Dr.  Christian Barthlott

Dr. Christian Barthlott

  • Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
    Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research

    Wolfgang-Gaede-Str. 1
    D-76131 Karlsruhe




Contact person

  • Contact point for employee concerns
  • Collect and circulate information on diversity and equal opportunity

Christian Barthlott ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0003-2927-5051

Research Interests

  • mesoscale meteorology
  • atmospheric convection, convection initiation
  • land surface-atmosphere interactions
  • numerical modelling
  • cloud physics
  • boundary-layer meteorology, turbulence

Severe convective outbreak in Western Europe 8-10 June 2014


High-level cloud cover (%, gray shades) and precipitation rates (mm/5 min, colors) as simulated with the ICON model. The large computational domain at convection-permitting resolution allows for a successful forecast of the convective storms including a mesoscale convective system (MSC) on 9 June 2014. Further reading: Barthlott et al. (2017) DOI:10.1002/qj.3019 and Barthlott and Barrett (2020) DOI:10.5194/wcd-1-207-2020

Education & Employment

  • since 07/2006
  • Research scientist, IMK-TRO, Research Center Karlsruhe/University of Karlsruhe, in 2009 merged to Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
  • 10/2005-06/2006
  • Visiting scientist Institut Pierre Simon Laplace/Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
  • 2003-2005
  • PostDoc, IMK-TRO, University of Karlsruhe/Research Center Karlsruhe, Germany
  • 2003
  • Doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.), University of Karlsruhe, Germany
  • 1992-1999
  • Studies of Meteorology, University of Karlsruhe, Germany

  • 2018-2022
  • Guest Editor EGU inter-journal Speicial Issure HyMeX
  • 2016-2018
  • Associate Editor Monthly Weather Review

Detailed CV (pdf)


