Current Projects

Duration: 01/2023 - 12/2027
Funding: EU - HORIZON EUROPE (grant ID 101086179)
PI / Co-PIs: Bernhard Ahrens, Melanie Weynants
The objective of AI4SoilHealth is to co-design, create and maintain an open access European-wide digital infrastructure, compiled using state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods combined with new and deep soil health understanding and measures. The AI-based data infrastructure functions as a Digital Twin to the real-World biophysical system, forming a Soil Digital Twin. This can be used for assessing and continuously monitoring Soil Health metrics by land use and/or management parcel, supporting the Commission’s objective of transitioning towards healthy soils by 2030.

Duration: 04/2024 - 03/2028
Funding: EU - HORIZON EUROPE (grant ID GA 101137682)
PI / Co-PIs: Nuno Carvalhais, Markus Reichstein

Participating department members: Alexander Winkler, Ana Bastos, Bernhard Ahrens, Christian Reimers, Greg Duveiller, Jacob Nelson, Jeran Poehls, Lazaro Alonso, Martin Jung, Nicole Börner, Sujan Koirala, Markus Reichstein more

Duration: 07/2024 - 06/2026
Funding: ESA, 4000144482/24/I-KE
PI/Co-PI’s: Fabian Gans

Participating department members: Fabian Gans, Melanie Weynants more

Duration: 03/2024 - 02/2027
Funding: BMBF (Projekt GZ: 16LW0499)
PI / Co-PI’s: Gregory Duveiller

Expected strong climate, demographic and economic changes in Central Africa threaten the sustainability of ecological, social and economic services Congo Basin Forests (CBF), the second World’s largest rainforest, provide to humanity. In addition to deforestation, anthropogenic environmental impacts will lead to dramatic changes in forest tree functional composition with potential deleterious feedbacks on carbon and water cycles among other services. Through a unique European research partnership and transnational collaborations with Central african country experts, CoForFunc aims at developing an integrated approach for the monitoring of tree functional diversity of the CBF to support biome-scale assessment of their vulnerability to expected climate change and human-induced transformations.

Participating department members: more

Duration: 05/2014 - 12/2026
PI/Co-PIs: Marion Schrumpf, Susan Trumbore

The project provides essential soil characteristics that determine ecosystem properties such as plant and soil organism abundance, diversity, and productivity under different land use and management, and information on soil processes driving belowground carbon (C) and nutrient cycles, to link management, biodiversity and soil function.

Participating department members: Marion Schrumpf more

PI /(Co)-PIs: Ana Bastos (now with University of Leipzig)

The fate of carbon emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation plays a critical role in determining atmospheric CO2 levels and, consequently, climate change. Earth System Models (ESMs) project a non-linear response of the natural carbon cycle, which weakens both land and ocean sinks in response to warming. This leads to a steeper rise in atmospheric CO2, but the magnitude of this amplifying carbon-climate feedback varies significantly among current ESMs, hindering accurate climate projection. CALIPSO’s vision is to drive scientific progress, empower better climate projections, and provide essential insights into the complex relationship between climate change and carbon loss. Join us on this journey towards a sustainable and climate-resilient future.

Participating department members: Guohua Liu, Laura Eifler

The project has been moved to the University of Leipzig. more

Duration: 04/2024 - 03/2028
PI / (Co)-PIs: Sung-Ching Lee

 C-BLUES aims to advance knowledge and understanding of blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) such as seagrasses, tidal marshes, mangroves, macroalgae, and macroalgae mariculture via targeting three overarching objectives: 1) develop new scientific knowledge within BCEs to reduce scientific uncertainty and improve reporting of blue carbon under UNFCCC, 2) provide input to a possible revision of the 2013 IPCC Wetlands Supplement to increase inclusion of BCEs in national greenhouse gas inventories and reporting, 3) raise awareness and promote the role of BCEs for delivering global climate policy commitments in collaboration with Chinese and other international partners.

