President: Davide Faranda
(Emailnp@egu.eu)
Deputy President: Tommaso Alberti
(Email)
ECS Representative: Anupama K Xavier
(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
Observational constraints help narrowing down uncertainty on the future of the AMOC
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation — the AMOC — has become one of the most discussed elements of the climate system. It is often portrayed as a looming tipping point, a potential disruptor of European climate, and a symbol of the uncertainties that still surround climate projections. We spoke with Didier Swingedouw, a leading researcher in ocean–climate interactions from the CNRS and based at University of Bordeaux, who coauthored a recent work aiming to refine our understanding of how the …
Read more
ECS Spotlight: When “Day Zero Drought” Dries the Tap: How Drought is Reshaping Water Scarcity in the Anthropocene
Extreme events are becoming increasingly observable, intense, and interconnected. Drought, traditionally viewed as a regional and temporary phenomenon, is now undergoing a fundamental shift. We introduce the concept of “Day Zero Drought” to describe a threshold where water demand exceeds available supply under persistent drought conditions. This study shows that water scarcity is no longer confined to isolated regions but is emerging as a synchronized global signal driven by the combined effects of climate change and human pressures. “Day Zero …
Read more
New Editorial Voices at NPG
As part of welcoming new members to the editorial team of Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics (NPG), we are pleased to present short interviews with two newly appointed editors, Dr. Kira Rehfeld and Dr. Jezabel Curbelo. They share their scientific backgrounds, motivations for joining the journal, editorial goals, and perspectives on emerging research directions in nonlinear geosciences. Their insights reflect both the interdisciplinary spirit of NPG and its commitment to advancing high-quality, constructive scientific exchange. Dr. Kira Rehfeld is a Professor …
Read more
Turbulence (and not only): The Legacy of Vincenzo Carbone, 2025 Richardson Medal
One year ago, Vincenzo Carbone left us. Vincenzo was a leading scientist in nonlinear geophysics, turbulence, and complex systems, influencing fluid and plasma physics, weather and space weather, solar–terrestrial relations, and climate dynamics. Yet for those who worked closely with him, his legacy goes well beyond his remarkable scientific achievements. Scientific Contributions and Impact Over more than three decades, Vincenzo provided fundamental new concepts and contributions for the characterization of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence and intermittency, laying the foundation for the …
Read more
Recent awardees
- 2026
- Lewis Fry Richardson Medal
The 2026 Lewis Fry Richardson Medal is awarded to
Anastasios A. Tsonis for outstanding contributions applying methods of nonlinear data analysis to atmospheric science and the theory of complex networks to coupled subsystems of the climate system.
Read more
- 2026
- Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Early Career Scientists
The 2026 Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Early Career Scientists is awarded to
Francisco de Melo Viríssimo for groundbreaking interdisciplinary research spanning nonlinear dynamics, marine biogeochemistry and climate science, and for outstanding contributions as educator, mentor, and scientific community leader.
Read more
- 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
Current issue of the EGU newsletter
In our May issue, we look back on another amazing General Assembly in Vienna and online, the EGU awards and medals are now open for nominations, funding is now open for public engagement grants, distinguished lecture speakers, science journalism fellowships, an Early Career Scientist career development workshop and more - and there is a vacancy for an Editorial Manager at the EGU Executive Office in Munich!
All this and much more, in this month's Loupe!
Read more
