple disciplines and bring together the latest knowledge on AMOC changes and their impacts.

We welcome all contributions that investigate changes in the AMOC and their Earth System impacts. These can include direct physical impacts, such as atmospheric, oceanic, or cryospheric; biogeochemical as well as marine and terrestrial ecosystem responses; and socioeconomic impacts, such as health, agricultural, and economic repercussions. Contributions can cover any timescale, from paleoclimate and the recent past to future projections, from seasonal and decadal changes to long-term (centennial to millennial), both past and future. In addition, the AMOC can be studied in a range of settings, from internal variability to forced trends or abrupt/tipping behaviour, affecting both mean and extreme variables.

We call for contributions employing a broad range of tools, from Earth System, regional, and simple models to reanalyses and observations/proxies, as well as socioeconomic and impact-related models. Finally, as the Atlantic subpolar gyre (SPG) is an ocean system whose strength, stability, and impact on the climate are strongly connected to the AMOC, we also welcome contributions discussing the impacts of SPG changes on the Earth System.

Convener: Eduardo Alastrué de Asenjo | Co-conveners: Qiyun Ma, Felix Schaumann, Maya Ben Yami, Amber Boot, Wei Liu, Monica Ionita-Scholz
Orals
| Tue, 05 May, 08:30–10:15 (CEST)
 
Room 2.24
Posters on site
| Attendance Tue, 05 May, 10:45–12:30 (CEST) | Display Tue, 05 May, 08:30–12:30
 
Hall X5
Orals |
Tue, 08:30
Tue, 10:45
ITS2.6/BG10.9 EDI

Disturbances, such as extreme weather events, play a key role in shaping ecosystems. Under climate change, extreme weather hazards undergo changes in frequency, intensity and seasonality. While ecosystem-based adaptation and nature-based solutions are gaining traction, it is crucial to elucidate the diverse interactions between extreme weather risk, ecosystems, and their services.
This session seeks to highlight research on the nexus of weather and climate-related extreme events and ecosystems. We encourage submissions on: 1) investigations into the key attributes and patterns of extreme weather events which affect ecosystem composition, structure and functioning, 2) studies on how ecosystems respond to and recover from extreme weather events across past, present, and future climates, 3) Implications of extreme weather impacts on ecosystems for biodiversity and ecosystem service provision. We welcome a diverse array of contributions, including theoretical analyses, modelling approaches, field studies, experimental designs, and remote sensing analysis.

Key topics include:
- Identification of extreme weather risk hotspots, and subsequent ecosystem responses (terrestrial, coastal, or marine) in past, present and future climates
- Role of extreme weather in shaping ecosystem composition, biodiversity, structure and functioning, and its impact on ecosystems service provisions across temporal and spatial scales
- Interactions of natural hazard, anthropogenic and biogenic disturbances with ecosystems (including compounding events)
- Ecosystem vulnerability, resilience and recovery dynamics under weather extremes, including regime shifts / tipping points in ecosystems
- Impact and efficacy of nature-based solutions under extreme conditions, risk of maladaptation or disservices

Convener: Chahan M. Kropf | Co-conveners: Sarah Hülsen, Carmen B. Steinmann, Lina Teckentrup, Guohua Liu
Orals
| Fri, 08 May, 08:30–10:15 (CEST)
 
Room 2.24
Posters on site
| Attendance Fri, 08 May, 14:00–15:45 (CEST) | Display Fri, 08 May, 14:00–18:00
 
Hall X1
Orals |
Fri, 08:30
Fri, 14:00
ITS2.7/NH13.3

Climate hazards consistently expose and often intensify socioeconomic inequalities. Vulnerability to extreme events is not evenly distributed within or across societies; rather, it is shaped by existing social, economic, and political conditions. As such, inequality, defined as the uneven distribution of resources, opportunities, and power has been recognised by the United Nations and other global policy frameworks as a central factor influencing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This session invites interdisciplinary contributions, bringing together geoscientists, social scientists, economists, and policy experts to examine the complex and often compounding interactions between social inequalities and climate hazards such as floods, heatwaves, droughts, storms, landslides, and wildfires across different scales, including within countries, between countries, and across continents.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

-Case studies illustrating how environmental and social inequalities intersect.

-Types of inequality: social, gender-based, infrastructural, recovery time, education, income source, wealth distribution, climate justice, food security

-Impacts of climate hazards: displacement, fatalities, psychological and physical health, developmental setbacks.

-Long-term recovery challenges: absence of recovery, prolonged recovery periods, slower developmental trajectories.

-Historical and political-ecological perspectives on disasters and their long-term societal impacts.

-Innovations in data, metrics, or methods (e.g., AI, remote sensing, socio-environmental modelling) for assessing inequality and disaster risk across spatial and temporal scales.

