Dr. Ute Merkel Universität Bremen FB5 - Geowissenschaften Abt. Geosystemmodellierung Postbox address: Postfach 330 440 D-28334 Bremen Mailing address: Klagenfurter Strasse Geo Building - Room 5370 D-28359 Bremen Tel: +49 (0) 421 - 218 - 65440 Fax: +49 (0) 421 - 218 - 65454 Email: umerkel(a)marum.de

* Research interests

* Publications

* Presentations

* Teaching

* Curriculum vitae

* Memberships

Research interests

Recent topics:

Paleoclimate simulations for Marine Isotope Stage 3 (German Research Foundation project)

Paleoclimate simulations for Last Glacial Maximum and Mid-Holocene (EU project MOTIF, PMIP2)

ENSO teleconnections and the impact of ENSO on the North Atlantic/European sector

ENSO and tropical storms

Role of horizontal resolution in AGCMs

General topics:

Paleoclimatology

Seasonal to interannual variability

Decadal variability and predictability

Climate modelling using complex coupled ocean-atmosphere models

Publications

• Varma, V., M. Prange, U. Merkel, T. Kleinen, G. Lohmann, M. Pfeiffer, H. Renssen, A. Wagner, S. Wagner, and M. Schulz, 2011: Holocene evolution of the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds in transient simulations with global climate models, Clim. Past Discuss., 7, 1797-1824, doi:10.5194/cpd-7-1797-2011


• Hessler, I., L. Dupont, D. Handiani, A. Paul, U. Merkel, and G. Wefer, 2011: Masked millennial-scale climate variations in South West Africa during the last glaciation, Clim. Past Discuss., 7, 3511-3540, doi:10.5194/cpd-7-3511-2011

Refereed publications:

• Varma, V., M. Prange, F. Lamy, U. Merkel, and M. Schulz, 2011: Solar-forced shifts of the Southern Hemisphere Westerlies during the Holocene, Clim. Past, 7, 339-347


• Merkel, U., M. Prange, and M. Schulz, 2010: ENSO variability and teleconnections during glacial climates, Quaternary Science Reviews, 29, 86-100


• Timmermann, A., L. Menviel, Y. Okumura, A. Schilla, U. Merkel, O. Timm, A. Hu, B. Otto-Bliesner, and M. Schulz, 2010: Towards a quantitative understanding of millennial-scale Antarctic warming events, Quaternary Science Reviews, 29, 74-85


• Fraile, I., M. Schulz, S. Mulitza, U. Merkel, M. Prange, and A. Paul, 2009: Modeling the seasonal distribution of planktonic foraminifera during the Last Glacial Maximum, Paleoceanography, 24, No. 2, doi:10.1029/2008PA001686


• Zheng, W., P. Braconnot, E. Guilyardi, U. Merkel, and Y. Yu, 2008: ENSO at 6ka and 21ka from ocean-atmosphere coupled simulations, Climate Dynamics, 30, 7-8, 745-762, doi:10.1007/s00382-007-0320-3


• Braconnot, P., B. Otto-Bliesner, S. Harrison, S. Joussaume, J.-Y. Peterschmitt, A. Abe-Ouchi, M. Crucifix, E. Driesschaert, Th. Fichefet, C. D. Hewitt, M. Kageyama, A. Kitoh, A. Lainé, O. Marti, U. Merkel, G. Ramstein, P. Valdes, S. L. Weber, Y. Yu, and Y. Zhao, 2007: Results of PMIP2 coupled simulations of the Mid-Holocene and Last Glacial Maximum - Part 1: experiments and large-scale features, Climate of the Past, 3, 261-277


• Braconnot, P., B. Otto-Bliesner, S. Harrison, S. Joussaume, J.-Y. Peterschmitt, A. Abe-Ouchi, M. Crucifix, E. Driesschaert, Th. Fichefet, C. D. Hewitt, M. Kageyama, A. Kitoh, M.-F. Loutre, O. Marti, U. Merkel, G. Ramstein, P. Valdes, S. L. Weber, Y. Yu, and Y. Zhao, 2007: Results of PMIP2 coupled simulations of the Mid-Holocene and Last Glacial Maximum - Part 2: feedbacks with emphasis on the location of the ITCZ and mid- and high latitudes heat budget, Climate of the Past, 3, 279-296


• Justino, F., A. Timmermann, U. Merkel, and W. R. Peltier, 2006: An initial intercomparison of atmospheric and oceanic climatology for the ICE-5G and ICE-4G models of LGM paleotopography, J. Climate, 19,  3-14.


