The Radiation and Remote Sensing of Atmospheres working group led by Prof Dr Kerstin Schepanski focuses on the atmospheric life cycle of natural aerosols, in particular mineral dust. Mineral dust are tiny mineral soil particles that are entrained into the atmosphere by wind. Suspended in the atmosphere, mineral dust particles interact with radiation ultimately  influencing the radiation balance and atmospheric dynamics.

The working group deals with various questions concerning the input of mineral dust into the atmosphere in different source regions such as the hot and cold deserts on Earth or Mars, optical properties of dust particles and their interactions with radiation, and the variability of deposition fluxes. In the working group we combine numerical modelling, satellite remote sensing and measuring instruments.