Environmental Mineralogy & Environmental System Analysis
Prof. Dr. Stefan Norra
Based on a mineralogical and geochemical process understanding, this working group investigates substance fluxes and interrelationships in environmental systems with respect to environmental health and human-environment-interactions. Research activities combine geoecological concepts with soil mineralogy, aerosol research, hydrochemistry, urban geochemistry, urban ecology and microclimatology.
Our research approach uses field and laboratory methods such as air quality platforms or mobile hydrochemical and –physical sensor systems, but also KIT laboratories of AGW and IfGG as well as large facilities such as the Synchrotron radiation source ANKA . Evaluation of the results is process oriented and models are applied to specify and simulate complex interactions in environmental systems. The results are used to develop measures to safeguard a healthy, sustainable environment.
This working group is a joint initiative of the Institute of Applied Geosciences and the Institute of Geography and Geoecology (IfGG)
Prof. Dr. Stefan Norra, Dr. Kirpa Ram, Asst. Prof., Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development (IESD), Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
In: Rubel, Franz; Schiffner-Rohe, Julia (2019): FSME in Deutschland. Stand der Wissenschaft. 1. Auflage. Baden-Baden: Deutscher Wissenschaftsverlag (2019)
Petney, T., Littvin, N., Böhnke, D., Obiegala, A., Schaeffer, M., Muders, S., Pfäffle, M., Pfeffer, M.
In: Rubel, Franz; Schiffner-Rohe, Julia (2019): FSME in Deutschland. Stand der Wissenschaft. 1. Auflage. Baden-Baden: Deutscher Wissenschaftsverlag (2019)
Shen, X., Saathoff, H., Huang, W., Mohr, C., Ramisetty, R., Leisner, T.
Environ Sci Eur, DOI 10.1186/s12302-016-0092-7 (2016)
Brugger, K., Boehnke, D., Petney, T., Dobler, G., Pfeffer, M., Silaghi, C., Schaub, G.A., Pinior, B., Dautel, H., Kahl, O., Pfister, K., Süss, J. and Rubel, F.
Environ Earth Sci 75, 1048; DOI 10.1007/s12665-016-5758-3 (2016)
Shen, R., Schäfer, K., Schnelle-Kreis, J., Shao, L., Norra, S., Kramar, U., Michalke, B., Abbaszade, G., Streibel, T., Fricker, M., Chen, Y., Zimmermann, R., Emeis, S., Schmid, H. P.
Boehnke, D., Brugger, K., Pfäffle, M., Sebastian, P., Norra, S., Petney, T., Oehme, R., Littwin, N., Lebl, K., Raith, J., Walter, M., Gebhardt, R., Rubel, F.
One Century of the Discovery of Arsenicosis in Latin America (1914-2014): As 2014 - Proceedings of the 5th International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment pp. 592-593 (2014)
In: Bräunche, E.O.; Kramer, C., Ludäscher, P., Zibat, A., Wiktorin, D. (Hrsg.): Atlas Karlsruhe, 300 Jahre Stadtgeschichte in Karten und Bildern. emons Verlag, 112-113 (2014)
Science of the Total Environment, 490, 647-658 (2014)
Sebastian, P., Mackenstedt, U., Wassermann, M., Wurst, E., Hartelt, K., Petney, T., Pfäffle, M., Littwin, N., Steidle, J.L.M., Selzer, P., Norra, S., Böhnke, D., Gebhardt, R., Kahl, O., Dautel, H., Oehme, R.
Scholz-Starke, B., Ottermanns, R., Rings, U., Floehr, T., Hollert, H., Hou, J., Li B., Wu, L.L., Yuan, X., Strauch, K., Hu, W., Norra, S., Holbach, A., Westrich, B., Schäffer, A., Roß-Nickoll, M.
7th International Conference of the Urban Soils Working Group, SUITMA, of the International Union of Soil Sciences, 16 – 20 September 2013, Torun, Poland (2013)
Norra, S., Waldenmeyer, G., Albiez, M., Buchgeister, J., Grönmeier, K., Hönig S.-M., Jentsch, I., Leib, S. Loskyll, J., Mayer, C., Parodi, O., Rothardt, S., Seimetz, J., Tweraser, S., Villinger, F.
