Klaus Hasselmann
Encyclopedia
Klaus Hasselmann is a leading oceanographer and climate
modeller
. He is probably best known for developing the Hasselmann model
of climate variability, where a system with a long memory (the ocean) integrates stochastic forcing, thereby transforming a white-noise signal into a red-noise one, thus explaining (without special assumptions) the ubiquitous red-noise signals seen in the climate.
1957, University of Göttingen and Max Planck Institute of Fluid Dynamics, PhD Physics.
1964 - 1975, University of Hamburg, ending as Full Professor for Theoretical Geophysics and Managing Director, Institute of Geophysics at the University of Hamburg.
From February 1975 to November 1999, Hasselmann was Founding Director of the Max Planck Institute of Meteorology, Hamburg. Between January 1988 and November 1999 he was Scientific Director at the German High Performance Computing Centre (DKRZ, Deutsches Klimarechenzentrum) for Climate and Earth System Research, Hamburg. Currently he is Vice-Chairman of the European Climate Forum
. The European Climate Forum has been founded in September 2001 by Prof. Carlo Jaeger and Prof. Klaus Hasselmann.
He has published papers on climate dynamics, stochastic processes, ocean waves, remote sensing, and integrated assessment studies.
His reputation in oceanography was primarily founded on a set of papers on non-linear interactions in ocean waves. In these he adapted Feynman diagram
formalism to classical random wave fields. He later discovered plasma physicists were applying similar techniques to plasma waves, and that he had rediscovered some results of Rudolf Peierls
explaining the diffusion of heat in solids by non-linear phonon interactions. This led him to review the field of plasma physics, rekindling an earlier interest in Quantum Field Theory
.
“It was really an eye-opener to realize how specialized we are in our fields, and that we need to know much more about what was going on in other fields. Through this experience I became interested in particle physics and quantum field theory. So I entered quantum field theory through the back door, through working with real wave fields rather
than with particles.”
Hasselmann has won a number of awards over his career. In January 1971 the Sverdrup Medal of the American Meteorological Society
; in May 1997 he was awarded the Symons Memorial Medal of the Royal Meteorological Society
; in April 2002 he was awarded the Vilhelm Bjerknes Medal of the European Geophysical Society.
, particles have localized, objective reality.
Initially following the Kaluza-Klein programme, he suggested that in a higher-dimensional generalization of general relativity
there may exist stable vacuum solution
s having the nature of solitons, which he calls metrons (“metric solitons”). The metrons also possess a “linear far-field region, which carries the classical gravitational and electromagnetic fields, as well as a high-frequency periodic field that satisfies the de Broglie dispersion relation.”
The theory is claimed to reproduce gravitational and electroweak forces, along with spin
, Bragg diffraction, the basics of atomic spectra, and the symmetries of the Standard Model
.
Since so-called hidden variables
are involved, the theory must deal with the Bell inequalities. Hasselmann does this by showing that the theory produces time reversal
invariance at the subatomic level, and posits both advanced and retarded potentials, as proposed by Feynman and Wheeler
.
In his most recent publication, in 2005, he was able to qualitatively reproduce the interference pattern observed in electron double-slit experiments. He was also considering reformulating his theory in four dimensional spacetime, since the properties associated with the higher dimensions are oscillatory and can be represented as fiber bundles over a 4D Minkowski
manifold. Hasselmann notes that substantial obstacles remain: beyond the task of actually calculating some stable metron solutions, the theory currently predicts a continuum of solutions rather than a discrete spectrum of particles, and future development will have to reproduce the highly accurate predictions of QFT.
Hasselmann hopes that his theory, which he is still developing, will eventually yield all particle properties and universal physical constants from first principles.
Although Hasselmann's metron papers have been published in peer reviewed journals (though not of first rank), they are not widely cited and following Hasselmann's own sentiments should be considered a serious, but quite speculative, attempt at an alternate formulation of reality.
“Once the theory is published in accepted journals, it will become either accepted or rejected. This is as it should be. I am not really concerned about the outcome, which is beyond my control.”
Hasselmann met with unexpected resistance when he ventured into fundamental physics:
“I presented a talk at a physical colloquium in Oldenburg, and a couple of people sprung up afterwards and shouted that it was a scandal that somebody should give such a talk in a physical colloquium. It was almost a religious reaction. I felt I was in one of those pre-election political talk shows that sometimes get out of hand.
“I had not experienced such violent antagonism before. When I first presented the nonlinear wave interaction theory, people like Bill Pearson or Francis Bretherton emphatically said I was all wrong, but this was in the normal civilized framework of people being sceptical and arguing. And the established SAR experts were critical but not outright hostile when I trespassed in their area to develop a theory for the SAR imaging of ocean waves. Traditional economists also showed only mild irritation, or simply smiled condescendingly, when I came up with alternative economic models. I suppose there was never this feeling that I was attacking anybody’s foundations. The Oldenburg hecklers were – I suspect somewhat frustrated – elementary particle physicists.”