Projects


Publications

Citation statistics on google scholar

Citation statistics on Scopus


2024
  • Barthlott, C., B. Czajka, M. Kunz, H. Saathoff, H. Zhang, A. Böhmländer, P. Gasch, J. Handwerker, M. Kohler, J. Wilhelm, A. Wieser and C. Hoose: The Impact of Aerosols and Model Grid Spacing on a Supercell Storm from Swabian MOSES 2021, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., DOI:10.1002/qj.4687
  • 2022
    • Barthlott, C., A. Zarboo, T. Matsunobu and C. Keil: Impacts of combined microphysical and land-surface uncertainties on convective clouds and precipitation in different weather regimes, Atmos. Chem. Phys. 22, 10841-10860, DOI:10.5194/acp-22-10841-2022
    • Barthlott, C., A. Zarboo, T. Matsunobu and C. Keil: Importance of aerosols and shape of the cloud droplet size distribution for convective clouds and precipitation, Atmos. Chem. Phys. 22, 2153-2172, DOI:10.5194/acp-22-2153-2022
    • Baur, F., C. Keil, and C. Barthlott: Combined effects of soil moisture and microphysical perturbations on convective clouds and precipitation for a locally forced case over Central Europe, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 148, 2132-2146, DOI:10.1002/qj.4295
    • Matsunobu, T., C. Keil, and C. Barthlott: The impact of microphysical uncertainty conditional on initial and boundary condition uncertainty during different synoptic control, Weather Clim. Dynam. 3, 1273-1289, DOI:10.5194/wcd-3-1273-2022
    2021
    • Marinescu, P. J., S. van den Heever, M. Heikenfeld, A. I. Barrett, C. Barthlott, C. Hoose, J. Fan, A. M. Fridlind, T. Matsui, A. K. Miltenberger, P. Stier, B. Vie, B. A. White, and Y. Zhang: Impacts of Varying Concentrations of Cloud Condensation Nuclei On Deep Convective Cloud Updrafts – A Multimodel Assessment, J. Atmos. Sci. 78, 1147-1172, DOI:10.1175/JAS-D-20-0200.1
    2020
    • Barthlott, C. and A.I. Barrett: Large impact of tiny model domain shifts for the Pentecost 2014 mesoscale convective system over Germany, Weather Clim. Dynam. 1, 207-224, DOI:10.5194/wcd-1-207-2020
    2019
    • Schneider, L., C. Barthlott, C. Hoose, and A.I. Barrett: Relative impact of aerosol, soil moisture and orography perturbations on deep convection, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 12343-12359, DOI:10.5194/acp-19-12343-2019
    • Keil, C., F. Baur, K. Bachmann, S. Rasp, L. Schneider, and C. Barthlott: Relative contribution of soil moisture, boundary layer and microphysical perturbations on convective predictability in different weather regimes, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 145, 3102-3115, DOI:10.1002/qj.3607
    2018
    • Barthlott, C. and C. Hoose: Aerosol effects on clouds and precipitation over central Europe in different weather regimes, J. Atmos. Sci. 75, 4247-4264, DOI:10.1175/JAS-D-18-0110.1
    • Sullivan, S. C., C. Barthlott, J. Crosier, I. Zhukov, A. Nenes, and C. Hoose: The effect of secondary ice production parameterization on the simulation of a cold frontal rainband, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 16461-16480, DOI:10.5194/acp-18-16461-2018
    • Hoose, C., M. Karrer, and C. Barthlott: Cloud top phase distributions of simulated deep convective clouds, J. Geophys. Res. 123, 10,464-10,476, DOI:10.1029/2018JD028381
    • Kirshbaum, D., B. Adler, N. Kalthoff, C. Barthlott, and S. Serafin: Moist Orographic Convection: Physical Mechanisms and Links to Surface-Exchange Processes, Atmosphere 9, 80, DOI:10.3390/atmos9030080
    • Schneider, L., C. Barthlott, A.I. Barrett, and C. Hoose: The precipitation response to variable terrain forcing over low-mountain ranges in different weather regimes, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 144, 970-989, DOI:10.1002/qj.3250
