Geo-colloquium programme
Program Winter-Semester 2024/25 |
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07.11.202413:15, Lecture hall C.011 Dr. Or Bialik (U Münster)Upwelling, Productivity, and Initiation of the Modern South Asian MonsoonAbstract: Reorganization of ocean gateways and global cool fundamentally shifted weather and ocean systems. In the Indian Ocean, these two paired to radically shift the productivity patterns. This talk will explore some of this reorganization and what they can tell us about the large-scale shifts in the Earth’s system Vita: Researcher at the University of Münster, beginning next year as a Senior Scientists at the National Institute of Oceanography in Israel. Studies climate change in the modern and geological past as it expresses itself in marine systems Invited by: Stefanie Kaboth-Bahr |
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14.11.202413:15, Lecture hall C.011 Dr. Katharina Otto (DLR Berlin)Regolith Morphologies on Volatile-Rich AsteroidsAbstract: Asteroids have been the target of many recent space missions. These missions revealed that their surfaces, which are exposed to the harsh environment of space including radiation, extreme temperature variations and the vacuum of space, is covered with a soil-like layer of rocks called regolith. Under the given environment and through the processes acting on a small body surfaces, regolith shapes a distinct morphology that is observable though space missions on multiple scales using orbiters, landers and returned samples. This presentation focuses on the regolith morphology of volatile-rich asteroids, including Bennu and Ryugu, and shows examples of what we have learned about these fascinating bodies from space mission observations at various scales. Vita: Katharina Otto’s research focusses on the exploration of small solar system bodies using space mission data. She is interested in understanding how the processes that shape small body surfaces interact and how they can be evidenced through the morphology of a small body. As a researcher at the German Aerospace Center’s (DLR) Institute of Planetary Research in Berlin-Adlershof, Katharina has been a member of the science teams of multiple small body space missions including Dawn, Rosetta, Hayabusa2, MMX and Psyche. Invited by: Ralf Jaumann |
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21.11.202413:15, Lecture hall C.011 Imogen Doyle (Massey University, New Zealand)Exploring Paleohydrology in New ZealandAbstract: There is a poor understanding of past frequency, magnitude and catchment response to extreme events in New Zealand due to limited records and the relatively short human history. Recent, extreme flood events in New Zealand and elsewhere have demonstrated the impacts and risks posed by high-magnitude low-frequency flooding. This talk will discuss the current understanding of flood frequency in New Zealand, the current knowledge gap and the findings of on-going investigations into the paleohydrological history of two New Zealand rivers. Vita: Imogen is a PhD student at Massey University, New Zealand. Focusing on the Holocene, her research interests include landscape evolution, New Zealand paleoclimatology, and the processes influencing proxy record development. Her current projects take a multidisciplinary approach, utilizing a wide range of analysis techniques such as ITRAX core scanning, CT scanning, palynology, quantitative sedimentology and geochemistry to develop paleoenvironmental records from meander bends and to understand spatiotemporal trends in catchment behavior. She is based in Dunedin, New Zealand, at the University of Otago from where she obtained her BSc and MSc. Invited by: The Sedimentary Systems Group |
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28.11.202413:15, Lecture hall C.011 Dr. Thomas Mueller (U Göttingen)Old rocks - new ideas: Insights into early Earth's development preserved in Greenland's Isua Supracrustal BeltAbstract: The early Earth underwent significant transitions from magma oceans to proto-lithosphere and subsequently to the formation of tectonic plates as observed in the present day. Despite the significance of these continuous transformations in rendering the Earth habitable, the tectonic modes, timing, and conditions of metamorphic crustal processes during the Archean remain inadequately understood. This presentation will elucidate the findings of our research on the evolution of the Isua supracrustal belt (ISB), Greenland. Petrographic, geochemical, and geochronological data will be presented to determine the conditions and timing of tectono-metamorphic events that shaped the ISB between 3.8 and 2.6 Ga. The evolution of the belt will be contextualized within the global onset of plate tectonics, reassessing the status of the ISB as the earliest evidence of plate tectonics. Invited by: Alex Webb |
