Reconstruction of geodynamic processes

Processes that take place in the Earth’s interior and on the surface – for instance orogeny, volcanism, metamorphism, meteorite impacts and erosion – are active over geological time spans and have longterm effects on the evolution of our planet. To gain insight into the underlying processes, the presentday image of our planet and its interactions with the solar system are integrated with the geological evolution.

Research in this area, which takes place across different scales, comprises geophysical methods, remote sensing, geological mapping and visualisation, data structuring in terms of space and time, radiometric dating of rocks, characterisation of the pressure, temperature and deformation conditions of rocks, investigation of material behaviour under crustal and mantle conditions, geochemical analyses to determine deposition environment and the provenance of sedimentary and igneous rocks, as well as numerical modelling of geodynamic processes.

The goal is to obtain a better understanding of the structure and geological evolution of the Earth, both at the global level (e.g. plate tectonic processes, formation and erosion of alpine mountains) and with regard to the assessment of specific risks, such as earthquakes and meteorite impacts. Close cooperation with the industry allows application in the field of oil deposits and fossil fuels with focus on the formation and recovery of oil and gas.