Recent research focuses on the quantification of land-forming processes, their related landforms and substrata by using various methods in the field and the laboratory. The main aims are the identification of these basic components (process, form, substratum) and the knowledge about their interactions during Earth surface genesis depending basically on geology and climate. The evaluated data provide the fundamental input for related research activities in applied natural hazard science and georisk management to face the obvious influences of global change. The increase and frequency of mass movements (e.g. mudflows, debris flows) due to climatic changes interfere prevalently with human activities in rural and urban areas (e.g. Tien Shan, Pamir, Alps). Climatic variations also affect weathering processes in karstic regions; as a result water and land use patterns have to be adapted.
Moreover, the geomorphologic research focuses on atmospheric influences. The results reveal effects of recent Saharan dust inputs on the development of vegetation and soil types in the high-mountainous zones of the Alps.
As mountain systems in general offer and at the same time have to face the variety of geomorphodynamics in interaction with human activities, the research expands now into the Kilimanjaro Region (Tanzania). There, climatic and hydrological changes induce e.g. erosion processes to start land degradation. Thus, questions about sustainable land use strategies integrating the traditional agriculture need to be answered to maintain stable agriculture in this outstanding East African ecosystem.
Prof. Dr. Carola Küfmann
Academic Director