Public information:

The power point intoduction its for the 5-minute introduction at the beginning 

Convener: jeremy Eudaric | Co-conveners: Apoorva Singh, Yao Li, Jun Rentschler
Orals
| Mon, 04 May, 14:00–15:35 (CEST)
 
Room -2.31
Posters on site
| Attendance Mon, 04 May, 16:15–18:00 (CEST) | Display Mon, 04 May, 14:00–18:00
 
Hall X3
Posters virtual
| Mon, 04 May, 14:18–15:45 (CEST)
 
vPoster spot A, Mon, 04 May, 16:15–18:00 (CEST)
 
vPoster Discussion
Orals |
Mon, 14:00
Mon, 16:15
Mon, 14:18
ITS2.8/NH13.12 EDI

Extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones, heatwaves, and floods threaten populations around the world. Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of many extreme weather events, which can combine with community exposure, inequalities, and vulnerabilities to cause substantial harm, including forced migration, human displacement, and other societal impacts. There is a growing literature at the intersection of the natural and social sciences studying the impacts of extreme weather events on populations, as well as people’s behavioral, attitudinal, and emotional responses.

In some contexts, particularly fragile and humanitarian settings where exposure, vulnerability, and institutional capacity are constrained, extreme weather events may interact with societal stressors such as conflict or political instability, producing compound and cascading risks. These dynamics pose particular challenges for risk assessment, forecasting, and anticipatory action. Addressing them requires closer integration of natural and social sciences, combining advances in hazard assessment and forecasting with insights into societal exposure, vulnerability, behaviour, mobility, and decision-making.

Yet only few studies are currently harnessing the full potential of interdisciplinary collaborations in this space, and several challenges pertaining to the choice of methods and the scale of analysis (e.g., regional, national) remain underexplored. This session provides a platform for interdisciplinary contributions that bridge natural and social sciences to better understand societal impacts of, and responses to, extreme weather events and related compound hazards.

We invite contributions including, but not limited to, studies of:
- Migration and displacement due to extreme events
- Environmental attitudes and behaviors influenced by extreme events
- Health and wellbeing effects of climate change and extreme events
- Food production and security in relation to extreme weather
- The interplay between climate change, environment, and conflict
- Anticipatory action and risk-informed decision-making for humanitarian preparedness and response;
- Methodological challenges to interdisciplinary collaborations

Convener: Simona Meiler | Co-conveners: Viktoria Cologna, Sandra Zimmermann, Roman Hoffmann, Alessia Matano, Tesse de Boer, Taís Maria Nunes Carvalho
Orals
| Fri, 08 May, 14:00–18:00 (CEST)
 
Room 2.24
Posters on site
| Attendance Fri, 08 May, 10:45–12:30 (CEST) | Display Fri, 08 May, 08:30–12:30
 
Hall X3
Orals |
Fri, 14:00
Fri, 10:45
ITS2.11/CL0.1 EDI

We are transitioning towards a climate state on Earth featuring rapid changes in response to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and land-use change, with severe observable and projected impacts on the occurrence of extreme weather events and increasing risk of crossing large-scale tipping points. Neither the transition nor the long-term climate state has been observed by (human-made) measurements before, making information on past climatic states increasingly more important to help anticipate future Earth System change. Paleoclimate records have enormously expanded over the past decades, and provide extremely rich information about physical, cryospheric, biological, and ecological processes on many spatial and temporal scales. Yet, it has been difficult so far to directly transform this knowledge on past processes into a more confident evaluation of future projections for the Earth system.
Being able to reconstruct past climate evolution is a necessary step for enhancing our capacity to look into the future and, therefore, extensive improvements of state-of-the-art Earth System Models (ESMs) are needed. So far, ESMs are mainly calibrated and validated with respect to the instrumental records of the last ~170 years of relatively stable climate, while the Earth’s longer-term history is characterised by an interplay of gradual climate change, variability and critical transitions between competing states, with profound impacts on climate subsystems, ecosystems, and civilisations.
Understanding the leading dynamical processes and feedbacks and in particular improving our ability to model and anticipate critical transitions in the climate and ecosystems is key to project future climate change on spatio-temporal scales relevant for societies, ecosystems and the planet.

We invite contributions that
-     use knowledge of past climates to advance our understanding of climate variability, abrupt changes and climate response to greenhouse gas changes and other forcing on spatio-temporal scales relevant for societies, ecosystems and the planet as a whole;
-     make use of information from paleoenvironmental proxy data, from past civilisations, from ESMs, and from rigorous theoretical approaches - individually or combined;
-     explore modern approaches to incorporate palaeoclimate information into the development processes of ESMs of varying complexity;

Convener: Anna von der Heydt | Co-conveners: Chantal Zeppenfeld, Mateo Duque-Villegas, Gabriel M. Pontes, Karina Kowalczyk
Orals
| Mon, 04 May, 16:15–18:00 (CEST)
 
Room -2.31
Posters on site
| Attendance Mon, 04 May, 14:00–15:45 (CEST) | Display Mon, 04 May, 14:00–18:00
 
Hall X5
Orals |
Mon, 16:15
Mon, 14:00