1. Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
A PRESENTATION OF THE
Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
“The aim of the Bjerknes Centre is to understand and quantify the climate system for the benefit of society”

2. An umbrella organisation gathering the four
major institutions in climate research in Bergen:
University of Bergen
UNI Research AS
Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center
Institute of Marine Research
Co-located with the Geophysical Institute, UiB
the historical building that since housed the
Bergen School of Meteorology since 1928

3. Vilhelm F. K. Bjerknes Jacob A. B. Bjerknes (1897-1975)
( )
The father of modern Meteorology
Founder of the Bergen School of Meteorology ( )
Jacob A. B. Bjerknes ( )
Bergen is the home of the founding father of the Bergen School of meteorology. Both Vilhem Bjerknes and his son Jack laid the basis for modern weather forecasting as well as research on climate change and the role of the oean in the climate system. The Centre is thus named after them, as a tribute to their visionary efforts.
Norwegian Cyclone Model (1917)
Atlantic air – sea interaction (1964)
El Nino – Southern Oscillation (1969)

4. Started as a Norwegian Centre of Excellence 2003-2012
Started as a Norwegian Centre of Excellence Now funded directly by the government until 2021
Basic research on past, present and future climates
Unique expertise and interdisciplinarity: Meteorology, physical and chemical oceanography, mathematics, biogeochemistry, palaeoclimates, paleobotany, marine biology & modelling
……. combining observations, theory and modeling

5. Coordination: the national effort on the building and maintenance of the Norwegian Earth System Model
Education: national research training of future generation of scientists in climate dynamics in Norway
Internationalization: 190 scientists from 32 nationalities. Recruits from top institutions. Largest Nordic climate research centre, among the top-five in Europe

6. Scientists from 32 countries
SWEDEN (3)
FINLAND (1)
SWITZERLAND (1)
DENMARK (1)
AUSTRIA (1)
BELGIUM(1)
ICELAND (1)
USA (9)
CANADA (3)
BRAZIL (1)
Norway
Germany
China UK
Russia
USA
France
Netherlands 6
rest shown on the map

7. SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
RG1: Climate model development and projections
RG2: Climate predictions from global to regional scales
RG3: Carbon cycle and biogeochemistry
RG4: Large-scale atmosphere-ocean dynamics
RG5: Atmosphere, cryosphere and ocean processes
RG6: Natural climate variability –extending the inst. records
RG7: Past climate dynamics - from greenhouse to icehouse
LEADER GROUP
BOARD
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
DIRECTOR
SECRETARIAT
Research Groups (RGs)

8. Basic funding + Project income
Total income 2014: 118 MNOK (14 M€)

9. Strategic projects 2015-2018 BASIC - Boundary Layer in the Arctic
BIGCHANGE Biogeochemical change and detection
FRESHWATER – From shelf to ocean interior
INCREASE – Northern European and Arctic sea level
MARGIN – Glacial and atmospheric dynamics
MEDEVAC – Multidecadal variability
PARADIGM – Prediction and regional downscaling
WACYEX – Water cycle extremes

10. 150 publications in 2014 Science, 8 Jan 2014
Nature communications, 11 Sep 2014
Nature, 17 Sep 2014
Nature geoscience, 28 Sep 2014

11. Policy relevant
Contribution to IPCC, special reports, …
Climate forcast
Advisory body

13. Decadal climate forecasts
Årthun m.fl. (2012)

14. ADVISORY BODY CLIMATE CHNGE AND IMPACTS IN NORWAY (NORKLIMA)
”Education of ministers”
Participation in policy-oriented activities
Outreach: mass media (newspapers, TV, radio), schools, blogs, etc.
CLIMATE CHNGE AND IMPACTS IN NORWAY (NORKLIMA)
Labor Party´s
Climate Panel