Participating department members: Sung-Ching Lee more

Duration: 12/2024 - 07/2025
Funding: Common Wadden Sea Secretariat
PI/Co-PI’s: Sung-Ching (Nick) Lee

To advance the understanding of carbon sequestration in the Wadden Sea, the aim of this project is to review ongoing research projects and activities via an in-depth assessment of methods used and specific parameters investigated. It will provide recommendations for future trilateral research and monitoring activities that would allow a better quantification of the carbon sequestration potential of the Wadden Sea habitats.

Participating department members: Sung-Ching Lee, Wenxi Zhou

Duration: 04/2022 - 04/2025
Funding: ESA, European Space Agency
PI/ Co-PIs: Fabian Gans
DeepESDL is a virtual laboratory providing data, tool, and computational resources to efficiently implement comprehensive processing workflows for Earth System data.

Participating department members: more

Duration: 06/2021 - 05/2025
PI/Co-PIs: Nuno Carvalhais, Sönke Zaehle

Earth system models for the future is an ambitious European research project on Earth System modelling that will build a novel generation of Earth system models fitted to support the development of mitigation and adaptation strategies in line with the commitments of the Paris Agreement.

Participating department members: Nuno Carvalhais, Sönke Zaehle more

Duration: 09/2023 - 08/2027
Funding: EU - HORIZON EUROPE (grant ID GA 101120237)
PI / Co-PIs: Nuno Carvalhais, Markus Reichstein

ELIAS aims at establishing Europe as a leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) research that drives sustainable innovation and economic development.
We will create a Network of Excellence connecting researchers in academia with practitioners in the industry to differentiate Europe as a region where AI research builds towards a sustainable long-term future for our planet, contributes to a cohesive society, and respects individual preferences and rights. The BGI is part of UC5.

Participating department members: Claire Robin, Markus Reichstein more

Duration: 01/2023 - 12/2027
Funding: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
PI/ Co-PI’s: Markus Reichstein

The research project focuses on the integration of data and knowledge with hybrid and explainable machine learning methods to derive new insights in environmental and Earth sciences, e.g. for hydroclimatic extremes and their impact on ecosystem functions or services.

Participating department members: Shijie Jiang, Georgios Blougouras more

Duration: 01/2021 - 12/2026
PI/Co-PIs: Markus Reichstein,  Nuno Carvlahais

The ELLIS Unit Jena is a member of the ”European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems” (ELLIS) Network, and is at the forefront of using artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle global environmental crises, like climate change and biodiversity loss. By using machine learning (ML) and AI, ELLIS researchers gain a deeper understanding of the interdependencies of Earth and climate. They are able to simulate scenarios for mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

Partner: Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, German Aerospace Center
Funding: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, Michael Stifel Center Jena

Participating department members: Markus Reichstein, Nuno Carvalhais, Vitus Benson, Conrad Philipp (FSU), Shijie Jiang more

Duration: 09/2021 - 08/2025
PI/Co-PIs: Ana Bastos (now with University of Leipzig), Markus Reichstein

XAIDA, a new EU-funded project starting in September 2021, brings together the interdisciplinary expertise of a research consortium of 15 universities and research organizations. Our consortium unites experts in machine learning, statistics and climate modeling. Together we will design new methods and apply them to recent high-impact events to understand the role of climate change.

Participating department members: Ana Bastos, Markus Reichstein, José Cortez, Nora Linscheid more

Duration: 09/2024 - 08/2025
Funding: ESA
PI/Co-PI’s: Fabian Gans

Duration: 08/2019 - 07/2024
PI/Co-PIs: Jana Wäldchen

Project objectives:
1) Establishment of the Flora Incognita app as a standard method for plant identification in Germany
2) Development and implementation of an observation methodology and data exchange with various partners like nature conservation authorities and research groups
3)Development of quality assurance methods for observations and spatio-temporal analyses.
4) Expansion of the Flora Capture Citizen Science project and new didactic concepts for the dissemination of citizen species monitoring.