Identification and adaptation of mitigation measures to counteract intensive land subsidence in a tropical delta system - the example of Camau-Peninsula, Southern Vietnam
Development of a prognosis tool for the salt water intrusion process into aquifers in the Mekong Delta in the context of land use management and climate change
Vorkommen, Monitoring und Stimulierung des aerob-produktiven Trichlorethen-Abbaus, Occurrence, monitoring and stimulation of the aerob-productive decomposition of Trichlorethene.
Die Arbeitsgruppe Environmental Mineralogy and Environmental System Analysis (EMINSA) bietet Studenten zahlreiche Möglichkeiten für eine Bachelor- oder Masterarbeit, ein Staatsexamen oder einer Projektstudie. Dabei steht der Bezug zu einem unserer Projekte sowie die Einbindung in die Arbeitsgruppe im Fokus. Da sich unsere Projekte teils auf den asiatischen Raum konzentrieren (China und Vietnam), besteht gegebenenfalls die Möglichkeit für geförderte Auslandsaufenthalte und Feldkampagnen. Zusätzlich besteht oftmals die Möglichkeit, Kontakte zu Partnerfirmen aufzubauen.
Während der Vorlesungszeit werden regelmäßige Treffen (wenn möglich wöchentlich) veranstaltet, die den Studenten Einblicke in die verschiedensten Themen und das wissenschaftliche Arbeiten gewähren sowie natürlich die eigene Arbeit unterstützen.
Die Themengebiete lassen sich wie folgt unterteilen:
Die Arbeiten können in Deutsch oder Englisch verfasst werden. Im Folgendem sind spezifisch ausgeschriebene und bereits abgeschlossene Arbeiten gelistet. Die Auflistung gewährt einen weiteren Einblick in unsere Themenbereiche. Neben den hier gelisteten Themen lassen sich bei Interesse auch viele andere Fragestellungen für eine Abschlussarbeit finden!
Für weitere Fragen stehen Prof. Dr. Stefan Norra oder ein Mitglied der Arbeitsgruppe jederzeit zur Verfügung.
Aktuelle Themen für eine Abschlussarbeit (aktualisiert am 12.09.2019)
Geochemical and mineralogical analysis and evaluation of coastal water and filter samples, in-situ measured water quality parameters as well as sediment cores taken along the west coast of Ca Mau to identify sediment loads and the distribution of the coastal water quality. (PDF)
Geochemical and mineralogical analysis and evaluation of surface water and filter samples to identify the inland sediment transport dynamics and spatial distribution of pollutants. (PDF)
Erosionsresilienz von Böden entlang von Küsten und Fließgewässern im südlichen Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Sulfatmobilisierungspotentiale aus Bodenaushub
Die Rolle der partikulären Phase in der Nährstoffdynamik flacher Seen am Beispiel des Tai Hu, China
Ableitung von Sedimentations- und Erosionsprozessen an der Westküste der Camau Halbinsel, Vietnam, aus Sedimentkernen und Filterproben
Schadstoff- und Partikeldynamik in Oberflächengewässern der Camau Halbinsel, Vietnam
Abschlussarbeiten bis 2018
2020:
Die Hitzebelastung und Auswirkungen der Umgebungsparameter des Lidellplatzes in der Karlsruher Innenstadt auf das Bioklima des Menschen. (Master Thesis)
2020:
Das Retentionspotential von PFC über die Sorption an mineralischen Oberflächen. (Master Thesis)
2020:
Aufbau eines stadtklimatologsichen Modells zur Analyse von Kaltluftströmen und der urbanen Wärmeinsel am Beispiel der Innenstadt-Ost in Karlsruhe. (Master Thesis)
2020
Structural and functional diversity of city squares – assessment concept. (Bacelor Thesis)
2020:
Studien mit Grundwasserproben zur Stimulierung der heterotrophen Denitrifikation durch unterschiedliche organische Wirkstoffe. Master Thesis in cooperation with TZW, Karlsruhe)
2020
Untersuchungen zur chemischen Oxidation von heterozyklischen Kohlenwasserstoffen (NSO-HET) für ISCO Anwendungen in Kombination mit mikrobiellem Abbau. (Master Thesis in cooperation with TZW, Karlsruhe)
2020
Die Untersuchung von N-Bilanzen einer Versuchsfläche zur Aufklärung der Stickstoffnachlieferung aus dem Boden ins Sickerwasser. (Bachelor Thesis in cooperation with TZW, Karlsruhe)
2019:
