Nonlinear Climate Dynamics

Laure Moinat

PhD researcher in physics · University of Geneva

I study how nonlinear interactions within the Earth system generate multiple climate states, and how feedbacks, stability and dynamical processes govern transitions between them.

Education

PhD in Physics — Nonlinear Climate Dynamics University of Geneva · 2023–present
Master of Science in Physics — Applied Physics University of Geneva · 2021–2023
Bachelor of Science in Physics University of Geneva · 2018–2021
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Laure Moinat
Research

Earth’s multiple climate states: emergence, stability, and transitions

My research focuses on how nonlinear interactions within the Earth system give rise to multiple climate states and tipping behavior. I combine coupled climate modeling, nonlinear dynamics, and paleoclimate data to investigate the emergence and stability of equilibrium states, their transitions, and their consistency with paleoclimate evidence. I also use climate network approaches to characterize the spatial signatures of climate states and identify potential early warning signals of approaching transitions.

01 BIG-MITgcm

BIG-MITgcm climate model

Developed and led the development of a coupled climate-modeling framework representing the atmosphere, ocean, sea ice, vegetation, and ice sheets.

02 Multiple climate states

Multiple climate states

Characterising multiple climate states, from Snowball to Hothouse Earth, and investigating their role in Earth’s climate evolution over the last million years and into the future.

03 Climate networks

Climate networks

Developing network-based methods to characterize transitions between climate states and identify spatial signatures and potential early warning signals.

Research contribution

My work combines physical climate modeling with nonlinear dynamical systems approaches. A central part of my research has been the development of BIG-MITgcm, a coupled framework designed to explore equilibrium climate states and long-timescale Earth-system feedbacks. Alongside model development, I investigate the mechanisms controlling the stability and transitions of different climate states.

Looking ahead

I aim to understand how the stability of an Earth-system state influences its response to external forcing, and how state-dependent climate sensitivity can be quantified across different climate regimes. This provides a framework for connecting equilibrium-state dynamics, feedback processes, and the changing sensitivity of the Earth system.

News
Most recent publication · Physical Review Research · 2026

Climate network characterization of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation edge state

This work characterizes the spatial signature of the AMOC edge state, also known as the Melancholia state, which lies on the boundary separating the ON and OFF states of the circulation. Using climate networks, we identify enhanced teleconnections between the northern and southern Atlantic and increased network connectivity associated with the edge state.

The results provide a potential framework for identifying this unstable state in climate models and, potentially, observations, contributing to the development of approaches for detecting approaching AMOC transitions.

Read the publication
Climate network characterization of the AMOC edge state
Publications

In preparation / Under review

6

Multiple climate attractors in the present-day continental configuration: mechanisms and implications

Laure Moinat, John Marshall, and Maura Brunetti

In preparation
5

Earth’s mantle dynamics shape climate and the Earth system

Pietro Sternai & Laure Moinat, Agostino Meroni, Bram Vaes, Claudia Pasquero, Maura Brunetti and Christian Vérard

Under review

Peer-reviewed publications

4

Climate network characterization of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation edge state

Laure Moinat, Reyk Börner, Valerio Lucarini, Maura Brunetti, and Henk A. Dijkstra

Physical Review Research 8, 033268 (2026).

DOI →
3

Biogeodynamics-Ice sheet-Geneva-MITgcm (BIG-MITgcm, v1.0): a simulation tool for exploring climate states with a representation of global ice sheets

Laure Moinat, Florian Franziskakis, Christian Vérard, Daniel N. Goldberg, and Maura Brunetti

Geoscientific Model Development 19, 4357–4384 (2026).

DOI →
2

Comparing ecological relevance of climate velocity indices

Laure Moinat, Iaroslav Gaponenko, Stéphane Goyette, and Jérôme Kasparian

Scientific Reports 16, 8797 (2026).

DOI →
1

Tipping detection using climate networks

Laure Moinat, Jérôme Kasparian, and Maura Brunetti

Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science 34, 123161 (2024).

DOI →
View my ORCID record →
Recognition

Selected awards & grants

2026

Subside Tremplin, supporting academic development and future research independence

CHF 30,000 · University of Geneva

2025

Young Researcher & Innovator Grant

€1,400 · COST Association

2025

Outstanding Student and PhD Candidate (OSPP) Award

€2,300 · European Geosciences Union

2024

Swiss Global Change Day ProClim Best Poster Award

CHF 1,000 · Swiss Academy of Sciences

Teaching and supervision

Teaching

I enjoy teaching across physics, climate science and mathematics, with an emphasis on making complex concepts intuitive and engaging.

Nonlinear Systems · MSc Physics

Exercises, active-learning activities and assessment.

Climatology & Meteorology · MSc Environmental Science

Guest lectures in English on oceanography and climate tipping elements.

Mathematical Methods I · BSc Physics

Teaching and exercise sessions in French.

Physique Générale A · BSc Medicine

Teaching in French.

Collège du Léman

Mathematics, physics and chemistry teaching in English and French.

Supervision & mentoring

Modelling climate tipping-point cascade: the interlinked evolution of ocean circulation and Greenland ice sheet

Thomas Vitalis Lucet · Master thesis · 2026

Outreach

Educational outreach

I engage with broader audiences through scientific communication, public outreach and educational activities.

2026

MITgcm blog

Communication about BIG-MITgcm on the MITgcm blog under This Month’s Featured Publication.

2026

Sketching Science

Worked with students from the HEAD (Haute École d’Art et de Design) school to produce an illustration supporting a scientific publication.

2026

Ma Thèse en 180 secondes (MT180)

Participated in this competition to communicate my PhD research to a wider public in three minutes, qualifying for the Geneva final.

2025 & 2026

Programme Boussole

Invited talk presenting research from the Applied Physics department to high school students visiting the university and considering pursuing studies in physics.

2024

La Nuit de la Science

Promoted science and presented research conducted in the laboratory to a broader public in the city of Geneva.

Contact

Let's talk climate dynamics.

I am always happy to discuss research, collaborations, teaching, nonlinear climate dynamics and Earth-system science.

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