Possible topics for B.Sc. and M.Sc. theses in the Bioclimatology Group
In order to make the assignment and supervision of B.Sc. and M.Sc. theses in our Bioclimatology Group more transparent and fairer, the following application procedure should be applied.
Theses Day
Once every semester, we invite all Bachelor and Master students that are interested in writing a thesis in the Bioclimatology Group to our Theses Day. On this day, we supervisors introduce ourselves, present ideas for thesis topics, possible research questions, and the necessary methodology. Please find below the dates for the upcoming Theses Days and sign up for it under stud.IP (Course: Bioclimatology Theses Day).
How It Works
If you are interested in a specific thesis topic, you can apply for it by writing an email to the respective supervisor (within one month after Theses Day, see deadline below). This email may already include your motivation, possible research questions and hypotheses, your skills, and a rough time schedule.
The supervisor will organize a meeting with all interested students to discuss the details and (if needed) select a candidate. Feedback by the supervisor will be provided shortly thereafter.
More information about the application, possible topics, and the general supervision will be given on the Theses Day.
| Writing thesis during... | Thesis Day | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| ... summer semester 2027 | TBA FSR 2.7, Büsgenweg 2 |
TBA |
| ... winter semester 2027/28 | TBA FSR 2.7, Büsgenweg 2 |
TBA |
Possible Topics
Some topics listed below can be worked on as B.Sc. or M.Sc. thesis and thematically adapted accordingly. The thesis can be written in German or English in our group. Own suggestions for topics are also always welcome. Please, also note that each supervisor will only supervise 1-3 theses per semester.
This topic focuses on testing and characterizing a high-frequency laser-based instrument for stable H2O isotopologue measurements. The work involves conducting measurements with an LGR triple-isotope analyser, assessing its performance under laboratory and field conditions, and developing a robust calibration routine. Different calibration strategies will be implemented, tested, and compared to identify the most suitable approach for eddy covariance applications.
Peatlands constitute one of the largest terrestrial carbon (C) stores worldwide and represent the most carbon-dense terrestrial ecosystem per unit area. Large amounts of the C sequestered in peatlands may be released into the atmosphere due to climate change and anthropogenic disturbance. In contrast to pristine peatlands, drained peatlands have been identified as hotspots of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Projections suggest that, due to severe human impacts, peatlands worldwide may shift from a global net GHG sink to a net GHG source in the near future, thereby contributing to positive radiative forcing. In Germany, drained peatlands account for approximately 7% of total national greenhouse gas emissions, despite covering only a small fraction of the country's land area. Consequently, peatland restoration is considered one of the most effective nature-based climate solutions for mitigating climate change.
Within this thesis, a two-year eddy covariance dataset comprising continuous measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water vapour (H2O), and energy fluxes from a clear-cut forest peatland during the early stages of restoration will be analysed. Ecosystem-atmosphere exchanges of carbon, water, and energy will be quantified, and the temporal dynamics of these fluxes will be investigated. Furthermore, the main environmental drivers controlling ecosystem functioning will be identified, their relative importance will be assessed, and potential future ecosystem responses under different environmental scenarios will be modelled.
The overall aim of this thesis is to improve the process-based understanding of ecosystem functioning during the early stages of peatland restoration. The results will contribute to evaluating the effectiveness of restoration measures, identifying potential trade-offs between carbon sequestration and water availability, and providing science-based recommendations for future peatland management under changing climatic conditions.
Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of droughts, heatwaves, and biotic disturbances in temperate forests. In recent years, bark beetle outbreaks have caused widespread mortality of Norway spruce forests across Central Europe, resulting in extensive clear-cut areas. Following reforestation, these disturbed ecosystems undergo profound structural and functional changes as young trees establish and ecosystem processes gradually recover. However, little is known about how carbon, water, and energy exchange develop during the early stages of forest recovery.
