Jan Cermak

Jan Cermak is Professor and acting Director of the Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research - Atmospheric Trace Gases and Remote Sensing (IMK-ASF) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). His research focuses on atmospheric science with specialization in fog dynamics, aerosol-cloud interactions, and satellite remote sensing applications.

His primary research interests include Atmospheric Science, Meteorology, Remote Sensing, Aerosol-Cloud Interactions, Fog and Low Stratus Dynamics, Satellite Meteorology, and Machine Learning Applications. He employs geostationary satellite data and explainable machine learning to investigate fog life cycles, particularly in the Namib Desert and Po Valley, examining how aerosols influence cloud formation and dissipation processes. His work bridges observational meteorology with computational techniques for environmental monitoring.

Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a concentrated research trajectory on fog life cycle analysis using multi-sensor approaches, with significant emphasis on aerosol impacts in polluted regions and arid environments. Key methodological trends include explainable AI for cloud fraction adjustment analysis and high-resolution satellite-based air quality estimation, demonstrating strong interdisciplinary integration of atmospheric physics and data science.

Scientific Awards: No awards were documented in the provided source material.

Advising and Grants: Source documentation contains no information regarding student supervision, research grants, or funding sources. His leadership role as acting director of IMK-ASF suggests administrative responsibilities within the institute's research framework.

Labs and Teams: Cermak leads the Atmospheric Trace Gases and Remote Sensing (IMK-ASF) group at KIT, conducting field campaigns including NaFoLiCA (Namib Fog Life Cycle Analysis) and FAIRARI (Fog and Aerosol Interaction Research Italy). The team specializes in satellite data analysis combined with ground-based observations to study fog dynamics in extreme environments.