Modellierung stadtklimatischer Auswirkungen von Bebauungsmaßnahmen am Campus Süd des KIT auf angrenzende Stadtgebiete. (Master Thesis)
2019:
Die Ermittlung der chemischen Zusammensetzung eines Elektromotors – ein Beitrag zum Urban Mining?! (Bachelor Thesis)
2019:
Geochemical characterization of ambient particles in Nanjing, Western Yangtze River Delta, China (Master Thesis)
2019:
Bestandserfassung von Ökosystemdienstleistungen in der Innenstand Ost in Karslruhe – Ascertainment of ecosystem services oft he Innenstadt-Ost in Karlsruhe (Bachelor Thesis)
2019:
Entwicklung einer Methode zur Kartierung der Oberflächentypologien in Hinblick auf Klimaanpassungsmaßnahmen im Stadtquartier Karlsruhe Innenstadt-Ost – Development of a method to map the surface typologies wit respect to climate adaption measures in the city quarter Karslruhe Innenstadt-Ost (Bachelor Thesis)
2019:
Simulierter mikrobiologischer Abbau von Teeröl-Schadstoffen am Standort einer ehemaligen Kokerei – Simulation of microbiological decomposition of taroil pollutants at a location of a former gas works (Master Thesis, in cooperation with TZW)
2019:
Influencing the water quality of a large shallow lake by existing pollutants and nutrients on the example of Lake Taihu (China) (Master Thesis)
2019:
Entwicklung einer Methode zur Bewertung von Sanierungsverfahren von Boden- und Grundwassersanierung in Hinblick auf die zu erwartende Sanierungslaufzeit – Development of a method to assess remediation procedures of soil and groundwater with respect to the expected running time (Master Thesis, in cooperation with Arcadis)
2018:
Estimation of technical and biological PMOC-formation potential in surface water and waste water matrices (in Zusammenarbeit mit dem TZW) (Master Thesis)
2018:
Nachweis von Antibiotika-resistenten Bakterien und Antibiotika-Resistenzgenen im Rohwasser der Trinkwassergewinnung (in Zusammenarbeit mit dem TZW) (Master Thesis)
2018:
Environmental geochemistry and water quality of River Elbe at the example of the Elbschwimmstaffel (Master Thesis) (Master Thesis)
2018:
Role of clay minerals for adsorption and desorption of Atrazine in soils and sediments (Master Thesis)
2018:
Alternativbewertung städtebaulicher Entwürfe in Bezug auf die Folgen des Klimawandels am Beispiel Mannheim-Käfertal-Süd (Master Thesis)
2018:
Dynamics of Water Quality and Pollutants in Time Series of Water Samples from lake Taihu in China (Bachelor Thesis)
2018:
Characterisation of organic substance in sediments form the Hetao Plain, China, with respect to the meaning of C/N and δ13C for mobilisation of Arsenic (Bachelor Thesis)
2018:
Seasonal change of aerosol concentrations during the subway construction period in Karlsruhe (Bachelor Thesis)
2018:
Development and assessment of test methods for denitrification and decomposition of harmful substances for the example of “Stürmlinger Sandgrube” (Bachelor Thesis, in cooperation with TZW)
2018:
Development of a concept for the implementation of an urban environment center on the example of Mannheim (Bachelor Thesis)
2018:
Seasonality of water and sediment quality in the north of Lake Taihu, China (Bachelor Thesis)
2018:
Detection and identification of coliform Bacteria, Enterococci and heterotrophic Bacteria through protein analysis with MALDI-TOF (in cooperation with TZW) (Bachelor Thesis)
2017:
External Impacts on Physical-Chemical Water Quality Parameters and Water Chemistry along a 575 km stretch of the River Elbe in Germany (Master Thesis)
2017:
Schichtaufbau und Verteilung der organischen Kohlenstoffgehalte in quartären Sedimenten (bis 65 m Tiefe) in Hinblick auf Retardationspotentiale organischer Schadstoffe im Bereich Ottersdorf und Steinbach/ Baden-Baden (Stratum composition and distribution of organic carbon in quarternary sediments (up to 65 m depth) with respect to retardation potentials of organic pollutants in the region of Ottersdorf and Steinbach/Baden-Baden) (Master Thesis, in cooperation with ARCADIS)
2017:
Potentielle klimatische Ökosystemdienstleistungen der Konversionsfläche Spinelle (Potential climatic ecosystem services of the conversion area Spinelli) (State Examination Thesis)
2017:
Influence of parasitization with Opisthorchis viverini and xidiphidiocercariae on the biomineralization of shells from Bythinia siamensis goniomphalos (Bachelor Thesis)
2017:
Adaption of the BCR Sequential Extraction Procedure to Determine Extractable Contents of Heavy Metals in Suspended Particles at the Example of Lake Taihu, China (Bachelor Thesis)
2017:
Operating windows at ISCO Remediation: Influence of aquifer heterogeneity and other parameters (Master Thesis, in cooperation with ARCADIS)
2017:
Thermische Belastung an Südhängen im urbanen Raum am Beispiel von Pforzheim (Thermal stress at southward exposed slopes in urban areas, the example of Pforzheim) (Bachelor Thesis)
2017: Ökosystemleistungen der Biotope des KIT-Campus Süd Geländes (Bachelor Thesis)
2017: Sources and Mobility of Phosphorous and Nitrogen in Water and sediments of Lake Taihu, China (Master Thesis)
2017: Bewertung der Effizienz der CO2-Dosierungsanlage und APIC-Filter einer Grundwassersanierungsanlage
(Bachelor Thesis, in cooperation with ARCADIS)
2017: Auswertungsmöglichkeiten zur Ermittlung aquiferbezogener Retardationsfaktoren und Schadstoffcharakteristiken für PFC aus vorliegenden Daten orientierender Untersuchungen (Bachelor Thesis, in cooperation with ARCADIS)
2016: Radioaktivität in den Böden des Campus Nord (Bachelor Thesis)
2016: Potential zur Filterung von Luftstäuben und Stickstoffdioxid von straßennahen Hainbuchen-Hecken (Carpinus betulus) (Bachelor Thesis)
2016: Application of X-Ray-Fluorescence technique to analyze the dynamics of particulate air pollution in Beijing (Bachelor Thesis)
2016: Elimination phenolischer Substanzen durch eine Kombination von Ultraschallbehandlung und mikrobiologischem Abbau (Bachelor Thesis, in cooperation with TZW)
2016: Pollutants in the Dissolved Phase, Suspended Particles and Surface Sediments of Lake Taihu, China (Master Thesis)
2015: Biogeochemical characterization of urban aerosols in the city of Karlsruhe (Master thesis)
2015: Geochemical Characterization of Aerosols from Varanasi, India (Bachelor Thesis)
2015: Mobilisierbarkeit von Schwermetallen und Metalloiden aus Flotationsrückständen und ihr Umweltgefährdungspotential am Beispiel der Rückstände einer ehemaligen Flussspataufbereitungsanlage im Karlsruher Rheinhafen (Environmental risk and mobility potential of heavy metals and metalloides from flotation residues using the example of residues of a former fluorspar processing plant at the Karlsruhe River Port) (Master Thesis)
2015: Umweltgeochemie und –mineralogie der Bergbaufolgen am Standort der ehemaligen Grube Schauinsland, Südschwarzwald (Environmental geochemistry and mineralogy of environmental impacts of mining activities at the Schauinsland, Southern Black Forest) (Master Thesis)
2015: Bewertung der Umweltbelastung durch Flotationsrückstände am Beispiel der Rückstände einer Flussspataufbereitungsanlage im Karlsruher Rheinhafen (Environmental assessment of flotation residues for the example of waste produced by fluorspar processing plant at the river port of Karlsruhe) (Master Thesis)
2015: Umweltauswirkungen von Weichgelsohlen auf Silikat-Aluminat-Basis in Karlsruhe (Environmental impacts of soft gel base out of silicate-aluminate in Karlsruhe) (Master Thesis)
2015: Validierung einer Durchflussanlage zur kontinuierlichen Ozonung mit anschließender Langsamsandfiltration (Validation of a flow-through facility for continuous ozonisation and connected slow sand filtration) (Bachelor Thesis in cooperation with TZW Karlsruhe)
2015: Geochemische Untersuchung verblockter Infiltrationsbrunnen mit Hinblick auf das System CO2 auf einem ehem. Gasproduktionsgelände in Mannheim (Geochemical investigations of clogged infiltration wells with regard to the CO2 system at a former gas work site in Mannheim) (Bachelor Thesis in cooperation with Arcadis Karlsruhe)