This thesis is embedded within the FoResLab project and focuses on the Lange Bramke research site in the Harz Mountains. The site represents a former Norway spruce forest that was severely affected by bark beetle infestation, subsequently clear-cut, and reforested with climate-adapted broadleaved tree species. It provides an opportunity to investigate ecosystem functioning during the transition from a disturbed area to a recovering forest. The thesis is based on a one-year eddy covariance dataset comprising continuous measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapour (H2O), and energy fluxes. Ecosystem-atmosphere exchanges of carbon, water, and energy will be quantified, and their temporal dynamics will be related to meteorological conditions and vegetation development. Furthermore, the main environmental drivers controlling ecosystem functioning will be identified, and the effects of drought, atmospheric water demand, and seasonal changes on ecosystem processes will be assessed.
The overall aim of this thesis is to improve the mechanistic understanding of ecosystem functioning during early forest recovery following large-scale disturbance and reforestation. The results will contribute to evaluating the recovery of essential ecosystem functions and provide scientific support for adaptive forest management under future climate conditions.
Sugar beet is one of the most important crops in Germany and is characterised by high carbon storage. The question arises as to how long CO2 uptake remains active. Therefore, as part of this work at the Reinshof agricultural research station, (i) transpiration and CO2 exchange will be measured using manual measurements with a photosynthesis meter (LI-6800), (ii) the transpiration and photosynthesis rates measured on a leaf scale will be scaled to the ecosystem and compared with direct eddy covariance measurements of evapotranspiration and CO2 flux, and (iii) thermal camera images taken by drones will be cross-referenced. The measurements will be carried out under different environmental conditions and vegetation phases. The results of this work will provide a comprehensive picture of sugar beet development and give us an indication of the reliability of the CO2 and energy fluxes measured at the Reinshof site.
As part of the national carbon inventory, the drought year of 2018 saw a rapid reversal of the forest's sink capacity to a net source in the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector. Direct ecosystem measurements at many measuring stations do not show this rapid change. The Torfhaus atmospheric measuring station in the Harz Mountains records the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere for a large footprint area. The question addressed in this study is whether the large-scale dieback of spruce trees in the Harz National Park can be observed in the CO2 balance at the Torfhaus site. A CO2 flux is to be derived from measurements of CO2 concentration and meteorological parameters at different heights using the flux gradient method. Furthermore, the size of the footprint area is to be investigated and the influencing air masses characterised using simple model simulations. The results of this work can make a decisive contribution to a topic that is currently the subject of intense debate.
In the context of this work, transpiration should be measured at the agricultural experimental farm Reinshof (i) by means of hand measurements with a photosynthesis device (LI-6800) and (ii) the water fluxes measured on leaf scale should be scaled to the ecosystem and compared with direct eddy covariance measurements. The measurements should be carried out under different environmental conditions over the course of a growing season. The results should give an indication of the reliability of energy fluxes measured at the Reinshof site.
This study investigates the ecohydrological dynamics of rainfall partitioning within a tropical oil palm plantation in Jambi, Indonesia, specifically focusing on how the canopy redistributes gross rainfall into throughfall, stemflow, and interception loss. To quantify these fluxes, the project utilized a high-frequency monitoring system comprised of throughfall collectors and stemflow collars connected to tipping-bucket sensors and datalogger. By processing 10-minute interval data, the study aims to calculate the precise water balance equation, and analyze how variables such as rainfall intensity, event duration, and seasonal canopy changes influence these pathways. The resulting analysis will characterize the volume and timing (lag times) of water reaching the forest floor, providing critical insights into the plantation's canopy structure, water availability, and evaporation rates.
We obtained soil respiration measurements with an automatic chamber system at our forest study site Hainich for multiple years. These data need to be further processed and analyzed in regards to quality, interannual variability and spatial heterogeneity (preferable in R or python). Furthermore, the soil CO2 fluxes can be compared to the net CO2 exchange of the forest ecosystem obtained with the eddy covariance technique. Moreover, a simple soil respiration model can be developed based on meteorological and respiration measurements. This model can then be evaluated regarding its perfomance in gap-filling.
Various approaches to check and assess the quality of meteorological measurements of our study sites should be compared. This study will include a literature research for the various approaches, the application of these approaches with the R or python programming languages to the existing measurements, and a thorough comparison of the filtered data. For the various meteorological variables a different combination of approaches can be of advantage.