Exterior view of the institute

Welcome at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry


Focus on the Earth

Our research is dedicated to the study of global biogeochemical cycles describing the interactions between the biosphere, the atmosphere, the geosphere and the entire climate system. We aim to better understand how living organisms - including humans - exchange basic resources such as water, carbon, nutrients, and energy with their environment and how this affects ecosystems and climate at regional to global scales. 

We stand for a Thuringia open to the world

We support the initiative Weltoffenes Thüringen!

We are committed to ensuring that people from different backgrounds live and work together respectfully.

News

Morning mist over the Amazon rainforest.

Amazon rainforest turned into carbon source during the extreme drought in 2023

February 16, 2026
Amazon Rainforest Carbon Cycle Drought Research project ATTO Santiago Botia Sönke Zaehle Susan Trumbore
The Amazon rainforest experienced unusually high temperatures and atmospheric dryness in 2023. Observations from ATTO and further data revealed that the vegetation’s uptake of carbon was above average early in the year, but drastically reduced during the drought season, leading from a carbon sink into a source.
more
Portrait Armin Jordan

Outstanding publication award for advancement in atmospheric hydrogen observations

February 03, 2026
Armin Jordan Auszeichnung Award
The EGU journal “Atmospheric Measurement Techniques” has granted its annual “Outstanding Publication Award” for a publication on long-term atmospheric observations of molecular hydrogen (H2), co-authored by Armin Jordan from GasLab.
more
Directors of MPI for Biogeochemistry

Nominations sought for the position of Director at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry

January 01, 2026
Personalia
The Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, Germany, expects to have an opening for a director and scientific member of the Max Planck Society (MPG) in the general field of ecosystem ecology and biogeochemical cycles in the Earth System and related areas.
more
More news and press releases

Events

Scientific events

IMPRS retreat 2026

Mar 3, 2026 - Mar 4, 2026

IMPRS Selection Symposium

Mar 10, 2026 - Mar 11, 2026

Winter School “AI for Earth Hazards & Climate Extremes”

Mar 16, 2026 - Mar 20, 2026
National Technical University of Athens, Greece
⇒ More scientific events

Public events & Presentations

Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften 2026

Nov 20, 2026 06:00 PM - 11:55 PM (Local Time Germany)
MPI-BGC
⇒ More public events

Seminars & colloquia

Seminar: Yuchen Bai

Pulse fragmentation-induced uncertainty in forest LAI mapping using UAV LiDAR
Feb 26, 2026 02:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Colloquium: Rebecca Scholten

What Governs Fire Extremes and Their Global Impacts?
Mar 9, 2026 11:00 AM (Local Time Germany)

Colloquium: Ralf Minor

Leaky STEM Pipeline
Mar 19, 2026 02:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Seminar: Christian Reimers

Understanding the effects of meteorology on plant phenology using transformer networks
Apr 2, 2026 02:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
⇒ More seminars/colloquia

Recent Publications

Finck, J.; Chowdhury, S.; Griffiths, R. I.; Malik, A. A.; Eisenhauer, N.; Lange, M.; Mendes, L. W.; Gleixner, G.: Plant diversity induces shifts from microbial generalists to specialist by enhancing niche differentiation, microbiome connectivity, and network stability in a temperate grassland. Environmental Microbiome (2026)
MPG.PuRe
DOI
post-print
External
Jin, Z.; Liu, L.; Yang, Q.; Jia, X.; Tao, S.; Guo, Y.; Ghosh, R.; Wang, S.; Zhu, Q.; Jung, M. et al.; Guan, K.; Kumar, V.; Reichstein, M.; Fang, J.; Luo, Y.: Knowledge-guided machine learning for global change ecology research. Global Change Biology 32 (2), e70742 (2026)
MPG.PuRe
DOI
Feng, M.; Sexton, J. O.; Wang, P.; Montesano, P. M.; Calle, L.; Carvalhais, N.; Poulter, B.; Macander, M. J.; Wulder, M. A.; Wooten, M. et al.; Wagner, W.; Elders, A.; Channan, S.; Neigh, C. S.R.: Northward shift of boreal tree cover confirmed by satellite record. Biogeosciences 23 (3), pp. 1089 - 1101 (2026)
MPG.PuRe
DOI
publisher-version
supplementary-material
External
Kalinski, J.-C.; Brandã o da Costa, B. R.; Schramm, T.; Buckett, L. R.; Carlson, L. T.; Coffey, N. R.; Damiani, T.; Dechent, E.; El Abiead, Y.; Heuckeroth, S. et al.; Jennings, E. K.; Kaesler, J.; Stock, N. L.; Orme, A. M.; Torres, R. R.; Trojahn, S.; Whelton, H. L.; Yan, Y.; Aron, A. T.; Boiteau, R. M.; Bull, I. D.; Dorrestein, P. C.; Dang, D. H.; Evershed, R. P.; Gledhill, M.; Gleixner, G.; Haas, A. F.; Hansen, M.; Harder, T.; Hopmans, E. C.; Ingalls, A. E.; Karst, U.; Kew, W.; Soule, M. K.; Koch, B. P.; Kujawinski, E. B.; Lechtenfeld, O. J.; Longnecker, K.; Pluskal, T.; Pohnert, G.; Redman, Z. C.; Rivas-Ubach, A.; Schmitt-Kopplin, P.; Singer, G.; Tebben, J.; Tomco, P. L.; Ward, N. D.; Aluwihare, L. I.; Simon, C.; Hawkes, J.; Petras, D.: Comparability of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis of dissolved organic matter across laboratories. Environmental Science & Technology (2026)
MPG.PuRe
DOI
post-print
supplementary-material
External
Negron-Juarez, R.; Feng, Y.; Sheil, D.; Keller, M.; Ordway, E. M.; Marra, D. M.; Urquiza-Muñoz, J. D.: Widespread forest disturbance from windthrow in central African rainforests. npj Natural Hazards 3, 9 (2026)
MPG.PuRe
DOI
publisher-version
supplementary-material
External
All publications
Web-View
Print Page
Open in new window
Estimated DIN-A4 page-width
Go to Editor View