Kickoff of Phase 2 of the M³OCCA Graduate School

At the end of June, Simon attended the FAU Erlangen kick-off meeting for the 4-year Phase 2 of the M³OCCA Graduate School. This graduate program brings together nine PhD candidates who are working on the advancement of technologies and geophysical models to improve our understanding of processes and changes affecting mountain glaciers and ice caps in the context of climate change. Research is conducted in close collaboration between TUM, FAU, the Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften (BAdW), and the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR).

Our contribution to the project focuses on the interaction between permafrost and glaciers. During Phase 1, Felix investigated several case studies and identified processes that contribute to the destabilization of glacierized permafrost rock slopes. In the second phase, Simon will focus on further developing mechanical models that can better represent these processes. By coupling these mechanical models with hydraulic and thermal models, the project aims to move beyond case-specific investigations toward a framework for regional-scale hazard assessment, enabling a more comprehensive evaluation of climate change impacts on glacierized mountain environments.