    2017
    • Barthlott, C., B. Mühr, C. Hoose: Sensitivity of the 2014 Pentecost storms over Germany to different model grids and microphysics schemes, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 143, 1485-1503, DOI:10.1002/qj.3019
    • Hande, L. B., C. Hoose, and C. Barthlott: Aerosol and Droplet Dependent Contact Freezing: Parameterization Development, J. Atmos. Sci. 74, 2229-2245, DOI:10.1175/JAS-D-16-0313.1
    • Macke, A., P. Seifert, H. Baars, C. Barthlott, C. Beekmans, A. Behrendt, B. Bohn, M. Brueck, J. Bühl, S. Crewell, T. Damian, H. Deneke, S. Düsing, A. Foth, P. Di Girolamo, E. Hammann, R. Heinze, A. Hirsikko, J. Kalisch, N. Kalthoff, S. Kinne, M. Kohler, U. Löhnert, B. L. Madhavan, V. Maurer, S. K. Muppa, J. Schween, I. Serikov, H. Siebert, C. Simmer, F. Späth, S. Steinke, K. Träumner, S. Trömel, B. Wehner, A. Wieser, V. Wulfmeyer, and X. Xie: The HD(CP)2 Observational Prototype Experiment (HOPE) - an overview, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 4887-4914, DOI:10.5194/acp-17-4887-2017
    • Heinze, R., A. Dipankar, C. Carbajal Henken, C. Moseley, O. Sourdeval, S. Trömel, X. Xie, P. Adamidis, F. Ament, H. Baars, C. Barthlott, A. Behrendt, U. Blahak, S. Bley, S. Brdar, M. Brueck, S. Crewell, H. Deneke, P. Di Girolamo, R. Evaristo, J. Fischer, C. Frank, P. Friederichs, T. Göcke, T. Gorges, L. Hande, M. Hanke, A. Hansen, H.-C. Hege, C. Hoose, T. Jahns, N. Kalthoff, D. Klocke, S. Kneifel, P. Knippertz, A. Kuhn, T. van Laar, A. Macke, V. Maurer, B. Mayer, C. I. Meyer, S. K. Muppa, R. A. J. Neggers, E. Orlandi, F. Pantillon, B. Pospichal, N. Röber, L. Scheck, A. Seifert, P. Seifert, F. Senf, P. Siligam, C. Simmer, S. Steinke, B. Stevens, K. Wapler, M. Weniger, V. Wulfmeyer, G. Zängl, D. Zhang, and J. Quaas: Large-eddy simulations over Germany using ICON: A comprehensive evaluation, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 143, 69-100, DOI:10.1002/qj.2947
    2016
    • Barthlott, C., B. Adler, N. Kalthoff, J. Handwerker, M. Kohler, A. Wieser: The role of Corsica in initiating nocturnal offshore convection, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 142 (Suppl 1), 222-237, DOI:10.1002/qj.2415
    • Barthlott, C. and S. Davolio: Mechanisms initiating heavy precipitation over Italy during the HyMeX Special Observation Period 1: A numerical case study using two mesoscale models, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 142 (Suppl 1), 238-258, DOI:10.1002/qj.2630
    2015
    • Barthlott, C. and C. Hoose: Spatial and temporal variability of clouds and precipitation over Germany: multiscale simulations across the "gray zone", Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 12361-12384, DOI:10.5194/acp-15-12361-2015
    • Ehmele, F., Barthlott, C., U. Corsmeier: The influence of Sardinia on Corsican rainfall in the western Mediterranean Sea: A numerical sensitivity study, Atmos. Res. 153, 451-464, DOI:10.1016/j.atmosres.2014.10.004
    2014
    • Metzger, J., C. Barthlott, N. Kalthoff: Impact of upstream flow conditions on the initiation of moist convection over the island of Corsica, Atmos. Res. 145-146, 279-296, DOI:10.1016/j.atmosres.2014.04.011
    2013
    • Barthlott, C. and D. Kirshbaum: Sensitivity of deep convection to terrain forcing over Mediterranean islands, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 139, 1762-1779, DOI:10.1002/qj.2089
    2011
    • Barthlott, C. and N. Kalthoff: A numerical sensitivity study on the impact of soil moisture on convection-related parameters and convective precipitation over complex terrain, J. Atmos. Sci. 68, 2971-2987, DOI:10.1175/JAS-D-11-027.1
