The research at the department is focused on understanding the complex inter - relationships among the major Earth systems and between the human need for alternative energy source and the consequent impact on the Earth's environment. The efforts in all directions are equally split between field/experimental work and theoretical studies. The research into climate change and the atmospheric greenhouse effect takes several directions, including climate dynamics, oceanic circulation, paleoceanography and the study of past climatic patterns, plant-environment interaction and atmospheric chemistry as the basic means to understand and predict future changes. In Hydrology, the research activity has centered on combination of field and laboratory studies with theoretical models to understand flow of water and chemicals from the ground surface, through the unsaturated zone into the geological saturated formations. The Solar Energy research is focused on all aspects of using concentrated solar light. It includes the development of new hybrid solar thermal systems, solar fuels, concentrated photovoltaic systems and solar lasers. A technology transfer to the industry was initiated as a result of this work. Our main objective to the future is to develop the scientific activity that is based on experimental studies and provides the basis for integration of field observations into mathematical models. The dynamic of the atmosphere, environmental analytical chemistry, field hydrology and climate prediction are among the main fields that we want to develop in the near future.