Where we study
Our study locations, often built with partner institutions, are distributed worldwide, owing to the global topic of our research.
On the local scale, we established several experimental and analytical field sites in Thuringia, most notably the extraordinary and unique Jena Experiment for biodiversity-related research. Eddy flux towers and study areas such as the Biodiversity Exploratories are spread in Germany and in numerous European regions. Within the network Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) we are connected to numerous air analyses and sampling stations on the European continent.
For monitoring atmospheric conditions undisturbed by civilization, we built tall measurement towers both in Central Siberia and in the Amazon (ATTO). Additional experimental field sites are located in the Spanish Extremadura, in the Amazon basin and in the permafrost regions close to the Arctic Ocean in Russia (Q-Arctic). In a new ecosystem research project, we will investigate the dryland belt connecting Asia and Europe, the largest continuous land biome on Earth.