2015: Quantification of ecosystem services of the River Rhine floodplains at Karlsruhe (Master Thesis)
2014: Transport of chemical elements in suspended and dissolved phases for selected run-off regimes along the Yangtze river (Master Thesis)
2014: Natural Attenuation am Standort Stürmlinger Sandgrube: Abbau teerölbürtiger Schadstoffe unter verschiedenen Redoxbedingungen (Natural attenuation at the site Stürmlinger Sandgrube: decomposition of tar oil born pollutants under various redox conditions) ( (Master Thesis in cooperation with TZW Karlsruhe)
2014: Vegetationsstrukturen und Bodenklima verschiedener Zeckenhabitate in der Region Oberrheingraben (Bachelor Thesis)
2014: Arsenic release of a natural sediment by effect of pH and redox potential (Bachelor Thesis)
2014: Entwicklungspotential des Tourismus in der Arktis unter dem Aspekt des Klimawandels (State
Examination Thesis)
2014: Entwicklung einer Methodik zur Identifizierung von Verblockungsprozessen in Infiltrationsbrunnen
einer Altlastensanierung (Bachelor Thesis)
2014: Hydro-geochemical response of base metal tailings to remediation with high-temperature pine biochar (Master Thesis in cooperation with the Centre for Mined land Rehabilitation, The Universtiy of Queensland, Australia)
2014: Effect of ethylene and nutrients on co-metabolical biodegradation of cDCE in groundwater (Bachelor Thesis in cooperation with TZW, Karlsruhe)
2014: Agriculture Potential of Arctic Vegetation and possible Climate Change induced Shifts (State Examination Thesis)
2014: Search and Rescue Infrastructure in the Arctic current Situation and Potential for future Improvement (State Examination Thesis)
2014: Besiedlungsstrukturen in der Arktis - Identifizierung von historischen Schlüsselregionen anhand ausgewählter regionaler Beispiele (State Examination Thesis)
2014: Modelling of algae growth in the Three Gorges Reservoir, China (Master Thesis)
2014: Air Quality and aerosol dynamics near to a subway construction site in Karlsruhe (Master Thesis)
2014: Abschätzung des standortkundlichen Potentials von Böden zur Etablierung von Mageren Flachland-Mähwiesen in Karlsruhe (Bachelor Thesis)
2014: Impact of meteorological parameters and mixing layer height on aerosol concentrations and radiative characteristics - the example of Karlsruhe (State Examination Thesis)
2014: Ökosystemdienstleistungen urbaner Fließgewässer am Beispiel der Alb in Karlsruhe (Ecosystem services of streaming water biotopes in urban systems for the example of the Alb in Karlsruhe) (State Examination Thesis)
2013: Urban pollution of Yangtze downstream of Three Gorges Reservoir dam at Yidu and Wuhan (Bachelorarbeit)
2013: A 3D multi-species reactive transport model to estimate geochemical reactions in groundwater at a former gasworks site in Germany (Masterarbeit)
2013: Bodentypen des Naturschutzgebietes Alter Flughafen, Kalrsruhe (Soil types of the nature protection area Old Airport, Karlsruhe) (Bachelor Thesis)
2013: Bodenwasserhaushalt in verschiedenen Waldbiotopen Baden-Württembergs (Soil water budget in various forest habitats of Baden-Württemberg)(State Examination Thesis)
2013: Variabilität von Bodenwasserhaushaltsparametern an ausgewählten Waldstandorten (Small scale variability of soil water budget properties at selected forest sites) (State Examination Thesis)
2013: Erarbeitung eines Planungsleitfadens zur ökologischen Flächenbewirtschaftung eines bestehenden Industriestandorts am Beispiel des Lkw Werkes Daimler AG in Wörth (Elaboration of planning guidelines for ecological area management of an existing industry location for the example of the Mercedes site at Wörth) (Diploma Thesis)
2013: Urban Mining – das Rohstoffpotential städtischer Straßen am Beispiel von Karlsruhe (Urban Mining – raw material potential of urban roads for the example of Karlsruhe) (Diploma Thesis)
2013: Bewertung der Ökosystemdienstleistungen von Streuobstwiesen an einem Beispiel in Bruchsal (Evaluation of ecosystem services of extensively managed fruit orchards for an Example in bruchsal) (Diploma Thesis)
