| Department of Geography | UZH

Earth Surface Dynamics and Processes

Improved understanding of earth surface dynamics and processes is central to both reconstructing past change and making future projections. Through our expertise in field measurements, laboratory experiments, remote sensing and numerical modelling we make significant contributions to understanding the cryosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere and biosphere, and their interactions with one another - and how human societies impact them.

We develop essential indicators used in monitoring, for example glacier mass change and biodiversity, contribute to policy at multiple temporal and spatial scales, and are experts on earth surface processes in high mountain environments, and from the poles to the tropics.

Measuring the displacement of Eqip Sermia Glacier, Greenland <br/> (Picture: A. Vieli)
Mapping functional diversity of forests with remote sensing <br/> (Picture: RSL)
The role of soil organic carbon in terrestrial feedbacks to global warming: sampling site.
Modeled current surface temperatures of the Matterhorn <br/> (Picture: J. Nötzli)
Tree rings allow the dating of landscape changes and geomorphic surface dynamics
Ablation stake drilling on Tiefengletscher, Switzerland <br/> (Picture: R. Mercenier)
Measuring leaf spectral signatures at the top of tropical trees, Malaysia <br/> (Picture: F. Schneider)

Research groups active in this cluster ...

Biogeochemistry of Soils and Sediments - Guido Wiesenberg

Climate and Glacier Change in Communication - Andreas Linsbauer

Environment and Climate - Christian Huggel

Computational SAR - Elias Mendez Dominguez

Dynamics of Glaciers and Ice Sheets - Martin Lüthi

Earth Observation Application and Services - Claudia Röösli

Earth System Science - Maria J. Santos

Environmental SAR - David Small

Geochronology - Markus Egli

Geomorphology and Permafrost - Isabelle Gärtner-Roer

Glacier Mapping and Monitoring from Space - Frank Paul

Glacier Monitoring from In-situ and Remotely Sensed Observations - Michael Zemp

Glaciology and Geomorphodynamics - Andreas Vieli

Hazards and Risks in Mountains - Holger Frey

Hillslope Hydrology - Ilja van Meerveld

Hydrological Extremes - Maria Staudinger

Hydrology and Climate - Jan Seibert

Landscape and Climate Change Genomics - Oliver Michele Selmoni

Mountain Hydrology - Daniel Viviroli

Plant Ecology and Global Change - Sofia van Moorsel

4D Remote Sensing of Forests - Felix Morsdorf

Remote Sensing of Environmental Changes - Livia Piermattei

Remote Sensing of Water Systems - Alexander Damm

Soil Science and Biogeochemistry - Michael W.I. Schmidt

Spatial Genetics - Meredith Schuman

Spectroscopy Lab - Mathias Kneubühler

Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing (TIRLab) - Kathrin Naegeli

Weiterführende Informationen

How do glaciers and the water cycle respond to climate change?

How can we extrapolate from vegetation structure to biodiversity?

How can we date landscape changes and geomorphic surfaces?

What are the interactions of vegetation, soil, and the carbon cycle?

How can we understand field observations with numerical modelling?

At which rates are landscape and soils developing and changing?