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）发生在不同的时空尺度上。通常认为主要与板块构造机制和均衡调整有关，但很明显，与地幔有关的作用力，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工具。由于观测方法（如卫星飞行任务）和数据分析技术（如数字地质图）的重大改进，大地测量和地质制约因素已跨越一个门槛，成为地球动力学模型的宝贵信息来源。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，第一次，我们试图应用地球动力学，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最紧迫的科学和社会相关的问题之一，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。只有结合物理模型，对具有不同时空敏感性的跨学科观测结果进行综合解释，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拥有广泛的专业知识。在地球物理学、大地测量学和地质学领域享有良好国际声誉的科学实力雄厚的团体集中在一个地点，再加上顶级的高性能计算能力，这在德国是一种独特的情况，在全世界也是罕见的。量身定制的资格认证计划嵌入由两所申请大学运营的慕尼黑地理中心的现有基础设施中。资格和研究计划的具体内容将促进博士候选人在跨学科和国际研究环境中的科学卓越性，并将培养年轻的研究人员，他们不仅能够在各自的学科中进行深入的科学研究，而且有能力超越学科开展工作。由此产生的配置文件是非常需要的工作在今天的大地球科学的挑战，并将提供良好的机会，为未来的顶级职业生涯在科学和工业。

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.