13.07.2015: Within the framework of the research project PALEX (Paleoclimate in the Eastern Mediterranean Region – Levante: Paleohydrology and Extreme Flood Events) sedimentologists, hydrologists and geochemists from Germany, Israel and Palestine are carrying out joint research. On 13 and 14 July all participating partners are getting together for the Kick-off Workshop in Potsdam from where the project  is being coordinated by the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section Climate Dynamics and Landscape Evolution.

Model scenarios for the Dead Sea region predict increasing drought with progressing global warming. This would affect millions of people living in this region.  In order to better assess possible future changes in this vulnerable area, a basic understanding of the hydrological development is necessary. In spite of enormous progress in climate research there are still considerable knowledge gaps with respect to important processes within the climate system and its reaction to human intervention. “Research links people from different nations, cultures and religions and leads to peace” underlines the leading PALEX speaker, Prof. Achim Brauer, from the GFZ on Monday during the opening of the project at the WIS – Wissenschaftsetage im Bildungsforum Potsdam (Floor of Science, Potsdam).

PALEX focuses on extreme hydro-meteorological events, such as heavy flooding and the resulting impact on the sedimentation. For this data are derived from the long sediment profiles of the ICDP drilling in the Dead Sea. In particular, the hypothesis that changes in the frequency and magnitude of the flooding event are dependent on short and long term climate change is being investigated. PALEX places particular emphasis on knowledge transfer and enhanced international collaboration with regard to human resources and technology. The German Science Foundation (DFG) is funding the project with 800.000 Euro for the first two-year phase.

Link to coordininating GFZ-Section "Climate Dynamics and Landscape Evolution" 

Linkto Palestinian partner Al Quds University in Jerusalem

Link toIsraeli partner Hebrew University in Jerusalem