Topics: GFZ

Because Earth surface dynamics depend on so many internal and external processes and their interactions, it is important to develop a holistic approach, pursuing geomorphology within a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary framework and with an eye on resolving all major processes on matching spatial and temporal scales. The research group does this with specific attention to four broad themes that encompass many of the challenges listed above. These themes are:

Research Topics

Carbon fluxes at the Earth surface over geologic and anthropogenic timescales

Identify and constrain the mechanisms by which surface processes influence the Earth’s Carbon Cycle and to develop new concepts for future landscape-scale carbon management.

Environmental seismology

We use seismic methods to observe processes at or near the Earth surface, for example, floods and landslides. Our research focus is on method development and testing, and pioneering applications in monitoring, hazard sciences, and hydrology.

From Surface Processes to Landscape Dynamics

The cumulative effect of Earth surface processes shapes landscapes over long time scales. We study these processes and the geologic archives that they create to develop our understanding of landscape dynamics under the influence of a varying climate, tectonics, and human activities.

Paleohydrological and Paleoecological Reconstruction of Landscapes

Determine sensitivities of terrestrial environments to natural drivers and human impacts on human-relevant and geological timescales.

Research Networks

REKLIM | Regional Climate Change

The Helmholtz Climate Initiative REKLIM (Regionale Klimaänderungen/Regional climate change) is a consortium of eight research centres within the Helmholtz Association. For an improved estimation of future climate change researchers need information on time duration, rate, frequency and regional patterns of long and short term climate fluctuations.