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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

Global greening: The Earth’s green wave is shifting

February 24, 2026

A team of scientists led by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), and Leipzig University has developed a new method to track the Earth’s greenness – a key indicator of vegetation health and activity – by calculating its centre of mass.

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.

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 news and press releases

Events

Scientific events

Joint module Meeting in Offenbach

Apr 14, 2026 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany) - Apr 16, 2026 02:00 PM

German Weather Service

BGC Scientists at European Geosciences Union General Assembly (EGU26)

May 3, 2026 01:09 PM (Local Time Germany) - May 8, 2026 01:10 PM

Vienna, Austria

Workshop 'Working in an International Research Group: Successful Interpersonal Communication and Conflict Prevention'

Jun 4, 2026 - Jun 5, 2026

Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Room: B0.002

⇒ More scientific events

Public events & Presentations

Dem CO₂ auf der Spur

Vitus Benson bei den "Osterüberraschungen aus der Wissenschaft" in der imaginata

Apr 14, 2026 11:00 AM (Local Time Germany)

Tonhalle Imaginata, Löbstedter Str. 67, Planetariumszelt

Forsche Schüler Tag 2026

Apr 23, 2026 09:00 AM - 02:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Max-Planck-Institut für Biogeochemie

Best Practice-Konzepte der Wissenschaftsvermittlung

Best Practice- Konzepte der Wissenschaftsvermittlung - Podiumsdiskussion im Rahmen des Festivals „Science Utopias“, Frankfurt/Main

Jun 6, 2026 06:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Frankfurt/Main

⇒ More public events

Seminars & colloquia

Seminar: Xu Shan

(t.b.d.)

Apr 16, 2026 02:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Colloquium: Eliza Harris

Isotopic measurements of greenhouse gases at mountain sites: Opportunities and challenges

Apr 30, 2026 02:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

⇒ More seminars/colloquia

Recent Publications

Shi, K.; Liao, J.; Delgado-Baquerizo, M.; Zou, X.; Chen, H. Y.H.; Bi, Q.-F.; Fang, Y.; Yan, Z.; Ren, T.; Ruan, H.: Forest development and seasonal variation drive functional reorganization of soil microbiomes and enzymatic activities. Catena 267, 109976 (2026)

MPG.PuRe

DOI

Alam, I.; Cheesman, A. W.; Farquhar, G. D.; Givnish, T. J.; De Kauwe, M. G.; Schulze, E. D.; Westerband, A. C.; Wright, I. J.; Cernusak, L. A.: Soil phosphorus drives subcontinental patterns of carbon isotope discrimination across Australia. New Phytologist (2026)

MPG.PuRe

DOI

Pereira Santos, A.; De Angeli, S.; Hanf, F. S.; Mirbach, C.; van Maanen, N.; Benson, V.; de Ruiter, M. C.; Dunant, A.; Terzi, S.; Schweizer, P.-J. et al.; Carvalho, T. M. N.; de Brito, M. M.; De Polt, K.; Trogrlic, R. S.; van den Homberg, M.: Workshop report—Vulnerability in multi-hazard risks: Addressing its complexity and dynamics. iScience (2026)

MPG.PuRe

DOI

Silva, P. S. C.; Tappiz, B.; Maduar, M.F.; Lakis, O.S.; Bustillos, J.O.W.V.; Botía, S. B.; Trumbore, S. E.; Hazenfratz, R.; Linhares, H. M. S. M. D.; Silva, F. A. G. et al.; Barbosa, C. G. G.; Gachkivskyi, M.; Bulthuis, S.; Tsokankunku, A.; Harder, H.: Long-term measurements of ²²²Rn in soil gas and at different height levels in Amazon tall tower observatory. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 295, 107940 (2026)

MPG.PuRe

DOI

Wang, B.; Lyu, H.; Zhang, X.; Jiang, M.; Medlyn, B. E.; Wårlind, D.; Knauer, J.; Fleischer, K.; Goll, D. S.; Olin, S. et al.; Yang, X.; Yu, L.; Zaehle, S.; Zhang, H.; Schufft, K.; Crous, K. Y.; Carrillo, Y.; Macdonald, C. A.; Anderson, I. C.; Boer, M. M.; Farrell, M.; Gherlenda, A.; Castañeda-Gómez, L.; Hasegawa, S.; Jarosch, K.; Milham, P.; Ochoa-Hueso, R.; Pathare, V.; Pihlblad, J.; Piñeiro, J.; Power, S. A.; Reich, P. B.; Riegler, M.; Ellsworth, D. S.; Smith, B.: Phosphorus enrichment does not enlarge the predicted CO₂ fertilization effect on forest carbon sequestration. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 123 (12), e2516152123 (2026)

MPG.PuRe

DOI

Pu, J.; Gao, S.; Yan, K.; Sun, X.; Winkler, A.; Wang, Q.; Mynen, R. B.: Disentangling the effects of FPAR, CO₂, and climate on terrestrial vegetation productivity trends over two decades (2001–2023). Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 382, 111122 (2026)

MPG.PuRe

DOI

All publications