Michael Lehning

Michael Lehning is a Full Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC) and the Institute of Environmental Engineering (IIE). He leads the Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences (CRYOS) at EPFL Valais Wallis in Sion and holds leadership roles in the Center for Advanced Studies in Energy and Climate (CEN). He is actively involved in research, teaching, and doctoral program governance.

His research centers on cryospheric processes, including snow physics, snow-atmosphere interactions, and numerical modeling of snow and wind in complex terrain. Key interests include blowing and drifting snow, snow sublimation, permafrost dynamics, and the integration of snow processes into atmospheric and hydrological models. He also investigates renewable energy potential in alpine and polar regions, particularly solar and wind energy, and the impact of climate change on cryospheric systems.

His recent publications highlight expertise in large-eddy simulations, snow microstructure, isotopic analysis of snow processes, and energy system modeling for sustainable transitions. He has developed and applied advanced models such as SNOWPACK, Alpine3D, and CRYOWRF, contributing significantly to understanding snow dynamics in extreme environments.

Michael Lehning supervises a large group of PhD students working on diverse topics such as wind energy assessment, snow transport modeling, isotopic snow studies, and thermal stabilization of permafrost. His research is supported by extensive field campaigns and collaborations with institutions across Europe and Antarctica.

He is actively engaged in the scientific community through conference presentations, editorial contributions, and leadership in interdisciplinary energy and climate initiatives at EPFL.