GRK 2698: Geophysical modelling of vertical motion processes constrained by geodetic and geological observations (UPLIFT)

地球岩石圈的垂直运动（隆起）发生在不同的空间和时间尺度上。通常认为主要与板块构造机制和均衡调整有关，但很明显，与地幔有关的强迫，特别是地幔柱，是世界许多地区隆升事件的重要贡献者。这使得垂直运动成为研究岩石圈下过程的有力探测器。由于观测方法（如卫星任务）和数据分析技术（如数字地质图）的重大改进，大地测量和地质限制已经越过了一个门槛，使它们成为为地球动力学模型提供信息的宝贵来源。后者反过来又为复杂的景观演变过程提供了关键的见解。在这里，我们第一次寻求应用地球动力学，大地测量学和地质学的跨学科方法来回答当代地球物理学中最紧迫的科学和社会相关问题之一，即外源和内源强迫的相互作用如何形成从景观演变到地震发生的各种过程。只有综合解释具有不同时空敏感性的跨学科观测，并结合物理模型，才能使我们理清不同的隆升机制。这一跨学科研究的方法导向性质需要一个研究培训小组，其基础是两所申请大学在贡献领域存在广泛的专门知识。在地球物理、大地测量学和地质学领域拥有卓越国际声誉的科学实力雄厚的团队，加上顶级的高性能计算能力，这种特殊的环境在德国是独一无二的，在世界范围内也是罕见的。量身定制的资格课程嵌入到由两所申请大学运营的慕尼黑地质中心的现有基础设施中。资格和研究计划的具体要素将在跨学科和国际研究环境中培养博士候选人的科学成就，并将培养不仅能够在各自学科中进行深入科学研究，而且具有跨学科工作能力的年轻研究人员。由此产生的形象是非常需要的，以应对当今巨大的地球科学挑战，并将为未来在科学和工业领域的顶级职业生涯提供极好的机会。

Vertical motion of the Earth’s lithosphere (uplift) occurs on different spatial and temporal scales. Commonly assumed to be primarily related to plate tectonic mechanisms and isostatic adjustment, it has become clear that mantle related forcing and in particular mantle plumes are a significant contributor to uplift events in many regions of the world. This makes vertical motions a powerful probe into sublithospheric processes. Due to significant improvements of observational methods (such as satellite missions) and data analysis techniques (such as digital geological maps), geodetic and geological constraints have crossed a threshold whereby they have become invaluable sources to inform geodynamic models. The latter in turn provide key insight into complex landscape evolution processes. Here, for the first time, we seek to apply an interdisciplinary approach of geodynamics, geodesy and geology to answer one of the most pressing scientifically and societally relevant questions of contemporary geophysics, namely how the interaction of exo- and endogenic forcing shapes a diverse array of processes from landscape evolution to the occurrence of earthquakes. Only a combined interpretation of interdisciplinary observations with different spatial and temporal sensitivity, in conjunction with physical models, will enable us to disentangle the different uplift mechanisms. The method-oriented nature of this interdisciplinary research calls for a Research Training Group, based on the fact that extensive expertise in the contributing fields exists at the two applicant universities. This specific setting at one location of scientifically strong groups with excellent international reputation in the fields of geophysics, geodesy and geology, complemented by top-level high-performance computing capabilities, is a unique situation in Germany and a rare one worldwide. The tailored qualification programme is embedded in the existing infrastructure of the Munich Geocenter operated by the two applicant universities. Specific elements of the qualification and study programme will foster scientific excellence of doctoral candidates in an interdisciplinary and international research environment, and shall produce young researchers capable not only to do in-depth science in their respective disciplines, but having the competence to work beyond disciplines. The resulting profile is highly needed to work on today’s big geoscientific challenges, and will provide excellent chances for future top-level careers in science and industry.