The topic of this project are the coupled atmosphere-ocean-sea-ice models that are used in climate modelling and numerical weather prediction. We investigate their mathematical properties and their numerical formulation.

The first goal of this project is the formulation of a hierarchy of coupled models that rest on rigorous mathematical analysis. Guiding questions are well-posedness of these models, the regularity of the solutions and the compatibility of the models with the first and second law of thermodynamics. 

The second goal of this project is the compatible discretization of the hierarchy of coupled models by means of structure-preserving numerical methods. The discrete models will be implemented and evaluated in numerical simulations by comparing it with established models.  The software environment for this project will be the ICON modelling framework. ICON is the joint development of a common model for numerical weather prediction and climate science between the Max-Planck Institute for Meteorology and the German-Weather Service DWD.