LabEx Institut Pierre Simon Laplace (IPSL): Understand climate and anticipate future changes

The L-IPSL LABEX funding period in 2018 covers from January to August. During this period the L-IPSL has continued to develop a number of actions in research, innovation and training actions.

Research Axis:

Four major research axes were developed in 2018: (i) investigation of abrupt and large change of climate in paleo records from observation and modeling, (ii) understanding of 20th century climate, (iii) investigation of the emergence of impacts and associated uncertainties and (iv) climate modeling. The L-IPSL has been cited in 126 publications. It has allowed the invitation of two foreign high-level scientists. A major achievement in 2018 is the development of a new global climate model, which is used in the current CMIP6 international model intercomparison project. The L-IPSL has fostered the development of new projects such as an ERC project on volcanism and climate, and strengthened the IPSL community in climate studies.

Education:

Major achievements in the Education axis of L-IPSL included the organization of a week of field-work for undergraduate students, the production of e-learning contents (MOOC, teaching kits, e-python practical works), the support to emblematic communication actions such as "les messagers du climat", the realisation of a professional training session, and the improvements of the orientation platform on climate masters in Ile-de-France.

Innovation and Transfer of expertise:

The L-IPSL has achieved major steps in the development of climate services, contributing significantly to the national endeavor on climate services “DRIAS”, completing three projects of transfer of models or knowledge to three SMEs and developing participation to the Copernicus Climate Change Service. L-IPSL has impulsed a national project for the development of climate services funded by the French Ministry for the Ecological and Solidary Transition. The revisit of the unique SIRTA atmospheric observation database was undertaken.