Glaciology

The properties and dynamics of the large ice sheets and their interaction with the atmosphere, ocean and the geological sub-surface form the central objectives of the professorship. Main applications range from pre-site survey for suitable locations for ice-core deep drilling and the subsequent support for proxy interpretation to reconstruction of paleoclimate conditions (Beyond EPICA) to the improved understanding of ice dy­namics and possible contributions of ice-mass changes to sea level rise.

Working Area

Main areas are East Antarctica, various ice streams and shelves in East and West Antarctica, as well as outlet glaciers and plateau re-gions in Greenland. Comparative studies and methodological development take also place in alpine and subarctic glaciers.

Methods

Measurements in the field are of special relevance: physical properties of the ice column with geophysical methods (groundbased and airborne radar, explosive and vibro-seismics, passive seismology); combination with geodetic (GNSS) and atmospheric observations (weather stations); close exchange with numerical ice-flow modelling, satellite remote sensing and ice-core analytics.