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Institute for Geology

Photo: Thorben Amann

Biogeochemistry

Since 2013 the former Institute of Biogeochemistry and Marine Chemistry (IfBM) is part of the newly founded Institute of Geology (IfG). The department of Biogeochemistry investigates recent and past element cycles (especially of carbon and nitrogen) in marine and limnic systems as well as in sediments. The detailed investigation and the understanding of recent processes facilitate an improved interpretation of archives with respect to element cycles of the geological history which can be deciphered for example from geochemical and isotope geochemical sediment characteristics. The understanding of recent processes, furthermore, improves the predictability of the reaction of element cycles to climate change.
The working group successfully cooperates with the research division Biogeochemistry in Coastal Seas at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht.

Research Team: Prof. Dr. K.-C. Emeis, Dr. Nicole Burdanowitz, Dr. Birgit Gaye,  Natalie Harms, Frauke Langenberg, Dr. Niko Lahajnar, Mark Metzke, Dr. Tim Rixen, Shichao Tian

Research topics of the working group are

  • Investigate particle fluxes in the ocean using long-term sediment trap deployments, analyze natural and anthropogenic induced particle flux patterns using mineralogical, geochemical and isotopic characteristics of sinking particles, suspended matter and surface sediments.
  • Quantify land-ocean interaction with a focus on isotopic fingerprints in carbon and nitrogen fluxes (particulate and dissolved, organic and inorganic) in rivers, marginal seas and the ocean. Effects of transformation processes (epi- and diagenesis) on the isotopic signature of sedimentary archives, palaeorecontructions of sedimentary depositional environments in lakes, coastal and marginal seas, as well as the deep sea
  • Characteristics and dynamics of DOC (dissolved organic carbon) in fresh and saltwater; development of methods to determine carbon isotopic ratios of DOC and polar as well as size fractioned compounds.
  • Investigation of sources and sinks of climate relevant trace gases such as CO2, CH4 and halogenated hydrocarbons in rivers and the sea using stable carbon isotopic ratios.