    • Barthlott, C., Ch. Hauck, G. Schädler, N. Kalthoff, Ch. Kottmeier: Soil moisture impacts on convective indices and precipitation over complex terrain, Meteorol. Z. 20, 185-197, DOI:10.1127/0941-2948/2011/0216
    • Barthlott, C., R. Burton, D. Kirshbaum, K. Hanley, E. Richard, J.-P. Chaboureau, J. Trentmann, B. Kern, H.-S. Bauer, T. Schwitalla, C. Keil, Y. Seity, A. Gadian, A. Blyth, S. Mobbs, C. Flamant, J. Handwerker: Initiation of deep convection at marginal instability in an ensemble of mesoscale models: A case study from COPS, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 137 (S1), 118-136, DOI:10.1002/qj.707
    • Hauck, Ch., C. Barthlott, L. Krauss, N. Kalthoff: Soil moisture variability and its influence on convective precipitation over complex terrain, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 137 (S1), 42-56, DOI:10.1002/qj.766
    • Richard, E., J.-P. Chaboureau, C. Flamant, C. Champollion, M. Hagen, K. Schmidt, C. Kiemle, U. Corsmeier, C. Barthlott: Forecasting Summer convection over the Black Forest: a case study from the COPS experiment, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 137 (S1), 101-117, DOI:10.1002/qj.710
    • Corsmeier, U., N. Kalthoff, C. Barthlott, A. Behrendt, P. DiGirolamo, M. Dorninger, F. Aoshima, J. Handwerker, Ch. Kottmeier, H. Mahlke, St. Mobbs, G. Vaughan, J. Wickert, V. Wulfmeyer: Driving processes for deep convection over complex terrain: A multi-scale analysis of observations from COPS IOP 9c, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 137 (S1), 137-155, DOI:10.1002/qj.754
    • Kalthoff, N., M. Kohler, C. Barthlott, S. Mobbs, U. Corsmeier, B. Adler, K. Träumner, T. Foken, R. Eigenmann, L. Krauss, S. Khodayar, P. Di Girolamo: The dependence of convection-related parameters on surface and boundary-layer conditions over complex terrain, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 137 (S1), 70-80, DOI:10.1002/qj.686
    • Wulfmeyer, V., A. Behrendt, Ch. Kottmeier, U. Corsmeier, C. Barthlott, G. C. Craig, M. Hagen, D. Althausen, F. Aoshima, M. Arpagaus, H.-S. Bauer, L. Bennett, A. Blyth, Ch. Brandau, C. Champollion, S. Crewell, G. Dick, P. Di Girolamo, M. Dorninger, Y. Dufournet, R. Eigenmann, R. Engelmann, C. Flamant, T. Foken, T. Gorgas, M. Grzeschik, J. Handwerker, Ch. Hauck, H. Höller, W. Junkermann, N. Kalthoff, Ch. Kiemle, S. Klink, M. König, L. Krauss, Ch. N. Long, F. Madonna, S. Mobbs, B. Neininger, S. Pal, G. Peters, G. Pigeon, E. Richard, M. W. Rotach, H. Russchenberg, T. Schwitalla, V. Smith, R. Steinacker, J. Trentmann, D. Turner, J. van Baelen, S. Vogt, H. Volkert, T. Weckwerth, H. Wernli, A. Wieser, M. Wirth: The Convective and Orographically induced Precipitation Study (COPS): The scientific strategy, the field phase, and first highlights, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 137 (S1), 3-30, DOI:10.1002/qj.752
    2010
    • Barthlott, C., J. W. Schipper, N. Kalthoff, B. Adler, Ch. Kottmeier, A. Blyth, S. Mobbs: Model representation of boundary-layer convergence triggering deep convection over complex terrain: A case study from COPS, Atmos. Res. 95, 172-185, DOI:10.1016/j.atmosres.2009.09.010
    2009
    • Fesquet, C., S. Dupont, P. Drobinski, T. Dubos, and C. Barthlott: Impact of terrain heterogeneity on coherent structure properties: Numerical approach, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 133, 71-92, DOI:10.1007/s10546-009-9412-4
    • Fesquet, C., P. Drobinski, C. Barthlott, and T. Dubos: Impact of terrain heterogeneity on near-surface turbulence structure, Atmos. Res. 94, 254-269, DOI:10.1016/j.atmosres.2009.06.003
    • Kalthoff, N., B. Adler, C. Barthlott, U. Corsmeier, S. Mobbs, S. Crewell, K. Träumner, Ch. Kottmeier, A. Wieser, V. Smith, P. Di Girolamo: The impact of convergence zones on the initiation of deep convection: A case study from COPS, Atmos. Res. 93, 680-694, DOI:10.1016/j.atmosres.2009.02.010
