President: Davide Faranda
(Emailnp@egu.eu)
Deputy President: François Schmitt
(Email)
ECS Representative: Mireia Ginesta-Fernandez
(Emailecs-np@egu.eu)
The Nonlinear Processes in Geosciences (NP) Division is an interdisciplinary division which is concerned with all aspects on nonlinear and stochastic theories, methods and data in the geosciences. The NP division is focused on a series of nonlinear paradigms whose applications cut across the different disciplines of the geosciences (hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, space sphere…). Examples include chaos, tipping points, nonlinear waves, similarity across scales (scaling, scale invariance, fractals, multifractals), network theory, nonlinear stochastics, predictability and its limits, pattern formation, self-organised criticality, extreme events, deep learning… The NP division welcomes mathematical and theoretical approaches, as well as applications including new methodologies, new modelling and new data analysis techniques.
Due to its interdisciplinary character, many of the NP-sessions during the EGU general assemblies are co-organized with sessions from other divisions. Potential contributors to any session are encouraged to evaluate the benefits of a multi-disciplinary organization in collaboration with the corresponding disciplinary Division.
The division is structured into several subdivisions (see the “About” tab above, for the NP Division structure information and reports).
The Division contributes to the EGU Awards & Medals programme. As for all EGU Divisions, an Early Career Scientist Award is established also for the NP Division and is given to young researchers who obtained outstanding results in the nonlinear geosciences. Every year the Lewis Fry Richardson medal is awarded to scientists for their exceptional contributions to nonlinear geosciences in general. Members of the Division are invited to contribute to the nominations (deadline are every year on the 15th June, see here) for both the NP Division Awards and Medals.
The division maintains very strong links with the EGU publication committee, and especially with the board of Editors of the open access journal Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics (NPG), an interdisciplinary journal for the publication of original research furthering knowledge on nonlinear processes in all branches of Earth, planetary, and solar system sciences.
Latest posts from the NP blog
ECS Spotlight: Evolution of the Dynamics of Centennial Hot Summers in Western Europe With Climate Change
Extreme meteorological and climatological events can be immensely damaging and disruptive to society. Understanding the physical mechanisms driving these events, and how they will evolve with climate change is crucial for informing societal adaptation to our changing climate. However, extreme events are, by definition, rare. Our capacity to understand these events is, therefore, hindered by the small sample size of observed events. Recent methodological developments, termed rare events algorithms, have enabled the sample size of these types of events to …
Read more
Rethinking the carbon cost of scientific exchange: Nonlinear effects of reducing scientific mobility
The carbon footprint of scientific collaboration has become an increasingly debated topic. Conferences, workshops, and research travel remain central to how science function, yet they also contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions. Since the pandemic era scientists also learned to work virtually and to attend workshops and conferences online. Understanding the carbon footprint, and how it compares to other global activities, is essential for defining realistic and fair strategies for sustainable science. This is valid not only for scientific conferences …
Read more
Where is climate science heading? Views from the community
At the recent UNDERPIN2 conference (Understanding rare events and their climatic impacts, in Erice, Sicily), we held a discussion on the future of climate science. To guide the conversation, I ran an interactive survey to capture how climate scientists see the current challenges, opportunities, and blind spots in climate research, communication, and the use of artificial intelligence. The responses—ranging from sharp critiques to hopeful suggestions—point towards a field in transition. What Are We Missing? When asked which types of extreme …
Read more
From Theory to Impacts: Nonlinear Perspectives on Weather Extremes at UNDERPIN#2
From 1–5 August 2025, the medieval hilltop town of Erice, Sicily, hosted the second UNDERPIN workshop, a meeting organised within the Nonlinear Processes in Geosciences community and dedicated to advancing the science of weather extremes. The event brought together a truly diverse group of researchers, spanning climate dynamics, attribution science, socio-economic impacts, statistical physics, and mathematical modelling. This breadth reflected the complexity of extremes themselves, which demand insights from both theory and application, as well as the translation of research …
Read more
Recent awardees
- 2025
- Lewis Fry Richardson Medal
The 2025 Lewis Fry Richardson Medal is awarded to
Vincenzo Carbone for outstanding contributions to the study of turbulence in magnetohydrodynamics, particularly in the solar wind and space plasmas, as well as its impact on the Earth’s magnetosphere and climate.
Read more
- 2025
- Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award
The 2025 Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award is awarded to
Johannes Jakob Lohmann for important contributions to our understanding of non-linear climate dynamics during the last glacial period.
Read more
- 2025
- Outstanding Student and PhD candidate Presentation (OSPP) Award
The 2025 Outstanding Student and PhD candidate Presentation (OSPP) Award is awarded to
Joaquín Espinoza Troni Electron scale magnetic holes generation driven by Whistler-to-Bernstein mode conversion in fully kinetic plasma turbulence
Read more
- 2024
- Lewis Fry Richardson Medal
The 2024 Lewis Fry Richardson Medal is awarded to
Annick Pouquet for her outstanding contributions to the field of theoretical and computational turbulence in neutral and conducting fluids, in particular in magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence and dynamo theory.
Read more
- 2024
- Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award
The 2024 Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award is awarded to
Simone Benella for his many original contributions in the field of stochastic processes, advancing the understanding space plasma dynamics.
Read more
- 2024
- Outstanding Student and PhD candidate Presentation (OSPP) Award
The 2024 Outstanding Student and PhD candidate Presentation (OSPP) Award is awarded to
Abdallah Aoude Design of a new laboratory earthquake experiment
Read more
Current issue of the EGU newsletter
In our November Issue we explore the interconnectedness of science and community as Bob Bateman talks about how online search patterns when earthquakes happen can improve disaster risk communication, Anjana Khatwa talks about our connections to the rocks around us in her new book, Lisa Gourdon-Grünewaldt discusses the importance of recognising and celebrating the International Day of LGBTQIA+ in STEM, Asmae Ourkiya shares the value of the new UNESCO World Soil Health Index as it connects data across countries and Eduardo Queiroz Alves gives his top 3 reasons why you should preprint your paper. Also catch up on all the upcoming dates for webinars and funding, including €10,000 to host a Geoscience Day event in your European country, and discover who the next President of EGU will be and other roles, with the results of the EGU elections.
All this and much more, in this month's Loupe!
Read more
