His scientific interests lie mostly in Climatology, Climate change, Climate model, Atmospheric sciences and Sea surface temperature. In his study, Shortwave and Meteorology is strongly linked to ECHAM, which falls under the umbrella field of Climatology. His Climate change research incorporates themes from Madden–Julian oscillation and Greenhouse gas.

Erich Roeckner has researched Climate model in several fields, including Atmospheric convection, Teleconnection and Forcing. The various areas that Erich Roeckner examines in his Atmospheric sciences study include Cloud albedo and Precipitation. His study in the field of Pacific decadal oscillation also crosses realms of Flux.