For a complete list of references, refer to "Interview mit Klaus Hasselmann", 59, 2006. or Hasselman's website at Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
modeller
Mathematical model
A mathematical model is a description of a system using mathematical concepts and language. The process of developing a mathematical model is termed mathematical modeling. Mathematical models are used not only in the natural sciences and engineering disciplines A mathematical model is a...
. He is probably best known for developing the Hasselmann model
of climate variability, where a system with a long memory (the ocean) integrates stochastic forcing, thereby transforming a white-noise signal into a red-noise one, thus explaining (without special assumptions) the ubiquitous red-noise signals seen in the climate.
Professional background and climate research
1955, University of Hamburg, Physics and Mathematics, Diplom. Thesis: Isotropic Turbulence.1957, University of Göttingen and Max Planck Institute of Fluid Dynamics, PhD Physics.
1964 - 1975, University of Hamburg, ending as Full Professor for Theoretical Geophysics and Managing Director, Institute of Geophysics at the University of Hamburg.
From February 1975 to November 1999, Hasselmann was Founding Director of the Max Planck Institute of Meteorology, Hamburg. Between January 1988 and November 1999 he was Scientific Director at the German High Performance Computing Centre (DKRZ, Deutsches Klimarechenzentrum) for Climate and Earth System Research, Hamburg. Currently he is Vice-Chairman of the European Climate Forum
European Climate Forum
The European Climate Forum is a platform for joint studies and science-based stakeholder dialogues on climatic change. ECF brings together representatives of different parties concerned with the climate problem.-Objectives and Vision:...
. The European Climate Forum has been founded in September 2001 by Prof. Carlo Jaeger and Prof. Klaus Hasselmann.
He has published papers on climate dynamics, stochastic processes, ocean waves, remote sensing, and integrated assessment studies.
His reputation in oceanography was primarily founded on a set of papers on non-linear interactions in ocean waves. In these he adapted Feynman diagram
Feynman diagram
Feynman diagrams are a pictorial representation scheme for the mathematical expressions governing the behavior of subatomic particles, first developed by the Nobel Prize-winning American physicist Richard Feynman, and first introduced in 1948...
formalism to classical random wave fields. He later discovered plasma physicists were applying similar techniques to plasma waves, and that he had rediscovered some results of Rudolf Peierls
Rudolf Peierls
Sir Rudolf Ernst Peierls, CBE was a German-born British physicist. Rudolf Peierls had a major role in Britain's nuclear program, but he also had a role in many modern sciences...
explaining the diffusion of heat in solids by non-linear phonon interactions. This led him to review the field of plasma physics, rekindling an earlier interest in Quantum Field Theory
Quantum field theory
Quantum field theory provides a theoretical framework for constructing quantum mechanical models of systems classically parametrized by an infinite number of dynamical degrees of freedom, that is, fields and many-body systems. It is the natural and quantitative language of particle physics and...
.
“It was really an eye-opener to realize how specialized we are in our fields, and that we need to know much more about what was going on in other fields. Through this experience I became interested in particle physics and quantum field theory. So I entered quantum field theory through the back door, through working with real wave fields rather
than with particles.”
Hasselmann has won a number of awards over his career. In January 1971 the Sverdrup Medal of the American Meteorological Society
American Meteorological Society
The American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society has a membership...
; in May 1997 he was awarded the Symons Memorial Medal of the Royal Meteorological Society
Royal Meteorological Society
The Royal Meteorological Society traces its origins back to 3 April 1850 when the British Meteorological Society was formed as a society the objects of which should be the advancement and extension of meteorological science by determining the laws of climate and of meteorological phenomena in general...
; in April 2002 he was awarded the Vilhelm Bjerknes Medal of the European Geophysical Society.
Fundamental physics research
In 1966, following his review of plasma physics, Hasselmann ventured into fundamental theoretical physics, finally publishing in 1996 what he calls the metron model, which he describes as possibly laying the foundation for a unified deterministic theory of fields and particles. He proposes that, unlike in quantum field theoryQuantum field theory
Quantum field theory provides a theoretical framework for constructing quantum mechanical models of systems classically parametrized by an infinite number of dynamical degrees of freedom, that is, fields and many-body systems. It is the natural and quantitative language of particle physics and...
, particles have localized, objective reality.
Initially following the Kaluza-Klein programme, he suggested that in a higher-dimensional generalization of general relativity
General relativity
General relativity or the general theory of relativity is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1916. It is the current description of gravitation in modern physics...
there may exist stable vacuum solution
Vacuum solution
A vacuum solution is a solution of a field equation in which the sources of the field are taken to be identically zero. That is, such field equations are written without matter interaction .-Examples:...
s having the nature of solitons, which he calls metrons (“metric solitons”). The metrons also possess a “linear far-field region, which carries the classical gravitational and electromagnetic fields, as well as a high-frequency periodic field that satisfies the de Broglie dispersion relation.”
The theory is claimed to reproduce gravitational and electroweak forces, along with spin
Spin (physics)
In quantum mechanics and particle physics, spin is a fundamental characteristic property of elementary particles, composite particles , and atomic nuclei.It is worth noting that the intrinsic property of subatomic particles called spin and discussed in this article, is related in some small ways,...