• Masson-Delmotte, V., M. Kageyama, P. Braconnot, S. Charbit, G. Krinner, C. Ritz, E. Guilyardi, J. Jouzel,  A. Abe-Ouchi, M. Crucifix, R. M. Gladstone, C. D. Hewitt, A. Kitoh, A. N. LeGrande, O. Marti, U. Merkel, T. Motoi, R. Ohgaito, B. Otto-Bliesner, W. R. Peltier, I. Ross, P. J. Valdes, G. Vettoretti, S. L. Weber, F. Wolk, and Y. Yu, 2005: Past and future polar amplifications of climate change: climate model intercomparisons and ice-core constraints, Climate Dynamics, DOI 10.1007/s00382-005-0081-9.


• Justino, F., A. Timmermann, U. Merkel, and E. P. Souza, 2005: Synoptic reorganization of atmospheric flow during the Last Glacial Maximum, J. Climate, 18, 2826-2846.


• Merkel, U., and M. Latif (2002): A High Resolution AGCM Study of the El Niño Impact on the North Atlantic/European Sector, Geophysical Research Letters, 29(9), 10.1029/2001GL013726, 2002 (PDF Download)

Other publications:

• Merkel, U., M. Prange, M. Schulz (2010): How did tropical Pacific interannual variability and teleconnections change during glacial climates?, GeoDarmstadt2010 - Geowissenschaften sichern Zukunft, Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, Heft 68, 389


• Prange, M., U. Merkel, and M. Schulz (2008): Modellierung känozoischer Klimazustände, HLRN - Norddeutscher Verbund für Höchstleistungsrechnen, Newsletter, Nr. 5, Juni 2008, 2-4


• Merkel, U. (2003): ENSO teleconnections in high resolution AGCM experiments (Abstract), Dissertation, Universität Hamburg, Also available as MPI-Examensreport No. 93 from Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Bundesstr. 53, 20146 Hamburg


• Merkel, U., and M. Latif (2002): The ENSO impact on the North Atlantic/European sector as simulated by high resolution ECHAM4 experiments, Clivar Newsletter Exchanges, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 6-7 (PDF Download)


• Merkel, U., and M. Latif (2001): A High Resolution AGCM Study of the El Niño Impact on the North Atlantic/European Sector, Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Report No. 325 (Abstract, PDF version)


• Merkel, U. (1998): Die Sensitivität der Atmosphäre bezüglich extratropischer SST-Anomalien (The atmospheric response to extratropical sea surface temperature anomalies, Abstract), Diplomarbeit, Universität Hamburg

Top of page

Presentations

Talks:

• "Tropical dynamics of the glacial atmosphere", 4 February 2011, GEOMOD seminar, Bremen


• "How did tropical Pacific interannual variability and teleconnections change during glacial climates?", 12 October 2010, GeoDarmstadt 2010, Darmstadt (U. Merkel, M. Prange, M. Schulz)


• "Paleo-climate modelling - learning lessons from the past?", 29 June 2010, 5th Scientific Computing Seminar with special emphasis on Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations in Earth Sciences, Kiel


• "ENSO variability and tropical Pacific mean-state changes in glacial climates", 4 May 2010, EGU General Assembly 2010, Vienna, Austria (U. Merkel, M. Prange, M. Schulz)


• "Atmospheric dynamics and teleconnections during glacial climates", 4 February 2010, OC3 Meeting, MARUM, Bremen


• "Atmospheric dynamics and teleconnections during glacial climates", 3 November 2009, ADOM/PAGES-Workshop High-mid latitude northern atmospheric circulation changes during the last climate cycle, Hyères, France (U. Merkel, M. Prange, M. Schulz)


• "Teleconnections between low and high latitudes during glacial climates", 21 September 2009, MARUM Advisory Board Meeting, Bremen (U. Merkel, M. Prange, M. Schulz)


• "ENSO variability and teleconnections during glacial climates", 19-24 April 2009, EGU General Assembly 2009, Vienna, Austria (U. Merkel, M. Prange, M. Schulz)


• "Modeling the Global Monsoon System During Glacial Climate Events", 19-24 April 2009, EGU General Assembly 2009, Vienna, Austria (U. Merkel, M. Prange, M. Schulz)


• "Glacial climate as simulated by a comprehensive climate model", FB 1 Ocean circulation and Climate Dynamics Seminar, 30 June 2008, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel (U. Merkel, M. Prange, M. Schulz)


• "Atmospheric circulation at the last glacial as simulated by a complex coupled general circulation model", 14-19 April 2008, EGU General Assembly 2008, Vienna, Austria (U. Merkel, M. Prange, M. Schulz)


