Gunnar Myhre

Gunnar Myhre
Name	Gunnar Myhre
Birth date	1958
Birth place	Norway
Nationality	Norwegian
Fields	Atmospheric physics, Climate science, Air pollution
Institutions	Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
Alma mater	University of Oslo
Known for	Radiative transfer, Aerosol–cloud interactions, Climate forcing

Gunnar Myhre

Gunnar Myhre is a Norwegian atmospheric physicist and climate scientist noted for contributions to radiative transfer, aerosol–cloud interactions, and climate forcing. He has held leadership roles at national and international institutions, contributed to assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and influenced policy discussions involving polar research, atmospheric chemistry, and emission scenarios. His work links fundamental physics with applied studies relevant to Arctic systems, international environmental treaties, and transboundary air pollution.

Early life and education

Myhre was born in Norway and educated in Norwegian academic institutions, completing degrees at the University of Oslo where he trained in physics and atmospheric sciences alongside programs linked to the Norwegian Institute for Air Research and collaborations with researchers from the University of Bergen and University of Tromsø. During his formative years he engaged with researchers associated with the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, National Center for Atmospheric Research, MIT and Imperial College London, developing expertise in radiative transfer, remote sensing, and atmospheric chemistry. Early mentors and collaborators included scientists connected to the World Climate Research Programme, European Geophysical Union, and the Royal Meteorological Society, situating him within networks spanning Stockholm University, University of Cambridge, and ETH Zurich.

Scientific career

Myhre’s career has been primarily associated with the Norwegian Institute for Air Research where he advanced from research positions to leadership roles interfacing with international bodies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, and the European Environment Agency. He has collaborated with climate modelers at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, the Hadley Centre, and the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology while engaging with experimental groups at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences. His career includes visiting appointments and joint projects with teams at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Peking University, University of Tokyo, CSIRO, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, and the Norwegian Polar Institute.

Research contributions

Myhre’s research spans radiative transfer, aerosol optical properties, and indirect climate effects of aerosols. He contributed to quantifying radiative forcing in assessments produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and developed parameterizations used in general circulation models at institutions such as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. His papers address aerosol–cloud interactions analyzed with satellite data from missions including MODIS, CALIPSO, and AATSR and ground-based networks like AERONET and Global Atmosphere Watch. Myhre has worked on estimates of black carbon forcing relevant to studies by the Arctic Council and has been cited in synthesis reports from the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization.

He advanced theoretical frameworks for effective radiative forcing, collaborating with scientists affiliated with the Princeton University climate group, University of Oxford, Columbia University, and Yale University. Contributions include evaluation of emission scenarios linked to the Representative Concentration Pathways and engagement with integrated assessment teams at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and IIASA. His work on short-lived climate forcers informed policy dialogues involving the Kigali Amendment negotiations and mitigation strategies discussed at Conference of the Parties sessions.

Leadership and public service

Myhre has served in advisory and coordinative capacities for national and international initiatives, advising ministries and agencies such as the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, the European Commission, and the Nordic Council of Ministers. He participated in steering groups for the World Climate Research Programme and the Global Carbon Project and contributed to synthesis activities run by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Myhre represented scientific constituencies in forums including panels convened by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and worked with task forces associated with the Arctic Council and the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution.

He has been a member of editorial boards for journals connected to the American Geophysical Union, European Geosciences Union, and Royal Society publications and has engaged in capacity-building initiatives in collaboration with UNESCO, World Bank, and regional research centers such as the Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland.

Awards and honors

Myhre’s recognition includes appointments and awards from Nordic and international scientific bodies; he has been cited in major assessment reports including those of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and honored by organizations such as the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, the European Geosciences Union, and national research councils. His contributions have been acknowledged in policy briefs for the United Nations Environment Programme and by prize committees connected to atmospheric and climate science awards in Norway and Europe.

Category:Norwegian scientists Category:Atmospheric physicists Category:Climate scientists