Albert Ansmann

Dr. Albert Ansmann is a distinguished Associate Professor at the University of Leipzig and Head of the Ground-Based Remote Sensing Working Group at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig, Germany. His career spans over three decades dedicated to advancing atmospheric remote sensing technologies and understanding aerosol-cloud interactions. At TROPOS, he leads the Ground-based Remote Sensing Group within the Department of Remote Sensing of Atmospheric Processes.

• Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS): Head of Ground-Based Remote Sensing Working Group since 1992
• University of Leipzig: Associate Professor since 2005, Private Lecturer since 1999
• Max Planck Institute for Meteorology: PhD research (1984-1988)
• Research Center Geesthacht: Postdoctoral researcher (1989-1992)

Dr. Ansmann completed his Meteorology studies at the University of Hamburg (1977-1984) and earned his PhD from the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg (1984-1988). He achieved his Habilitation at the University of Leipzig in 1999, which qualified him as a university professor.

His research focuses on developing lidar instruments and methodologies for investigating aerosols, clouds, and aerosol-cloud interactions, with particular emphasis on heterogeneous ice formation processes. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of mineral dust transport, Saharan aerosol long-range transport, and their impacts on cloud microphysics and climate. Dr. Ansmann's research integrates field campaigns across diverse geographical regions including Portugal, Morocco, Cape Verde, and the Arctic.

The 15 most recent publications reveal a strong focus on Arctic atmospheric processes, wildfire smoke impacts on cirrus formation, mineral dust properties, and advanced lidar methodologies. His research increasingly addresses climate-relevant questions through international collaborations such as the MOSAiC expedition, SALTRACE, and BACCHUS projects, demonstrating a shift toward understanding the climate implications of aerosol-cloud interactions in polar regions.

• Inaba Prize (1994) for outstanding research on Raman lidar observation of the stratospheric Pinatubo aerosol layer
• American Geophysical Union Editor's Citation for Excellence in Refereeing (2005, 2010)

Dr. Ansmann has been actively involved in mentoring doctoral students through seminars at TROPOS and lectures on active remote sensing at the University of Leipzig. His research has been supported through numerous international projects including SALTRACE, BACCHUS, and participation in major field campaigns across Europe, Africa, and polar regions. He has served on scientific steering committees, including the EU BACCHUS Project (2013-2017), and as guest editor for Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (2013-2015).

The Ground-based Remote Sensing Group at TROPOS, which Dr. Ansmann leads, operates advanced lidar systems for atmospheric observations and participates in international networks like EARLINET. His team's work integrates ground-based, airborne, and satellite observations to address fundamental questions about aerosol-cloud interactions and their climate implications, with particular focus on polar regions through the MOSAiC expedition and related research.