Transport and deposition: Formation of alluvial fans and their geo-bio-archive function under hyperaridity – Integrating empiricism and landscape evolution modelling (C02)

• Subject Area: Physical Geography
• Term: since 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 268236062

We successfully established geochronological frameworks at two multi-phase alluvial fans (AF) at the coast of the Atacama Desert and inferred processes and timescales of weathering and soil formation under coastal (hyper)aridity. We plan to investigate by means of a holistic approach integrating empiricism and landscape evolution modelling, (1) the impact of autogenic and environmental controls in the variability of AF structure under transport- versus sediment-supply limitation, (2) the propagation of climatic, biotic and geologic source-area signals and their preservation in fan stratigraphy - and thus the potential of AF as Quaternary and Neogene palaeo-environmental archives for the Atacama Desert.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1211: Earth - Evolution at the Dry Limit
• International Connection: Austria
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Co-Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Jean Braun, since 7/2024; Privatdozent Dr. Dominik Brill, since 7/2020; Professor Dr. Helmut Brückner, until 6/2020; Professor Dr. Frank Lehmkuhl; Dr. Janek Walk, since 7/2024