, Bragg diffraction, the basics of atomic spectra, and the symmetries of the Standard Model
Standard Model
The Standard Model of particle physics is a theory concerning the electromagnetic, weak, and strong nuclear interactions, which mediate the dynamics of the known subatomic particles. Developed throughout the mid to late 20th century, the current formulation was finalized in the mid 1970s upon...
.
Since so-called hidden variables
Hidden variables
Hidden variables may refer to:* Hidden variable theories, in physics a class of theories trying to explain away the statistical nature of quantum mechanics* Latent variables, in statistics, variables that are inferred from other observed variables...
are involved, the theory must deal with the Bell inequalities. Hasselmann does this by showing that the theory produces time reversal
Time reversal
Time reversal may refer to:* In physics, T-symmetry - the study of thermodynamics and the symmetry of certain physical laws where the concept of time is reversed — ie...
invariance at the subatomic level, and posits both advanced and retarded potentials, as proposed by Feynman and Wheeler
Feynman-Wheeler theory
The Wheeler–Feynman absorber theory is an interpretation of electrodynamics that starts from the idea that a solution to the electromagnetic field equations has to be symmetric with respect to time-inversion, as are the field equations themselves...
.
In his most recent publication, in 2005, he was able to qualitatively reproduce the interference pattern observed in electron double-slit experiments. He was also considering reformulating his theory in four dimensional spacetime, since the properties associated with the higher dimensions are oscillatory and can be represented as fiber bundles over a 4D Minkowski
Minkowski
Minkowski is a surname, and may refer to:* Eugène Minkowski , French psychiatrist* Hermann Minkowski Russian-born German mathematician and physicist, known for:** Minkowski addition** Minkowski–Bouligand dimension...
manifold. Hasselmann notes that substantial obstacles remain: beyond the task of actually calculating some stable metron solutions, the theory currently predicts a continuum of solutions rather than a discrete spectrum of particles, and future development will have to reproduce the highly accurate predictions of QFT.
Hasselmann hopes that his theory, which he is still developing, will eventually yield all particle properties and universal physical constants from first principles.
Although Hasselmann's metron papers have been published in peer reviewed journals (though not of first rank), they are not widely cited and following Hasselmann's own sentiments should be considered a serious, but quite speculative, attempt at an alternate formulation of reality.
“Once the theory is published in accepted journals, it will become either accepted or rejected. This is as it should be. I am not really concerned about the outcome, which is beyond my control.”
Hasselmann met with unexpected resistance when he ventured into fundamental physics:
“I presented a talk at a physical colloquium in Oldenburg, and a couple of people sprung up afterwards and shouted that it was a scandal that somebody should give such a talk in a physical colloquium. It was almost a religious reaction. I felt I was in one of those pre-election political talk shows that sometimes get out of hand.
“I had not experienced such violent antagonism before. When I first presented the nonlinear wave interaction theory, people like Bill Pearson or Francis Bretherton emphatically said I was all wrong, but this was in the normal civilized framework of people being sceptical and arguing. And the established SAR experts were critical but not outright hostile when I trespassed in their area to develop a theory for the SAR imaging of ocean waves. Traditional economists also showed only mild irritation, or simply smiled condescendingly, when I came up with alternative economic models. I suppose there was never this feeling that I was attacking anybody’s foundations. The Oldenburg hecklers were – I suspect somewhat frustrated – elementary particle physicists.”
Papers on climate change modelling and policy
- M. Welp, K. Hasselmann, C. Jaeger, Climate Change and Paths to Sustainability: the Role of Science- Based Stakeholder Dialogues, The Environment
- International Ad Hoc Detection and Attribution Group, Detecting and Attributing External Influences on the Climate System: A Review of Recent Advances, Journal of Climate, 18, 1291-1314, 2005
- M. Weber, V. Barth, K. Hasselmann, Multi-Actor Dynamic Assessment Model (MADIAM) of Induced Technological Change and Sustainable Economic Growth, Ecological Economics, 54, 306-327, 2005
- K. Hasselmann, M. Latif, G. Hooss, C. Azar, O. Edenhofer, C.C. Jaeger, O.M. Johannessen, C. Kemfert, M. Welp, A. Wokaun, The Challenge of Long-term Climate Change, Science, 302, 1923-1925, 2003
- Tamara S. Ledley, Eric T. Sundquist, Stephen E. Schwartz, Dorothy K. Hall, Jack D. Fellows, and Timothy L. Killeen Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases, EOSEosIn Greek mythology, Eos is the Titan goddess of the dawn, who rose from her home at the edge of Oceanus, the ocean that surrounds the world, to herald her brother Helios, the Sun.- Greek literature :...
Vol. 80, No. 39, September 28, 1999, p. 453. (This review paper cites several papers coauthored by Hasselmann.)
- K. Hasselmann, Climate change: Linear and nonlinear signatures, Nature, 398, 755 - 756, 1999
- K. Hasselmann, Climate-change research after Kyoto, Nature, 390, 225 - 226, 1997
- K. Hasselmann, Are We Seeing Global Warming?, Science, 276, 914 - 915, 1997
For a complete list of references, refer to "Interview mit Klaus Hasselmann", 59, 2006. or Hasselman's website at Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology