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General Geology

snow-capped montains in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan
Photo: Ed Sobel / UP
Active tectonics in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan

The research activities of our group link studies of tectonics, climate, and surface processes on different time scales with the overall goal of gaining a better understanding of these complex interacting processes that shape our planet and habitat.

These multifaceted interactions constitute some of the most fascinating areas of research in the geosciences. For example, it has long been known that tectonic processes play a vital role in the evolution of our climate, influencing atmospheric and ocean currents. However, the correct distinction between tectonically and climatically driven processes and their influence on material flow and topographic evolution is complicated by variations in tectonic rates and long-wave climate changes or short-term climate fluctuations. For example, discrepancies between erosion rates estimated over different time scales show that climate change and climatic variability have fundamental impacts on the efficiency of erosion.

Therefore, by using various radiometric dating methods, thermochronology, climate proxies in geologic archives, and satellite-based measurements of precipitation and glacier budgets, we attempt to decipher tectonically and climatically driven processes at different spatiotemporal scales. This offers unique, direct insights into process rates and their determinants, ultimately providing information on the tectonic and climatic forcing mechanisms that govern the face of the Earth.

In addition to these activities, the group is studying the long-term effects of tectonic stress-field evolution on sedimentary basins, the tectonic differentiation of terrestrial sedimentary environments, as well as the behavior of linked fault systems and landscape evolution in mountain belts and rifts.

snow-capped montains in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan
Photo: Ed Sobel / UP
Active tectonics in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan

Research Topics

Current research topics and ongoing projects are listed here.

Members

Member profiles of the General Geology Group.

Facilities

Here you can find a list of our laboratories and instruments.

Publications

Here you can find our most recent publications.

SMURF-Seminar-Logo

SMURF Seminar

Our group seminar, SMURF seminar for short, takes place every Thursday at 14:15 during the lecture period in house 27, room 2.07 or 2.24.

Prof. Dr. Peter van der Beek

WG General Geology

 

Campus Golm
House 27, Room 1.31

Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25
14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany

Prof. Manfred Strecker, PhD

WG General Geology

 

Campus Golm
Haus 27, Raum 1.33

Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25
14476 Potsdam-Golm