Current Projects

The Arctic Methane and Permafrost Challenge (AMPAC) is a transatlantic initiative by NASA and ESA. The project strives to address key questions related to the Arctic methane cycle in the context of climate change. Activities include synergistic assimilation of measurements, improvement of satellite retrievals with a clear focus on high latitudes, and promoting new dedicated satellite sensors as well as improving validation of existing and upcoming satellite missions. AMPAC-net is a networking activity bringing together experts in remote sensing (terrestrial and atmosphere), in situ measurements in permafrost environments and geospatial data dissemination in order to facilitate activities encompassing gap analyses, data collection, benchmarking and Bottom-up Top-down synthesis. more

Earth system and climate studies at the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO)
Duration: 8/2021 - 3/2025
Funding: BMBF (Grant ID: 01LK2101A)
Contact: Susan Trumbore more

Duration: 09/2024 - 08/2027
Funding: BMBF
Contact: Sönke Zaehle
Projekt 01LP2401D

Duration: 9/2025 - 8/2028
Funding: DLR, MPG
Participating Department Members: Christoph Gerbig, Michal Galkowski, Nicolo de Santis


The CoMet 3.0 (Carbon Dioxide and Methane Mission for HALO 3.0 Tropics) mission aims to learn more about the distribution and temporal variation of the two most important anthropogenically-influenced greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) in the Tropics. Aircraft-based instruments using both remote sensing and in-situ techniques will carry out measurements of these trace gases and tracers related to their emissions in Brazil. The results will help to better understand the global methane and carbon cycles. This mission makes use of the German research aircraft HALO, which will operate out of Cuiaba (state of Mato Grosso, Brazil) during the months July-September 2026. more

Acronym: ESM2025
Duration: 6/2021 - 5/2025
PI/Co-PIs: Nuno Carvalhais, Sönke Zaehle
Participating department members: Nuno Carvalhais, Sönke Zaehle

Earth system models for the future is an ambitious European research project on Earth System modelling that will build a novel generation of Earth system models fitted to support the development of mitigation and adaptation strategies in line with the commitments of the Paris Agreement. more

The overall objective of GreenFeedBack is to enhance our understanding of key processes of the terrestrial
biosphere - freshwater - ocean continuum in surface-atmosphere GHG exchange, the connection between them, and the impacts from human pressures. We will primarily focus on enhancing our understanding of the GHG exchange processes, biogeochemical cycles and feedback mechanisms in high latitude terrestrial and freshwater systems, marine shelves and ocean areas and thereby advance the process-based representation of ecosystems in Earth System Models (ESM), allowing for more certain climate change projections from which climate mitigation and adaptation strategies can be evaluated.  more

Duration: 1/2024 - 12/2026
Funding: BMBF - DWD (FKZ 4823EMF02A )
Contact: Sönke Zaehle

Duration: 1/2025 - 12/2028
Funding: EU-Horizon Europe
Contact: Christoph Gerbig, Armin Jordan, Markus Eritt, Luana Basso, Sönke Zaehle
Grant-ID: GA 101183460

Acronym: ICOS-ERIC
Duration: 4/2012 - 12/2027
PI/Co-PIs: Christoph Gerbig
Participating department members: Christoph Gerbig, Thomas Koch

Joint project ITMS Integrated Greenhouse Gas Monitoring System for Germany - Module Coordination
Duration: 08/2022 - 07/2026
Funding: BMBF
Contact: Christoph Gerbig

Acronym: ITMS-M
Duration: 12/2021 - 7/2026
PI/Co-PIs: Christoph Gerbig
Participating department members: Christoph Gerbig, Michal Galkowski, Thomas Petroliagkis, Danilo Custodio

The aim of the ITMS is to enable Germany to monitor the sources and sinks of the three most important long-lived greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O) operationally and with the help of independent measurements. The joint project ITMS-M is concerned with the further development of atmospheric modelling that is required, with the participation of the DWD, the KIT, the University of Heidelberg, and the MPI-BGC.

Duration: 11/2022 - 10/2025
Funding: BMBF
Contact: Mathias Goeckede

Duration: April 2022 - March 2028
Group members involved: Mathias Göckede, Martijn Pallandt

Permafrost Pathways was launched in 2022 with funding through the TED Audacious Project — a collaborative funding initiative catalyzing big, bold solutions to the world’s most urgent challenges. Through a joint effort between Woodwell Climate Research Center, the Arctic Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School, and the Alaska Institute for Justice, Permafrost Pathways brings together leading experts in climate science, policy action, and environmental justice to inform and develop adaptation and mitigation strategies to address permafrost thaw. more

Acronym: Q-ARCTIC
Duration: 10/2021 - 9/2027
PI/Co-PIs: Annett Bartsch, Victor Brovkin, Mathias Göckede, Martin Heimann
Participating department members: Mathias Göckede, Martin Heimann more