2012: Untersuchung der Landnutzung vor dem Hintergrund der Biodiversitätsbewertung (Investigation of land use with respect to biodiversity) (Diploma Thesis)
2012: Analysis of particle pollution and meteorological conditions in Greater Beijing during the Olympic Summer Games 2008 (State Examination Thesis)
2012: Monetäre Bewertung von Bäumen in urbanen Räumen (Monetary valuation of trees in urban trees) (Diploma Thesis)
2012: Schwermetalle in Pollen und Blütenhonig (Heavy metals in pollen and honey) (Bachelor Thesis)
2012: Einfluss der Parasitierung durch Opisthorchis viverrini auf die chemische Zusammensetzung des Gehäuses von Bithynia siamensis goniomphalos (Impact of the parasite Opisthorchis viverrini on the chemical composition of shells of Bythinia siamensis goniomphalos) (Bachelor Thesis)
2012: Dendrochronologische Untersuchungen zur Wirkung von Grundwasserabsenkungen auf Alteichen (Quercus robur) im Wasserwerk Rheinwald der Stadtwerke Karlsruhe (Dendrochronological investigations of old oaks (Quercus robur) to evaluate the imapct of groundwater table deplition within the catchment of the Karlsruhe water works in the Rheinwald) (Diploma Thesis)
2012: Impact of Urban Systems on the Water Quality of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China, (Diplomarbeit)
2012: Untersuchungen zu den Wässern und Schwebstoffen der Grundwassersanierungsanlage Mannheim-Luzenberg (Investigations of waters and particulate matter in the groundwater remediation plant Mannheim-Luzenberg) (Diploma Thesis)
2011: Ökologische Bewertung der Herstellung und Bereitstellung von Wasserstoff sowie dessen Nutzung im Brennstoffzellen-Pkw im Vergleich mit zukünftigen Otto- und Diesel-Pkw (Ecological assessment of production and supply of hydrogen as well as ist use in automobile fuel cells in comparison to future Otto and Diesel automobiles (Diploma Thesis)
2011: Die Heterogenität der Böden im Gebiet des Rheinhafens in Karlsruhe (Heterogeneity of soils in the district of the Karlsruhe River Port) (Bachelor Thesis)
2011: Potentielle Schadstoffe in Böden und Pflanzen entlang eines Nord-Süd Transekts am Rheinhafen Karlsruhes (Potential harmful substances in soils and plants along a North-South Transect through the Karlsruhe River Port) (Bachelor Thesis)
2011: Atmosphärische Partikelbelastung in der Karlsruher Innenstadt während der Bauarbeiten zur Karlsruher Kombilösung (Atmospheric particle pollution in the City of Karlsruhe during construction activities oft he new Metro) (Bachelor Thesis)
2011: Neophyten im Karlsruher Stadtgebiet (Invasive species in Karlsruhe) (Bachelor Thesis)
2011: Optimierung der Bestimmung von letalen und subletalen Effekten auf die frühe Entwicklungsphase von Danio rerio HAMILTON-BUCHANAN (Early-Life-Stage-Toxizität nach OECD 2010) unter semistatischen Bedingungen (Optimization oft he determiantion of lethal and sublethal effects on the ealry development phase of Danio rerio HAMILTON-BUCHANAN – Early-Life-Stage Toxicity after OECD 2010) (Bachelor Thesis)
2011: Umweltbewertung der mikroverfahrenstechnischen Synthese von Fischer-Tropsch-Kraftstoffen aus Biogas (Environmental assessment of the synthesis of Fischer-Tropsch fuels from biogas), (Bachelor Thesis)
2011: Historical development of inland ice margins in Greenland during a changing climate (Diploma Thesis)
2011: Breeding success and predation of waders at the RSPB Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay Nature Reserve in northwest England (Diploma Thesis)
2011: Die Verteilung von Ixodes ricinus im Oberrheingraben bei Karlsruhe (The distribution of Ixodes ricinus in the Upper Rheine Graben near Karlsruhe) (Diploma Thesis)
2010: Raum-zeitliche Entwicklung ausgesuchter Klimaparameter in städtischen Systemen in den vergangenen 5 Dekaden am Beispiel von Berlin (Spatio temporal development of specific climate parameters in urban systems during the last five decades for the example of Berlin) (State Examination Thesis)
