1998 Diploma in Meteorology from the University of Hamburg

2001 Doctorate in Natural Sciences from the Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg

2001 – 2005 University of Hamburg, working on projects BALTIMOS (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285401195_BALTIMOS-a_coupled_modelling_system_for_the_Baltic_Sea_and_its_drainage_basin) , and the Arctic Climate System Study (ACSYS).

2005 – present Atmospheric and Climate scientist at the British Antarctic Survey

Research interests

Polar meteorology

Boundary layer meteorology

Surface energy balance

Atmosphere – Ice – Sea ice interactions

Climate processes

Cloud microphysics

Collaborations

University of Leeds

University of East Anglia

University of Manchester

Institute for Marine and Atmsopheric Sciences, Utrecht

LATMOS, Paris

TROPOS, Leipzig

Other refereed publications

2005:

• Brümmer, B.; Kirchgäßner, A.; Müller, G., 2005: The atmospheric boundary layer over the Baltic Sea ice. Boundary Layer  Meteorology, 117, 91 – 109
• Mayer, H.; Holst, T.; Brugger, U. and Kirchgäßner, A., 2005: Trends der forstlich relevanten Klimavariablen Lufttemperatur und Niederschlag im Südwesten Deutschlands von 1950 bis 2000. Allg. Jagd- u. Forstzeitschrift 176 (2/3): 45-56

2003:

• Brümmer, B.; Müller, G.; Schröder, D.; Kirchgäßner, A.; Launiainen, J.; Vihma, T., 2003: The eight BALTIMOS field experiments 1998 – 2001 over the Baltic Sea: Field reports and examples of measurements. International BALTEX Secretariat Publication No. 24, pp.138
• Holst, T.; Hauser, S.; Kirchgäßner, A.; Matzarakis, A.; Mayer, H.; Schindler, D. and Spiecker, H., 2003:  Measuring and modelling Plant Area Index in beech stands. International Journal of Biometeorology, 48 (4): 192-201

2002:

• Kirchgäßner, A., Schröder, D., Vihma, T., Brümmer, B., 2002: Aircraft measurements over broken sea ice. Proceedings of the 16th International Symposium on Ice. Dunedin (NZ), 2.-6.12.2002, Volume III, p.254

2001

• Kirchgäßner, A., 2001: Phänoklimatologie von Buchenwäldern im Südwesten der Schwäbischen Alb. Ber. Meteor. Inst. Univ. Freiburg; 7

2000

• Brümmer, B.; Thiemann, S.; Kirchgäßner, A., 2000: A cyclone statistics for the Arctic based on European Centre re-analysis data. Meteorol. Atmos. Phys. 75, 233 – 250
• Kirchgäßner, A.; Mayer, H., 2000: Phänoklimatologie von Rotbuchen (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Südwestdeutschland. Ber. Meteor. Inst. Univ. Freiburg; 5: 111 – 122

Non-refereed publications

• Chance, R., et al., 2014: Aerosol, clouds and climate in the Arctic, Ocean Challenge, Vol 20.
• Brümmer, B.; Kirchgäßner, A., 2005: Validation of Water and Energy Cycle Components in a Model Column over the Open and Ice-covered Baltic Sea Using Ship and Aircraft Data. German Climate Research Programme. Proceedings of the DEKLIM Final Seminar, Leipzig. 10.-12.5.2005
• Kirchgäßner, A.; Eriksson, P., et al., 2004: Arctic Boundary Layer and Sea Ice Interaction Study. In: Reports on Polar and Marine Research 481, pp. 63-67.
• Brümmer, B.; Kirchgäßner, A., 2003: Validation of Water and Energy Cycle Components in a Model Column over the Open and Ice-covered Baltic Sea Using Ship and Aircraft Data.. German Climate Research Programme. Proceedings of the DEKLIM Status Seminar, Bad Münstereifel. 6.-8.10.2003
• Kirchgäßner, A. 1998: Zyklonen über der Arktis, Diplomarbeit an der Universität Hamburg im Fach Meteorologie

Publications from NERC Open Research Archive

• Frey, M., Wagner, D., Kirchgaessner, A., Uttal, T., & Shupe, M. (2023). Atmospheric snow particle flux in the Central Arctic during MOSAiC 2019-20 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/7d8e401b-2c75-4ee4-a753-c24b7e91e6e9

• Brooks, I., Carpenter, L., & Kirchgaessner, A. (2015). Data from the ACCACIA – Aerosol-Cloud Coupling And Climate Interactions in the Arctic project (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00821

• Anderson, P., King, J., Lachlan-Cope, T., Orr, A., Marshall, G., Kirchgaessner, A., & Smith, V. (2012). Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model output for Larsen Ice Shelf at 4km resolution (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00591

• Anderson, P., King, J., Lachlan-Cope, T., Marshall, G., Orr, A., & Kirchgaessner, A. (2012). Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model output for Larsen Ice Shelf at 1km resolution (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00592

• Anderson, P., King, J., Lachlan-Cope, T., Marshall, G., Orr, A., & Kirchgaessner, A. (2012). Surface Energy Budget (SEB) measurements of the snowpack taken at Larsen camp, Larsen C Ice Shelf, Jan 2011 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00590

• King, J., Anderson, P., Orr, A., Marshall, G., Lachlan-Cope, T., & Kirchgaessner, A. (2012). Larsen Ice Shelf Unified Model (UM) output run at 4km resolution (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00593

• King, J., Anderson, P., Lachlan-Cope, T., Orr, A., Marshall, G., & Kirchgaessner, A. (2012). Larsen Ice Shelf Unified Model (UM) output run at 1.5km resolution (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00594

1. Antarctic surface mass and energy exchanges

   SURFEIT unites UK and international scientists to study Antarctic ice and atmosphere interactions, improve sea-level projections, and support climate action.

   Read more of: Antarctic surface mass and energy exchanges

   

2. Southern Ocean Clouds

   Southern Ocean Clouds improves climate models by studying cloud processes over the Southern Ocean to reduce global prediction errors. 

   Read more of: Southern Ocean Clouds

   

3. Measuring shipping emissions in the Arctic

   SEANA is a NERC-funded project, led by Dr Zongbo Shi (U. Birmingham) that aims to define the baseline atmosphere and model potential future changes.

   Read more of: Measuring shipping emissions in the Arctic

   

4. Sea salt aerosols and Arctic climate

   SSAASI-CLIM attempts to determine the salt sea aerosol source, fate and potential impact on Arctic climate associated with blowing snow above sea ice and other sea ice sources.

   Read more of: Sea salt aerosols and Arctic climate

   

5. Orographic Flows and the Climate of the Antarctic Peninsula (OFCAP)

   OFCAP was an integrated programme of field observations, analysis and modelling aimed at understanding how the westerly winds in the Antarctic Peninsula influence the climate.

   Read more of: Orographic Flows and the Climate of the Antarctic Peninsula (OFCAP)

   

6. Microphysics of Antarctic Clouds NE

   This project conducted flights within clouds taking detailed measurements of the physical properties of the cloud – size spectrums and phase (whether the particles are ice or liquid) – as well as taking ground based measurements of the aerosols which will act as nuclei for the cloud particles.

   Read more of: Microphysics of Antarctic Clouds NE

   

SSAASI-CLIM Seasalt Aerosol above the Arctic Sea Ice, sources, processes and climate impact: http://gotw.nerc.ac.uk/list_full.asp?pcode=NE%2FS00257X%2F1&cookieConsent=A

BALTIMOS: BALTEX Integral Model Study (http://www.borenv.net/BER/pdfs/ber7/ber7-371.pdf)

ACSYS: Arctic Climate SYStem Study (https://www2.meteo.uni-bonn.de/projekte/acsys/)

1. Blog: The only woman in seminars

   British Antarctic Survey scientist Dr Amelié Kirchgaessner shares her journey in polar science for International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021 (11 Feb). My name is Amelié Kirchgaessner, […]

   Read more of: Blog: The only woman in seminars

   

1. Cloud scientists take to the skies to solve climate uncertainty

   A project looking at how clouds affect climate change in Antarctica starts its second year of field research this month. The Southern Ocean Clouds (SOC) project, which is part of the CloudSense programme, will carry out research on the RRS Sir David Attenborough and at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica.

   Read more of: Cloud scientists take to the skies to solve climate uncertainty

   

2. Deep insight into Arctic from MOSAiC expedition

   New research papers from the one-year MOSAiC expedition to study the Arctic have yielded new understanding about the region. Hundreds of international researchers are currently analysing observations from the MOSAiC […]

   Read more of: Deep insight into Arctic from MOSAiC expedition

   

3. Celebrating International Women’s Day

   On International Women’s Day (8 March 2021), we mark and celebrate women working at British Antarctic Survey (BAS). We showcase the diversity of roles and specialities of those working in […]

   Read more of: Celebrating International Women’s Day

   

4. International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2020

   The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is organised by UNESCO and UN-Women to promote full and equal access and participation in science for women and girls. The United […]

   Read more of: International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2020

   

5. Celebrating International Day of Women & Girls in Science

   International Day of Women and Girls in Science today (11 February) is a celebration of women and girls in science and is organised by UNESCO and UN-Women. To mark this […]

   Read more of: Celebrating International Day of Women & Girls in Science

   

• Member, International Committee for Polar Meteorology
• Member, American Meteorological Society
• STEM Ambassador, STEMNET
• Fellow, Royal Meteorological Society
• Member, Deutsche Meteorologische Gesellschaft
• Member, Earth Science Women's Network