Michael Lehning

Lehning received a Diploma in geo-ecology from the University of Bayreuth and a Master's degree in atmospheric sciences at University of California, Davis both in 1993.{{Cite journal|last1=Lehning|first1=Michael|last2=Shonnard|first2=David R.|last3=Chang|first3=Daniel P.Y.|last4=Bell|first4=Richard L.|date=October 1994|title=An Inversion Algorithm for Determining Area-Source Emissions from Downwind Concentration Measurements|journal=Air & Waste|language=en|volume=44|issue=10|pages=1204–1213|doi=10.1080/10473289.1994.10467315|pmid=7812684|issn=1073-161X|doi-access=free}} He pursued post-graduate studies in statistics and a PhD in atmospheric physics and graduated in 1996 from ETH Zürich with a thesis on "Transport processes and regional pollutant budgets over topography of varying complexity" supervised by Albert Waldvogel.{{Cite thesis|title=Transport processes and regional pollutant budgets over topography of varying complexity|url=https://www.research-collection.ethz.ch/handle/20.500.11850/142941|publisher=ETH Zurich|date=1996|degree=Doctoral Thesis|doi=10.3929/ethz-a-001747101|language=en|first=Michael|last=Lehning|hdl=20.500.11850/142941 }}

In 1997, he became a scientific collaborator at the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) of the WSL located in Davos, Switzerland.{{Cite journal|last1=Lehning|first1=Michael|last2=Doorschot|first2=Judith|last3=Bartelt|first3=Perry|date=2000|title=A snowdrift index based on SNOWPACK model calculations|journal=Annals of Glaciology|language=en|volume=31|pages=382–386|doi=10.3189/172756400781819770|bibcode=2000AnGla..31..382L|s2cid=140172806|issn=0260-3055|doi-access=free}} In 2001 he became head of the research and development team on Process Models, and from 2006 to 2018 he was head of the research unit on Snow and Permafrost.{{Cite web|title=Prof. Dr. Michael Lehning – Mitarbeitende – SLF|url=https://www.slf.ch/de/mitarbeitende/lehning.html|access-date=2021-02-22|website=www.slf.ch|language=de-CH}}{{Cite web|title=Jahresbericht der Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL|url=https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl%3A16718/datastream/PDF/Eidg._Forschungsanstalt_WSL-2012-Jahresbericht_der_Eidg._Forschungsanstalt_WSL_2011-%28published_version%29.pdf|website=WSL}}

Since 2011 he has been a full professor at the EPFL and the head of the Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences at EPFL's School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering. Since 2018 he also been head of the group Snow Processes at SLF. Since 2021, he is co-director of the UNIL-EPFL center for climate action CLIMACT.{{Cite journal|last=Buluschek|first=Marie-Christine|date=16 February 2021|title=Development of CLIMACT Center|url=https://actu.epfl.ch/news/development-of-climact-center/|language=en}}