2010: Machbarkeitsanalyse zur Umsetzung von Renaturierungs- und Pflegemaßnahmen in Mooren im Raum Kißlegg (Feasibility study for the implementation of restauration and management measures in moors around Kißlegg) (Diploma Thesis)
2010: Particle-Water interactions in the Garonne-Gironde river system at Bordeaux, France (Diploma Thesis)
2010: Die magnetische Suszeptibilität von Stäuben Pekings (The magnetic susceptibility of dusts from Beijing) (Master Thesis)
2010: Arsenic in the food chain in rural areas of the Red River Delta in Vietnam (Diploma Thesis)
2010: Preliminary Studies on the Climate Dependent Dynamics of Aerosols in Kangerlussuaq(Diploma Thesis)
2010: Terrestrial Laser Scanning for Estimating Urban Tree Volume and Carbon Content(Diploma Thesis)
2010: Nährstoffbilanzierung für Mikroalgen-Nutzungskonzepte (Nutrients balance for using concepts of microalgae) (Diploma Thesis)
2010: Stable isotopes in gas exchange of Norway spruce – oxygen isotope exchange between CO2 and leaf water (Diploma Thesis)
2009: Arsenic contamination in rural areas of the Red River Delta in Vietnam (Diploma Thesis)
2009: Exposition and contamination of European eel by Silver and Arsenic in the Gironde fluvial Estuary, France (Diploma Thesis)
2008: Arsenic fluxes in agricultural systems using As contaminated ground water in Inner Mongolia, China (Diploma Thesis)
2008: The economic value of water pollution of the Yangtze-Reservoir with examples from Wanzhou and Wushan(Diploma Thesis)
2007: Arsenic contamination in groundwater, soil and uptake of arsenic by cultivated crops in Kaliachak I, Malda District, West Bengal (Master Thesis)
2007: The influence of urban particles on the pollution of water bodies with respect to different salinities - a case study of Bordeaux and the Garonne-Gironde river system, France(Diploma Thesis)
2006: Kohlenstoffisotopie von Straßenbäumen: Ein Indikator für die Verkehrsbelastung? (Carbon isotopes in street trees – an indicator for traffic pollution?) (Diploma Thesis)
2005: A comparative hydro, pedo- and phyto-geochemical study on rice -fields irrigated with groundwater containing different concentrations of Arsenic (Murshidabad District, West Bengal) (Master Thesis)
2005: Verteilung, Trägerphasen und Spezies von Arsen aus Bewässerungswasser in Reisböden und –pflanzen (Distribution of carrier phases and species of arsenic from irrigation water in rice soils and rice plants) (Diploma Thesis)
2005: Ausprägung mineralogischer und geochemischer Muster urbaner Böden in Abhängigkeit von der Nutzungsstruktur in Qingdao/China (Mineralogical and geochemcial patterns of urban soils in dependency of land use in Qingdao/China) (Diploma Thesis)
2005: Geochemische Untersuchungen von Stäuben aus Peking sowie Identifikation der Aerosolbelastungsquellen (Geochemcial investigations of dusts from Beijing and source apportionment) (Diploma Thesis)
2003: Umweltinformationssystem Pforzheim mit Schwerpunkt Bodenbelastung (Environemntal Information System Pforzheim with a focus in soil pollution) (Diploma Thesis)
2003: Arsenic contamination in groundwater, surface water, soils and uptake of arsenic by cultivated crops in Malda District, West Bengal, India (Master Thesis)
2001: Regional Distribution of Stream Water Chemistry as a Function of Land Use and Geology in Baden-Württemberg (Licenciate Thesis)
1999: Bilddatenunterstützte Interpretation urbaner Schadstoffbelastung (Image data supported interpretation of urban pollution) (Diploms Thesis)
1997: Untersuchungen zur sequentiellen Schwermetallextraktion aus Stäuben (Sequential extraction of heavy metals from urban dust) (Diploma Theis)
1997: Untersuchungen der Isotopenverhältnisse stabiler Isotope d13C und d34S in technischen Substraten des Straßenverkehrs und in straßennahen Böden (Ratios of stable isotopes d13C and d34S in technical substrates of traffic and soils adjacent to soils) (Diploma Thesis)
Teaching
Urban Ecology