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05.12.202413:15, Lecture hall C.011 Dr. Nicolas Brantut (GFZ Potsdam)Role of fluids in the dynamics of faulting in the crust: A view from the laboratoryAbstract: Faulting in the Earth's crust is coupled to fluid pressure: fracture and frictional strength are directly controlled by the difference between tectonically applied stress and fluid pressure. In addition, faulting impacts the pore space of the fault zones and their surroundings, by producing additional porosity (dilation) or reducing availabel pore space (compaction), thus producing variations in fluid pressure. To explore how fluid pressure variations are coupled to rock deformation and fault slip, we conducted laboratory rock failure experiments under upper crustal conditions. Our results show that (1) pore space dilation has the potential to stabilise failure, and (2) that long-term fluid flow in and out of a fault can produce significant afterslip, a process that had not been recognised before. We also show that (3) on-fault dilation and off-fault compaction co-exist during rock failure, producing very large local pore pressure gradients. Overall, our results reveal a surprising spatio-temporal complexity of fluid flow patterns which directly impact fault dynamics in nature, and might be the source of slow slip, seismic swarms and rapid afterslip. Vita: I graduated my PhD from the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris in 2010. I spend my early career at University College London, UK, and as of July 2024 I was holding the title of Professor of Geophysics (now honorary). In 2024 I moved to GFZ as Group Leader. I have been the recipient of several awards and prizes, including Early Career Awards from both EGU and AGU, President's award of the Geological Society of London, a NERC Independent Research Fellowship, 2 ERC grants (starting and consolidator), and a Philip Leverhulme Prize from the Leverhulme Trust. http://www.normalesup.org/~brantut/ Invited by: Timm John |
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12.12.202413:15, Lecture hall C.011 Dr. Ruth Esther Delina (GFZ Potsdam)From rocks to waste: Tracing the fate of chromium in mining-impacted lateritic environmentsAbstract: Chromium, particularly its toxic Cr(VI) species, poses significant environmental challenges in the mining and processing of nickel from laterites developed over ultramafic rocks. This talk will discuss the speciation and mobilization of chromium from the weathering of ultramafic rocks to the formation of nickel laterite deposits, all the way to the generation of mine wastes. By understanding these pathways, we can now better predict and mitigate environmental risks, supporting the sustainable management of nickel laterite resources. Vita: Ruth recently defended her PhD at the Freie Universität Berlin. Based at GFZ Potsdam, she specializes in the environmental mineralogy and geochemistry of ore deposits, specifically focusing on nickel laterite mining regions. Her projects involve a suite of methods, including field measurements, experimental investigations (e.g., mineral synthesis, chemical extractions, high pressure and temperature leaching), laboratory-based analysis (e.g., XRD, S/TEM), and synchrotron-based spectroscopy. She will soon start her new role as an Experimental Geochemist at the British Geological Survey. Invited by: Timm John |
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09.01.202513:15, Lecture hall C.011 Dr. Ralf Halama (U Halle)Nitrogen (in) rocks – the geological nitrogen cycleAbstract: The geological cycle of volatile elements such as nitrogen determines their distribution and exchange between the reservoirs of the solid Earth (core, mantle and crust), the ocean and the atmosphere. This presentation shows the fundamental aspects of nitrogen geochemistry, which has made great progress through studies on terrestrial samples and through experimental and theoretical studies. A special focus will be on the role of subduction zones for nitrogen transport and the continental crust as nitrogen reservoir. Vita: Ralf Halama received his doctorate on alkaline igneous rocks from the Gardar Province (South Greenland) at the University of Tübingen and his habilitation on the investigation of geochemical recycling processes using stable isotope systems at the University of Kiel. After 9 years as a lecturer in Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology at Keele University (UK), he moved to the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg in 2024, where he represents the topics of Petrology/Geochemistry. Invited by: Timm JohnResearch page: https://www.geologie.uni-halle.de/igw/mingeo/Forschung_Degradation/geochemie-stickstoff.html |
