CLIMAITE is a multidisciplinary Danish research centre. CLIMAITE will improve our knowledge of biological responses to changing climatic conditions in natural ecosystems. The research activities in particular will supply new information on three important points:

• Biological responses to climate change under realistic field conditions with experimental manipulations that closely mimic global change scenarios for the end of the 21^st century.
   
• Biological responses to changes in temperature, precipitation and CO₂ alone and in combinations. These factors all will be affected simultaneously and will interact in a changing climate.
   
• Biological responses to extreme climatic conditions (e.g. drought) and responses of processes outside the growing season. Recent results have indicated that this is of particular importance for climate-driven effects on ecosystem function.

Climate change and biological effects
The earth’s climate is changing. Human activities cause increased emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly CO₂. Atmospheric CO₂ has increased by 30% over the past 50 years and is predicted to double during the 21^st century. Elevated atmospheric CO₂ increases the greenhouse effect, which will lead to elevated global temperatures and altered precipitation patterns. In the future, ecosystems will therefore face simultaneous changes in three factors:

• Elevated atmospheric CO₂
• Elevated temperature
• Altered precipitation patterns

These are key factors in the regulation of biological processes and they will therefore profoundly affect natural ecosystems. Ultimately, current ecosystems and natural habitats may change dramatically or even disappear.

Experimental research site:
CLIMAITE has established an experimental research site on the military training site “Brandbjerg” near Jægerspris, 50 km NW of Copenhagen.

Relevance and perspectives
CLIMAITE will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of climatic changes on biological processes and the functioning of natural ecosystems. This research will provide important information relevant to future political decisions and societal actions that may be taken in response to climate change. CLIMAITE also contributes to the education of new researchers and the dissemination of knowledge about climatic effects on biological processes to the general public.

CLIMAITE – partners:
CLIMAITE is a collaboration between leading Danish research groups within the area of climatic effects on biological processes.

Funding:
CLIMAITE receives primary funding from the VILLUM KANN RASMUSSEN FOUNDATION. Research activities also are supported by Elsam A/S, Air Liquide Danmark A/S, Danfoss A/S and the participating institutes.

For further information please contact:
Centre leader
Claus Beier
Risoe National Laboratory
Biosystems department
Frederiksborggade 399
DK-4000 Roskilde
Denmark
Email: claus.beier@risoe.dk