Moritz Haarig

Dr. Moritz Haarig serves as a Junior Research Group Leader at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig, Germany. He leads the OLALA (Optical Lab for Lidar Applications) research group within the Department of Remote Sensing of Atmospheric Processes, conducting cutting-edge research in atmospheric observation technologies.

Haarig completed his physics education at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (2007-2013) followed by doctoral studies at TROPOS (2014-2018). His academic trajectory continued with EarthCARE project work (2018-2023) before assuming his current leadership role in 2023.

His research focuses on advancing lidar technology for atmospheric observations through laboratory measurements of mineral dust scattering properties, multiwavelength polarization lidar techniques, and algorithm development for satellite missions like EarthCARE. Haarig specializes in aerosol optical properties with emphasis on long-range transported mineral dust and stratospheric wildfire smoke, while also investigating cloud-relevant aerosol properties through combined lidar and in-situ measurements. His work bridges laboratory experiments, field campaigns, and satellite data validation to improve atmospheric monitoring capabilities.

Haarig's recent publication on aerosol, cloud, and precipitation profile validation establishes methodological standards for the atmospheric science community, reflecting his growing influence in remote sensing validation protocols.

As leader of the OLALA research group, Haarig oversees specialized laboratory facilities and participates in major international collaborations including ESA's CARDINAL project and EarthCARE's DISC cluster. His instrumental expertise includes the BERTHA lidar system, a sophisticated multi-wavelength platform capable of comprehensive atmospheric profiling.