History of the Institute
The Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science (IAC) resulted from the merger of the Institute for Atmospheric Science (IAS), formerly known as the Laboratory for Atmospheric Physics (LAPETH), and the Institute for Climate Research (ICR), formerly known as the Institute for Geography, in 2001.
A detailed history of the institute was issued on the occasion of its 20th anniversary in 2021. It recounts the history and major developments of the institute and its predecessors. It provides an overview of the teaching and research in the atmospheric sciences such as climatology, meteorology, and glaciology from the foundation of the "Polytechnikum" in 1855, which later was renamed into ETH, until 2011.
The institute board is deeply indebted to Prof. Hans Richner, Prof. Huw C. Davies and Prof. Atsumu Ohmura for compiling the history of our institute, which is available from the ETH research collection.
external pageAtmospheric and Climate Science at ETH from 1860 to 2011
Written by Hans Richner, Huw C. Davies and Atsumu Ohmura