• "West African drying triggered by glacial slowdowns of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation", 14-19 April 2008, EGU General Assembly 2008, Vienna, Austria (M. Prange, U. Merkel, S. Mulitza, J.-B. Stuut, M. Schulz)


• "Atmospheric and oceanic response to glacial boundary conditions in a comprehensive climate model", 16 January 2008, RCOM Research Area A "Oceans and Climate" Meeting, Bremen (U. Merkel, M. Prange, M. Schulz)


• "Sensitivity of the African monsoon to glacial boundary conditions in a comprehensive climate model", 13-16 November 2007, MARUM Workshop: Response of North African ecosystems to abrupt climate change, MARUM, Bremen (U. Merkel, M. Prange, M. Schulz)


• "Sensitivity of the African Monsoon to glacial boundary conditions in a comprehensive climate model", 1-5 October 2007, International Conference and 97th Annual Meeting of the Geologische Vereinigung (GV) "The Oceans in the Earth System", Bremen (U. Merkel, M. Prange, M. Schulz)


• "Seasonal changes in Holocene and Last Interglacial Monsoon climate: Evidence from Seychelles corals", 2-7 April 2006, EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria (J. Zinke, M. Pfeiffer, U. Merkel, H. Renssen, C. Gerber, W.-C. Dullo, M. Latif, and G. R. Davies)


• "Paleo climate simulations within the EU project MOTIF", November 2005, Réunion d'équipe, Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE), Gif-sur-Yvette, France


• "Paleo climate simulations within MOTIF: The long way to a coupled GCM simulation of the LGM", November 2005, MOTIF project meeting, Istituto di Scienze Marine, Venice, Italy


• "Paleo climate simulations within the EU project MOTIF: Tropical Pacific Variability at 6K", November 2005, MOTIF project meeting, Istituto di Scienze Marine, Venice, Italy


• "Status quo of MOTIF activities at IFM-GEOMAR and MPI", 4-8 October 2004, MOTIF project meeting, MetOffice, Exeter, UK


• "Paleo climate modelling - learning from the past", 24 September 2004, Scientific Advisory Board Meeting, Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften, Kiel


• "High resolution AGCM experiments on present and future climate ENSO teleconnections", November 2003, START International Young Scientists' Global Change Conference, Trieste, Italy


• "The role of transient eddies in determining the atmospheric ENSO response", 6-11 April 2003, EGS-AGU-EUG Joint Assembly, Nice, France


• "ENSO teleconnections in high resolution AGCM experiments", May 2003, SFB 460 Seminar, Institute for Marine Research, Kiel


• "ENSO teleconnections as simulated by high resolution ECHAM4 experiments", December 2002, MPI Seminar Series, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg


• "El Niño, die stärkste kurzfristige Klimaschwankung", November 2002, MPI Board of Trustees Meeting, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg


• "Transient eddies and the atmospheric response to ENSO in high resolution ECHAM4 experiments", September 2002, MPI-Klausurtagung der Abt. Physikal. Klimasystem, Rissen


• "ENSO und NAO oder Hat der tropische Pazifik einen Einfluss auf die NAO und Europa?", Januar 2002, SFB 512 Workshop, Institute for Marine Research, University of Hamburg


• "A high resolution AGCM study on the ENSO impact on extratropical and tropical cyclones with focus on the North Atlantic", March 2001, EGS XXVI General Assembly, Nice, France


• "NAO and ENSO teleconnections or Are European climate fluctuations predictable from SST?", March 2001, Joint Workshop IPSL-MPI, Rissen


• "The impact of ENSO on tropical and extratropical storms as simulated by high resolution ECHAM4 experiments'', February 2001, MPI-Klausurtagung der Abt. Physikal. Klimasystem, Rissen


• "Global ENSO impacts as simulated by a high resolution atmospheric GCM", September 2000, Conference on Nonlinear Phenomena in Global Climate Dynamics at ICTP, Trieste, Italy


• "ENSO teleconnections and the impact of ENSO on the North Atlantic/European sector", April 2000, EGS XXV General Assembly, Nice, France


• "ENSO teleconnections and the impact of ENSO on the North Atlantic/European sector", October 1999, COACH Fall Meeting, Kapellerput, The Netherlands

Posters:

• DUSTSPEC Workshop: Dust Records For A Changing World, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, USA, 24-26 May 2010: "Modelling glacial aerosol transport" (U. Merkel, M. Prange, M. Schulz)


• North Cluster Meeting, Wissenschaftszentrum Kiel, 8-9 October 2009: "ENSO and ENSO teleconnections during glacial climates" (U. Merkel, M. Prange, M. Schulz)


• EGU General Assembly 2009, Vienna, Austria, 19-25 April 2009: "Solar-induced shifts of the Southern Hemisphere westerly wind belt" (V. Varma, M. Prange, F. Lamy, U. Merkel, M. Schulz)


• AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, USA, 15-19 December 2008: "Modeling the Global Monsoon System During Glacial Climate" (U. Merkel, M. Prange, and M. Schulz)


• 9th International Conference on Paleoceanography - The Future Ocean: Perspectives from the past, Shanghai, China, 3-7 September 2007: "Sensitivity of monsoon systems to glacial boundary conditions in a comprehensive climate model" (U. Merkel, M. Prange, and M. Schulz)


• Second International Conference on Earth System Modelling, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg, 27-31 August 2007: "Sensitivity studies on glacial climate using a complex general circulation model" (U. Merkel, M. Prange, and M. Schulz)


• Second International Conference on Earth System Modelling, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg, 27-31 August 2007: "ENSO at 6 ka and 21 ka from Ocean-Atmosphere Coupled Model Simulations" (W. Zheng, P. Braconnot, E. Guilyardi, U. Merkel, and Y. Yu)


• IODP Topical Symposium "North Atlantic and Arctic Climate Variability", MARUM, Bremen, 15-16 August 2007: "North Atlantic Climate Response to Last Glacial Boundary Conditions in Comprehensive Model Simulations" (U. Merkel, M. Prange, and M. Schulz)


• EGU General Assembly 2007, Vienna, Austria, 15-20 April 2007: "ENSO at 6ka and 21ka from ocean-atmosphere coupled model simulations" (W. Zheng, P. Braconnot, E. Guilyardi, U. Merkel, and Y. Yu)


• EGU General Assembly 2006, Vienna, Austria, 2-7 April 2006: "On ENSO teleconnections in PMIP2/MOTIF model simulations" (U. Merkel, P. Braconnot, and M. Latif)


• IFM-GEOMAR Evaluation by Scientific Advisory Board, Kiel, September 2005: "Paleo Climate Modelling at IFM-GEOMAR" (U. Merkel, S. Flögel, M. Latif, and S. Renner)


• EGU General Assembly 2005, Vienna, Austria, 24-29 April 2005: "The impact of ice sheet topography on the glacial atmosphere: An intercomparison of results for the ICE-5G and ICE-4G models" (F. Justino, A. Timmermann, U. Merkel, and W. R. Peltier)


• EGU General Assembly 2005, Vienna, Austria, 24-29 April 2005: "The sensitivity to Last Glacial Maximum boundary conditions in ECHAM5 simulations" (U. Merkel, S. Renner, and M. Latif)


• International PMIP2 Workshop, Giens, France, 3-8 April 2005: "Tropical Pacific climate and variability during the Mid-Holocene" (U. Merkel, M. Latif, J. Jungclaus, and C. Gerber)


• International PMIP2 Workshop, Giens, France, 3-8 April 2005: "The sensitivity of the ECHAM5 model to glacial boundary conditions and horizontal model resolution" (U. Merkel, S. Renner, and M. Latif)


• DEKLIM-EEM-Konferenz, Mainz, 7-11 March 2005: "Tropical Pacific climate and variability during the Mid-Holocene"


• XVIèmes Rencontres de Blois "Challenges in the Climate Sciences", Blois, France, 24-28 May 2004: "The Role of Transient Eddies in Determining the Atmospheric Response to ENSO"


• International Conference on Earth System Modelling, Hamburg, 15-19 September 2003: "The Role of Transient Eddies in Determining the Atmospheric ENSO Response" (U. Merkel, and M. Latif)


• Parlamentarischer Abend, 10. Mai 2000, Berlin: Meeresforschung im nächsten Jahrzehnt


• EXPO 2000 - Projekt des Max-Planck-Instituts für Meteorologie: "Auswirkungen menschlichen Handelns auf das Klima" - Das El Niño/Southern Oscillation-Phänomen (deutsch)

EXPO 2000 - project of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology: "Impact of Human Activities on the Climate" - The El Niño/Southern Oscillation-Phenomenon (english)

Top of page

Teaching Experience

• Introduction to Meteorology I and II, Practical Exercises
• ECOLMAS Course "Introduction to Climate Modelling" (Part: Modelling the atmosphere using complex general circulation models)

Top of page

Curriculum Vitae

Top of page

Memberships

• Deutsche Meteorologische Gesellschaft (DMG)
• European Geophysical Union (EGU)

Top of page