Climate House, Bremerhaven, Germany

Everyone talks about the weather, but what factors determine the climate? At the Germany's new Klimahaus (Climate house in German) museum in Bremerhaven 8° East longitude, we can get the answers that are both scientifically supported and fascinating. It offered a great journey into the world of the climate with unique world of knowledge and adventure.
Early this month, my friend Arasu (working for UTC Fire & Security) shared info about this Climate house, for which UTC has done the fire security systems. We were fascinated to visit and planned our trip on 20-Sep-2009. I have made Eleven short (weekend)/long trips from Hamburg across Europe in the past 8 months, and all the trips were nice, enjoyable but nothing serious and thrilling. This trip brought that experience, read on...!!
The plan was to catch 0715 train from Hamburg, but Hari (third person in the trip) got delayed and missed the train. Arasu and I, sitting inside the running train were discussing on mobile with Hari, who missed it. A rush of thought came to me as to get down in the next station (Harburg), go back to Hamburg and catch the next train to Bremerhaven (reason: this is the last trip for Arasu as he leaves India soon and first trip of Hari with us). We speedily got down at Harburg and rushed towards local train station to catch the next train to Hamburg. Arasu was on mobile with Hari saying that we are getting back to Hamburg, suddenly I saw the back bag of Arasu missing on his shoulders; a rush of Adrenalin: WE MISSED HIS BAG IN THE TRAIN!! Ran to the platform where we got down from the train, but German punctuality, the train has already left the station. The bag had Arasu's favorite jacket, Sony camera, my Nikon camera and other stuff, thank God, not our passports. No idea what to do, the entire platform is empty, who will be there on a cold sunday morning! We decided to go to the info center and went up, explained the mishap to the German. He asked the color of the bag and which wagon we missed it, I said it was Wagon 8, he smiled and replied "The train runs with 6 wagons!". I don’t know, whether it was tension or what feeling, even the numbers were confusing to recollect...
He called two people over phone and detailed our issue, he told to go to Bremen (a station on the way to Bremerhaven) and collect the bag. He was not that promising and we left the place back to Hamburg to meet Hari. Arasu was perplexed, even me. But no idea, I had an unknown confidence like we will get back everything. May be the confidence was from seeing, moving and working with Germans for 8 months, as well appreciating their earnestness. We reached Hamburg and caught 0815 train back to Bremerhaven, this time with Hari and without the bag!! Reached Bremen at 0930 (2hrs passed without bag), while getting down Arasu queried "how much you are sure we will get the bag", I replied 99.9% and we went to info center. While Arasu was explaining the happenings to the German sitting at the info center, my eyes scanned his cubicle, I saw our Orange bag in the corner, I never interrupt other's conversation, but this time no discipline, I shouted 'there is our bag', the German dint ask any further details, coolly returned the bag. The feeling was tremendous, we caught the next train to Bremerhaven and reached the Klimahaus at 1100 with the enthuse and charm to enjoy the day.
The Klimahaus comprises of four exhibition areas: The Journey, The Elements, Perspectives, and Opportunities. The journey beginning and ending in Bremerhaven, always following the 8th degree of longitude! It passes though a whole range of climate zones and we encountered virtual people whose daily lives are profoundly influenced by each prevalent climate. We experienced extremes of temperature and discover fascinating creatures and plants.
The first region was Isenthal – Switzerland. We can experience the alpine climate of the glacier, Wander across a lush green meadow, past the cows, up the mountain, through stark rock formations to the glacier.
The second region was Sardinien – Italy, we can take an insect’s eye view of things and become part of the microcosm! Gigantic stalks of grass rise up. Above our head a large butterfly wings its way through the air, signifying the famous butterfly effect (The beat of a butterfly’s wings can result in a distant mighty storm).
The third region was Kanak – Nigeria, the Sahara and the arid heat of the desert which is spreading at great speed through Northern Africa is visualised not only by means of the sand and rock installations, but also with a shimmering steel wall of heat: the temperature is 35°C, the “sun” beats down mercilessly from above.
The fourth region was Ikenge – Cameroon, perfect simulation of a Rainforest – hot and humid tropical climate. The importance of the rainforest for the local inhabitants is shown at the outset of the exhibition area for Cameroon. On the forest floor the air is filled with various scents, strange sounds can be heard everywhere, and it is dark... a winding path leads through this exotic world, ending at a village scene of mud huts. In the rivers cape we came across exotic fishes which can be observed from a hanging bridge.
The fifth region was the world's uninhabited continent, Queen-Maud-Land – Antartica, it was a cold room, floor and walls are covered with real ice and temperatures dropped down to -6°C (21°F). Leaving the room we were caught up into the upper heights of the atmosphere. A climb of 65m long walkway through the night sky towards the dawn. Below was the topmost layers of clouds, above was the endless reaches of the universe. Iit was like we are at the edge of the world with the stars as the only source of light!!

The sixth region was Satitoa – Samoa, the place of tropical humid warmth, turquoise water and a fine sandy beach. There were aquariums on the sides, and we gradually submerge deeper into a fringing reef. A number of display aquariums illustrate the tropical underwater world off Samoa as faithfully to the original as humanly possible. Ranging from the shallow lagoon over the reef crest and the transition to the open sea.
The seventh region was Gambell – Alaska, in the Bering Strait, on the edge of the Arctic, we came face to face with a culture stretched between a society of hunters and foragers and the “American way of life”. The problems and hopes of the indigenous people, their normal daily life on an island cut off from the rest of the world, in a raw climate which is now changing, it was indeed marvelous.
The eighth region is Hallig Langenesse, Germany. The place where high tidal floods spilling over the island, the raging North Sea all around. We can see that the coastal protection workers are raising the height of the summer dike. But because of the Global warming, the next storm tide won’t be too far away and soon the island will be missing from the world's map!! It took 5hrs for us to cover these eight regions, we never felt the time running and it was a memorable journey across the globe, never thought I will go for a ride like this virtually!!
The Elements exhibition area details more than 100 interactive displays illustrating the physics of the climate, its complex interdependencies and numbers of amazing phenomena. The Perspectives area detailed the history of the climate, ranging from the origins of the Earth 3.9 thousand million years ago and looking forward to the year 2050. Couldn’t make into the Opportunities as it was closed, as well we were exhausted physically as well as mentally, brain has limit to grasp info at a time, we felt the saturation of that!!! Departed Bremerhaven (53°N Longitude 8°E Latitude) to Hamburg (53°N Longitude 9°E Latitude) with a great knowledge update on our world's climate and its interdependence! One more pleasant but a thrilling trip... See you in next blog: its from PRAGUE, Czech Republic!