    • Groenemeijer, P., C. Barthlott, A. Behrendt, H.-D. Betz, U. Corsmeier, J. Handwerker, M. Kohler, Ch. Kottmeier, H. Mahlke, S. Pal, M. Radlach, J. Trentmann, A. Wieser, and V. Wulfmeyer: Observations of kinematics and thermodynamic structure surrounding a convective storm cluster over a low mountain range, Mon. Wea. Rev. 137, 585-602, DOI:10.1175/2008MWR2562.1
    • Richard, E., C. Flamant, F. Bouttier, J. Van Baelen, C. Champollion, S. Argence, J. Arnault, C. Barthlott, A. Behrendt, P. Bosser, P. Brousseau, J.-P. Chaboureau, U. Corsmeier, J. Cuesta, P. Di Girolamo, M. Hagen, Ch. Kottmeier, P. Limnaios, F. Masson, G. Pigeon, Y. Pointin, F. Tridon, Y. Seity, V. Wulfmeyer: La campagne COPS: genese et cycle de vie de la convection en region montagneuse, La Meteorologie 64, 32-42, DOI:10.4267/2042/23632
    • Trentmann, J., Ch. Keil, M. Salzmann, C. Barthlott, H.-S. Bauer, M. Lawrence, D. Leuenberger, H. Wernli, V. Wulfmeyer, U. Corsmeier, and Ch. Kottmeier: Multi-model simulations of a convective situation in low-mountain terrain in central Europe, Meteorol. Atmos. Phys. 103, 95-103, DOI:10.1007/s00703-008-0323-6
    2008
    • Kottmeier, Ch., N. Kalthoff, C. Barthlott, U. Corsmeier, J. Van Baelen, A. Behrendt, R. Behrendt, A. Blyth, R. Coulter, S. Crewell, P. Di Girolamo, M. Dorninger, C. Flamant, Th. Foken, M. Hagen, C. Hauck, H. Höller, H. Konow, M. Kunz, H. Mahlke, S. Mobbs, E. Richard, R. Steinacker, T. Weckwerth, A. Wieser, and V. Wulfmeyer: Mechanisms initiating deep convection over complex terrain during COPS, Meteorol. Z. 17, 931-948, DOI:10.1127/0941-2948/2008/0348
    • Dubos, T., C. Barthlott, and P. Drobinski: Emergence and secondary instability of Ekman layer rolls, J. Atmos. Sci. 65, 2326-2342, DOI:10.1175/2007JAS2550.1
    2007
    • Barthlott, C., P. Drobinski, C. Fesquet, T. Dubos, and C. Pietras: Long-term study of coherent structures in the atmospheric surface layer, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 125, 1-24, DOI:10.1007/s10546-007-9190-9
    • Browning, K., A. Blyth, P. Clark, U. Corsmeier, C. Morcrette, J. Agnew, S.P. Ballard, D. Bamber, C. Barthlott, L. Bennett, K. Bennett, K. Beswick, M. Bitter, K. Bozier, B. Brooks, C. Collier, F. Davies, B. Deny, M.A. Dixon, T. Feuerle, R. Forbes, C. Gaffard, M. Gray, R. Hankers, T. Hewison, N. Kalthoff, S. Khodayar, M. Kohler, Ch. Kottmeier, S. Kraut, M. Kunz, D. Ladd, H.W. Lean, J. Lenfant, Z. Li, J. Marsham, J. McGregor, S. Mobbs, J. Nicol, E. Norton, D. Parker, F. Perry, M. Ramatschi, H. Ricketts, N. Roberts, A. Russell, H. Schulz, E. Slack, G. Vaughan, J. Waight, D.P. Wareing, R. Watson, A. Webb, and A. Wieser: The convective storm initiation project, Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc. 88 Issue 12, 1939-1955, DOI:10.1175/BAMS-88-12-1939
    2006
    • Barthlott, C., U. Corsmeier, C. Meißner, F. Braun, and Ch. Kottmeier: The influence of mesoscale circulation systems on triggering convective cells over complex terrain, Atmos. Res. 81, 150-175, DOI:10.1016/j.atmosres.2005.11.010
    2003
    • Barthlott, C. and F. Fiedler: Turbulence structure in the wake region of a meteorological tower, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 108, 175-190, DOI:10.1023/A:1023012820710
    • Barthlott, C., N. Kalthoff, and F. Fiedler: Influence of high-frequency radiation on turbulence measurements on a 200 m tower, Meteorol. Z. 12, No. 2, 67-71, DOI:10.1127/0941-2948/2003/0012-0067
    • Barthlott, C.: Coherent vortex structures in the atmospheric boundary layer, Scientific reports of the Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research No. 33, University of Karlsruhe, Fulltext