More than half of the global population is now living in cities. Today it is known that about 80% of anthropogenic material consumption and up to 75% of anthropogenic carbon emissions are caused by urban systems. Intensive development leads to the formation of urban heat islands. Air and water pollution as well as noise are for many town dwellers a threat for their health. Furthermore, cities change the patterns of biodiversity. Increased temperatures enable the spread of adapted specific species. The high variety of construction structures causes microhabitats and ecosystem diversity. Consequently, some species become promoted by urban development some species become extinct on developed areas. Thus, urban systems form unique ecosystem complexes not found somewhere else in nature.
Students will learn in the lessons how urban ecosystems develop and how they are structured. The specific patterns of urban biodiversity will be discussed comprising plants and animals. Urban atmosphere and its pollution are subjects of the lectures. Also the specific development mechanisms and types of urban soils are part of the lessons. Further chapters deal with the characteristics of substances fluxes caused by urban systems. Finally students will be able to investigate and assess urban ecosystems and to analyze them according to their meaning for a healthy and live worthy environment. The contents of this subject are of highly relevant use for an ecological respectively sustainable urban development.
Soil Mineralogy
Soils are the very thin layer between rocks respective sediments and the atmosphere formed by numerous processes in which living organisms play a substantial role. Without soils terrestrial live is not possible. The global food production relies for large parts on the fertility of soils. Furthermore, soils protect groundwater resources against contamination from the surface due its capability to adsorb pollutants and to degrade toxic organic compounds. Thus soils are evident for a live worthy environment but an increasing global population accompanied by an intensive consumption of land for the development of urban settlements, infrastructure facilities, industries and intensive agriculture enormously jeopardize the functionality of soils.
Soil development cannot be understood without a comprehensive knowledge on the development processes starting with bare rocks and sediments. Those rocks and sediments consist of minerals, which undergo geochemical processes in contact to the hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere forming the pedosphere. Weathering processes of rocks and alteration processes of minerals lead to typical secondary minerals in accordance to the respective climate zone where these processes happen. Those secondary minerals are for example oxides and clays. Typical factors determining the formation of secondary minerals are i.a. redox processes, soil acidity, activity of microorganisms or climate. Secondary minerals provide characteristic soil properties such as adsorption capacity, water storage capacity or nutrient concentrations. Furthermore organic matter undergoes in soils degradation and formation processes leading to humic substances only formable in soils. In addition to that, soil properties are often not homogenously distributed but occur in micro patches only investigable with specific techniques.
The lectures on soil mineralogy enable the students to understand the formation of soil minerals and organic soil compounds, their role for specific soil porperties and the use of this knowledge in scientific and applied projects. Students will learn how the soil’s mineralogical composition can be analysed including higher sophisticated methods such as isotope ration mass spectrometry and Synchrotron technology. Finally, students will have developed the capability to pose scientific questions and to solve applied challenges in the field of soil mineralogy.
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as well as large facilities such as the Synchrotron radiation source ANKA 
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