Gabriele Hegerl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gabriele Hegerl
FRS FRSE
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Hegerl in 2018
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| Born |
Gabriele Clarissa Hegerl
9 January 1962 Munich, Germany
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| Alma mater | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich |
| Spouse(s) |
Thomas Crowley
(died) |
| Children | 2 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Climate science |
| Institutions | |
| Thesis | Numerische Lösung der kompressiblen zweidimensionalen Navier-Stokes-Gleichungen in einem zeitabhängigen Gebiet mit Hilfe energievermindernder Randbedingungen (1991) |
Gabriele Clarissa Hegerl (born January 9, 1962) is a German scientist who studies Earth's climate. She is a professor of climate system science at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Before 2007, she worked at Texas A&M University and Duke University in the United States. She also helped write important reports for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Gabriele Hegerl was born in Munich, Germany, on January 9, 1962. She studied at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. In 1991, she earned her PhD, which is a very high university degree. Her research focused on solving complex math problems related to how fluids move.
Understanding Climate Change
Professor Hegerl's work helps us understand how Earth's climate naturally changes. She also studies how human activities and natural events affect the climate. This includes looking at things like greenhouse gas emissions (gases that trap heat) and the effects of volcanic eruptions.
She has done important research on why our climate is changing today. Her studies show that human activities, like releasing greenhouse gases, are a big reason for these changes.
Studying Climate Sensitivity
In 2006, Professor Hegerl led a study about "climate sensitivity." This term describes how much the Earth's temperature might rise if carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere doubles. Some studies had suggested very high temperature increases.
Her team used computer models to look at how temperatures changed in the past. They compared these models to historical climate records. This helped them estimate that climate sensitivity is likely within a certain range. Her work showed that past climate changes had a lot of natural ups and downs.
Contributing to IPCC Reports
Professor Hegerl was a lead author for the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report. The IPCC is a group of scientists from around the world who study climate change. They write reports to help governments understand the science.
Her 2006 study was used in these reports. It supported the idea that the 20th century was probably the warmest period in the Northern Hemisphere for over 1,300 years. She also helped review past temperature records. In 2007, her team found that recent temperatures are much higher than any seen in the last 1,000 years.
Awards and Recognition
Professor Hegerl has received many honors for her scientific work.
- In 2013, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE).
- In 2017, she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). These are very respected scientific groups in the United Kingdom.
- In 2018, Leeds University gave her an honorary Doctor of Science degree.
- In 2016, she won the Hans Sigrist Prize. This award recognized her important work on how humans are affecting the Earth's climate system.
- In 2018, she also joined the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.
Personal Life
Gabriele Hegerl was married to Thomas Crowley, who later passed away. She has two sons, born in 2000 and 2003.
See also
In Spanish: Gabriele C. Hegerl para niños