Lehning's research is focussed on snow processes and snow atmosphere interactions. This includes advancing the understanding of fluid dynamics of drifting and blowing snow,{{Cite journal|last1=Comola|first1=F.|last2=Gaume|first2=J.|last3=Kok|first3=J. F.|last4=Lehning|first4=M.|date=21 May 2019|title=Cohesion-Induced Enhancement of Aeolian Saltation|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2019gl082195|journal=Geophysical Research Letters|volume=46|issue=10|pages=5566–5574|doi=10.1029/2019gl082195|bibcode=2019GeoRL..46.5566C |s2cid=155516888 |issn=0094-8276}} and generating advanced snow models, which can be used to assess and predict changes in surface mass balance of our snow and ice surfaces. In this context, he coined the term Preferential Deposition{{Cite journal|last1=Lehning|first1=M.|last2=Löwe|first2=H.|last3=Ryser|first3=M.|last4=Raderschall|first4=N.|date=July 2008|title=Inhomogeneous precipitation distribution and snow transport in steep terrain: SNOW DRIFT AND INHOMOGENEOUS PRECIPITATION|url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.1029/2007WR006545|journal=Water Resources Research|language=en|volume=44|issue=7|doi=10.1029/2007WR006545|s2cid=128856304 }} to describe the process that leads to uneven precipitation distribution in mountains. This allows for a improved assessment of avalanche danger,{{Cite journal|last1=Rütte|first1=F.|last2=Kahl|first2=A.|last3=Rohrer|first3=J.|last4=Lehning|first4=M.|date=16 August 2021|title=How Forward-Scattering Snow and Terrain Change the Alpine Radiation Balance With Application to Solar Panels|journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres|language=en|volume=126|issue=15|doi=10.1029/2020JD034333|bibcode=2021JGRD..12634333V |s2cid=237691527 |issn=2169-897X|doi-access=free|hdl=11475/22957|hdl-access=free}} estimating the future of snow, hydropower and stream temperatures,{{Cite journal|last1=Bavay|first1=Mathias|last2=Lehning|first2=Michael|last3=Jonas|first3=Tobias|last4=Löwe|first4=Henning|date=1 January 2009|title=Simulations of future snow cover and discharge in Alpine headwater catchments|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hyp.7195|journal=Hydrological Processes|language=en|volume=23|issue=1|pages=95–108|doi=10.1002/hyp.7195|bibcode=2009HyPr...23...95B |s2cid=129486703 }}{{Cite journal|last1=Marty|first1=Christoph|last2=Schlögl|first2=Sebastian|last3=Bavay|first3=Mathias|last4=Lehning|first4=Michael|date=16 February 2017|title=How much can we save? Impact of different emission scenarios on future snow cover in the Alps|url=https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/11/517/2017/|journal=The Cryosphere|language=en|volume=11|issue=1|pages=517–529|doi=10.5194/tc-11-517-2017|bibcode=2017TCry...11..517M |issn=1994-0424 |doi-access=free }}{{Cite journal|last1=Michel|first1=Adrien|last2=Sharma|first2=Varun|last3=Lehning|first3=Michael|last4=Huwald|first4=Hendrik|date=May 2021|title=Climate change scenarios at hourly time-step over Switzerland from an enhanced temporal downscaling approach|journal=International Journal of Climatology|language=en|volume=41|issue=6|pages=3503–3522|doi=10.1002/joc.7032|bibcode=2021IJCli..41.3503M |s2cid=233927677|issn=0899-8418|doi-access=free}} and finding management practices in ski areas.{{Cite journal|last1=Ebner|first1=Pirmin Philipp|last2=Koch|first2=Franziska|last3=Premier|first3=Valentina|last4=Marin|first4=Carlo|last5=Hanzer|first5=Florian|last6=Carmagnola|first6=Carlo Maria|last7=François|first7=Hugues|last8=Günther|first8=Daniel|last9=Monti|first9=Fabiano|last10=Hargoaa|first10=Olivier|last11=Strasser|first11=Ulrich|date=20 August 2021|title=Evaluating a prediction system for snow management|url=https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/15/3949/2021/|journal=The Cryosphere|language=en|volume=15|issue=8|pages=3949–3973|doi=10.5194/tc-15-3949-2021|bibcode=2021TCry...15.3949E |s2cid=233977845 |issn=1994-0424 |doi-access=free }}

Using the knowledge on wind{{Cite journal|last1=Gerber|first1=F.|last2=Lehning|first2=M.|last3=Hoch|first3=S. W.|last4=Mott|first4=R.|date=16 August 2017|title=A close-ridge small-scale atmospheric flow field and its influence on snow accumulation: LEESIDE FLOW AND SNOW ACCUMULATION|url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/2016JD026258|journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres|language=en|volume=122|issue=15|pages=7737–7754|doi=10.1002/2016JD026258|s2cid=59332819 }} and radiation{{Cite journal|last1=Rütte|first1=F.|last2=Kahl|first2=A.|last3=Rohrer|first3=J.|last4=Lehning|first4=M.|date=16 August 2021|title=How Forward-Scattering Snow and Terrain Change the Alpine Radiation Balance With Application to Solar Panels|journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres|language=en|volume=126|issue=15|doi=10.1029/2020JD034333|bibcode=2021JGRD..12634333V |s2cid=237691527 |issn=2169-897X|doi-access=free|hdl=11475/22957|hdl-access=free}} processes, Lehning has more recently contributed to investigating the potential of renewable energy installations in mountains{{Cite journal|last1=Kahl|first1=Annelen|last2=Dujardin|first2=Jérôme|last3=Lehning|first3=Michael|date=22 January 2019|title=The bright side of PV production in snow-covered mountains|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|language=en|volume=116|issue=4|pages=1162–1167|doi=10.1073/pnas.1720808116|issn=0027-8424|pmc=6347694|pmid=30617063|bibcode=2019PNAS..116.1162K |doi-access=free}} to visualise how the Swiss energy turn around could be achieved.{{Cite journal|last1=Bartlett|first1=Stuart|last2=Dujardin|first2=Jérôme|last3=Kahl|first3=Annelen|last4=Kruyt|first4=Bert|last5=Manso|first5=Pedro|last6=Lehning|first6=Michael|date=November 2018|title=Charting the course: A possible route to a fully renewable Swiss power system|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0360544218315263|journal=Energy|language=en|volume=163|pages=942–955|doi=10.1016/j.energy.2018.08.018|s2cid=115590805 |url-access=subscription}}{{Cite journal|last1=Dujardin|first1=Jérôme|last2=Kahl|first2=Annelen|last3=Lehning|first3=Michael|date=1 June 2021|title=Synergistic optimization of renewable energy installations through evolution strategy|journal=Environmental Research Letters|volume=16|issue=6|pages=064016|doi=10.1088/1748-9326/abfc75|bibcode=2021ERL....16f4016D |s2cid=235285247|issn=1748-9326|doi-access=free}}