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16.01.202513:15, Lecture hall C.011 Dr. Christiane Stephan-ScherbMineralogy Meets Materials Science - Research Insights for the Sustainable Use of Our ResourcesAbstract: The sustainable use of our ressources covers aspects like the long-time use of materials which are already in service and material-design for more efficient processes. The complementary use of mineralogical techniques (microscopy, diffraction and spectroscopy) helps to understand physico-chemical processes on various length scales. The presentation will focus on material degradation phenomena and the tailor made design of materials for the long-term use of technical components and infrastructure. Insights will be given into the analysis of corrosion processes on various length scales of conventional and innovative materials. Vita: Christiane Stephan-Scherb is professor for mineralogy and geochemistry at Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg. Her research focusses on topics of applied mineralogy, materials behavior under challenging atmospheres and in-situ analyses of chemico-physical processes at surfaces and interfaces. She studied mineralogy at Leipzig University and got her doctorate from Freie Universität Berlin (FU) in collaboration with Helmholtz-Centre-Berlin for Materials and Energy. From 2014 – 2021, Christiane Stephan-Scherb hold a joint juniorprofessorship between Freie Universität Berlin and Federal Institute for Materials Research and Tests (BAM). Before joining Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, she was scientic officer at the Federal Institute for the Safety of Nuclear Waste disposal Invited by: Susan Schorr |
Stephan-Scherb et al., 2022, Corrosion Science, 203 |
23.01.202513:15, Lecture hall C.011 Dr. Alan HastieForming the Continental CrustAbstract: TBD
Invited by: Elis Hoffmann |
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30.01.202513:15, Lecture hall C.011 Dr. Andreas Hübner (FU Berlin)FAIR and Open Research Data Practices in the Earth SciencesAbstract: The concepts of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data and open data are closely related but distinct, each highlighting different aspects of managing and sharing research data. Researchers often seek clarification on what this entails and what is expected of them by their university or research funders to make their data FAIR and open. This presentation will provide a concise overview of these concepts and offer practical examples of how researchers can make their data FAIR and open. Specifically, this includes depositing research outputs in trustworthy, community-accepted repositories, thoroughly documenting each dataset, properly citing data and software, and including a data availability statement in journal publications. Additionally, researchers should develop and implement data management plans to ensure the long-term accessibility and usability of their data.
Invited by: Elis Hoffmann |
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06.02.202513:15, Lecture hall C.011 Dr. Sanjeev GuptaGeology of MarsAbstract: TBD Vita: TBD Invited by: Sebastian Walter |
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13.02.202513:15, Lecture hall C.011 Dr. Matthias Hinderer (U Darmstadt)A 600 years pollution history reconstructed from lake sediments – an interdisciplinary case study in southern GermanyAbstract: Lakes next to prehistoric and historic urban settlements were exposed to human activities much earlier than the often-assumed natural reference conditions before 1800 AD. The impact and exact mechanisms, however, often remain speculative due to overlapping of climatic and anthropogenic signals as well as a lack of historical evidence. An interdisciplinary team studied the preindustrial environmental impact of socio-economic development of the medieval city of Bad Waldsee on lake Stadtsee which offers a continuous record of mostly seasonally laminated sediments. Vita: Matthias Hinderer studied Geology and Palaeontology at the Universität Tübingen. His Ph.D. was dedicated to groundwater acidification due to acid rain. He completed his postdoc with a habilitation on climate-controlled denudation-accumulation-systems. In 2001, he got appointed as professor for Applied Sedimentology at Technische Universität Darmstadt. In this time, he led many projects on sediment flux, sediment provenance, reservoir sedimentology and sediments as environmental and palaeoclimatic archives and published around 100 international papers. For almost 20 years he was active in several boards of DFG. Invited by: Stefanie Kaboth-Bahr |
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