He is the founder of spin-off companies such as APLsolut{{Cite web|title=ALPsolut.eu|url=http://www.alpsolut.eu/website/aboutus.html|access-date=2021-09-20|website=www.alpsolut.eu}} and SUNWELL.{{Cite web|title="We need a new solution for winter power"|url=https://www.axpo.com/ch/en/magazine/renewable-energy/we-need-a-new-solution-for-winter-power.html|access-date=2021-09-20|website=www.axpo.com|language=en-ch}}

In 2020, Lehning won the new research programme Swiss Energy Research for the Energy Transition (SWEET) awarded Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) that aims at the de-centralised energy supply in the Swiss energy system. The grant totals a budget of CHF 21 million, involves 15 research and more than 40 implementation partners, and runs over 6 years.{{Cite web|title=The first consortia start the new energy research programme SWEET|url=https://www.bfe.admin.ch/bfe/en/home/news-and-media/press-releases/mm-test.msg-id-82383.html|access-date=2021-09-23|website=www.bfe.admin.ch}} In 2001, Lehning received the Award for extraordinary performance in transfer of scientific knowledge to users from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research.

• {{Cite journal|last1=Bender|first1=Esther|last2=Lehning|first2=Michael|last3=Fiddes|first3=Joel|date=2020|title=Changes in Climatology, Snow Cover, and Ground Temperatures at High Alpine Locations|journal=Frontiers in Earth Science|language=English|volume=8|page=100|doi=10.3389/feart.2020.00100|bibcode=2020FrEaS...8..100B|s2cid=218582066|issn=2296-6463|doi-access=free}}<
• {{cite journal |doi=10.1029/2019gl082195|title=Cohesion-Induced Enhancement of Aeolian Saltation|year=2019|last1=Comola|first1=F.|last2=Gaume|first2=J.|last3=Kok|first3=J. F.|last4=Lehning|first4=M.|journal=Geophysical Research Letters|volume=46|issue=10|pages=5566–5574|bibcode=2019GeoRL..46.5566C|s2cid=155516888 }}
• {{Cite journal|last1=Comola|first1=F.|last2=Giometto|first2=M. G.|last3=Salesky|first3=S. T.|last4=Parlange|first4=M. B.|last5=Lehning|first5=M.|date=27 July 2019|title=Preferential Deposition of Snow and Dust Over Hills: Governing Processes and Relevant Scales|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2018JD029614|journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres|language=en|volume=124|issue=14|pages=7951–7974|doi=10.1029/2018JD029614|bibcode=2019JGRD..124.7951C |s2cid=198424482 |issn=2169-897X}}
• {{cite journal |doi=10.1175/Jhm-D-18-0055.1|title=The Importance of Near-Surface Winter Precipitation Processes in Complex Alpine Terrain|year=2019|last1=Gerber|first1=Franziska|last2=Mott|first2=Rebecca|last3=Lehning|first3=Michael|journal=Journal of Hydrometeorology|volume=20|issue=2|pages=177–196|bibcode=2019JHyMe..20..177G|s2cid=133785937 |url=https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl%3A19799|doi-access=free}}
• {{cite journal |doi=10.1073/pnas.1720808116|title=The bright side of PV production in snow-covered mountains|year=2019|last1=Kahl|first1=Annelen|last2=Dujardin|first2=Jérôme|last3=Lehning|first3=Michael|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|volume=116|issue=4|pages=1162–1167|pmid=30617063|pmc=6347694|bibcode=2019PNAS..116.1162K|doi-access=free}}
• {{Cite journal|last1=Lehning|first1=M.|last2=Löwe|first2=H.|last3=Ryser|first3=M.|last4=Raderschall|first4=N.|date=July 2008|title=Inhomogeneous precipitation distribution and snow transport in steep terrain: SNOW DRIFT AND INHOMOGENEOUS PRECIPITATION|url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.1029/2007WR006545|journal=Water Resources Research|language=en|volume=44|issue=7|doi=10.1029/2007WR006545|s2cid=128856304 }}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Google Scholar id|id=pl1G0dIAAAAJ}}
• Website of the [https://www.epfl.ch/XXXX Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences]{{Clarify|date=May 2021}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lehning, Michael}}

Category:1967 births

Category:Living people

Category:University of Bayreuth alumni

Category:University of California, Davis alumni

Category:ETH Zurich alumni

Category:Academic staff of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Category:21st-century German geologists

Category:Academic staff of ETH Zurich