Participating department members: Markus Reichstein, Michael Rzanny, Alice Fritz more

Duration: 8/2024 - 7/2026
PI/Co-PI’s: Jana Wäldchen
Funding: BfN, Project: 352460010B

Methods for closing data gaps in nationwide biodiversity monitoring

Participating department members: Jana Wälchen, Michael Rzanny, Susanne Tautenhahn, Anke Bebber, Alice Fritz more

Duration: 09/2022 - 08/2027
PI/Co-PIs: Ana Bastos (now with University of Leipzig)

Forest vulnerability to compound extremes and disturbances in a changing climate

Participating department members: Ana Bastos, Yimian Ma, Franziska Müller

The project has been moved to the University of Leipzig.

Duration: 08/2022 - 07/2026
PI/Co-PIs: Gregory Duveiller, Sophia Walther

Joint project ITMS Integrated Greenhouse Gas Monitoring System for Germany - Module B (demonstration phase) more

Duration: 08/2022 - 07/2026
PI/Co-PIs: Gregory Duveiller, Sophia Walther

Joint project ITMS Integrated Greenhouse Gas Monitoring System for Germany - Module QS (demonstration phase) more

Joint project ITMS Integrated Greenhouse Gas Monitoring System for Germany - Characterization of uncertainty for high-resolution AI-based biogenic CO2 fluxes
Duration: 12/2023 - 11/2026
Funding: BMBF
PI/Co-PIs: Sophia Walther, Martin Jung more

Land-surface mediated Earth system feedbacks - AI enabled understanding, modeling and prediction
Duration: 04/2023 - 12/2027
Funding: Max Planck Foundation
PI/ Co-PIs: Markus Reichstein

The Max-Planck Caltech Carnegie Columbia (MC³) Center aims to transform Earth system analysis and predictions, integrating advanced Earth observations and machine learning for deeper understanding and sustainable management of our planet, in particular the land. Our mission is to set new standards in Earth system modelling, foster next-generation scientists, and lead in earth sciences research and education, shaping a sustainable future through innovative, interdisciplinary collaboration.

Participating department members: Alexander Winkler, Nuno Carvalhais, Stefanie Johnson more

Duration: 09/2024 - 02/2027
PI/ Co-PI: Nuno Carvalhais
Funding: EU Horizon EUROPE (grant ID GA 101159723)

Short description: The project brings together AI experts to develop the Mediterranean Digital Twin network, and enhance the understanding and forecasting of climate extremes in the region

Participating department members: Nuno Carvalhais more

Duration: 09/2021 - 08/2025
PI/Co-PIs: René Orth, Markus Reichstein, Dorothea Frank

The project will offer new ways to assess trade-offs and synergies between economic sectors, hazards and their scales, through its systemic and forward-looking approach.

Participating department members: René Orth, Markus Reichstein, Dorothea Frank more

Duration: 1/2025 - 12/2029
PI / Co-PI’s: Martin Jung, Greg Duveiller, Nuno Carvalhais, Markus Reichstein
Funding: EU - Horizon Europe, Grant ID: GA 101184989

Short description:

Participating department members: Martin Jung, Greg Duveiller, Nuno Carvalhais,

Duration: 10/2021 - 10/2026
PI/Co-PIs: Markus Reichstein, Fabian Gans

The goal of the NFDI4Earth is to provide simple, efficient and open access to all relevant Earth System Data. The NFDI4Earth aims to establish common principles, rules and standards for research data management in Earth system sciences. Major implementation guidelines are the FAIR principles, which do impact the whole research data life cycle.

Participating department members: Markus Reichstein, Fabian Gans more

Duration: 06/2022 - 05/2026
PI/Co-PIs: Gregory Duveiller

The mission of Open-Earth-Monitor is to accelerate uptake of environmental information to guide current and future users in research, decision-making and citizens toward the most sustainable solutions.

Participating department members: Fabian Gans, Markus Reichstein and Jacob Nelson more

Duration: 04/2024 - 03/2030
Funding: Carl-Zeiss-Foundation
PI / CO-PI: Jana Wäldchen

Description: The research project “PollenNet” aims to use artificial intelligence and community science to accurately predict the spread of pollen.

Participating department members: Jana Wäldchen, Michael Rzanny, Anke Bebber

Duration: 04/2022 - 03/2025
PI/Co-PIs: Alexander Winkler

The DFG-funded PhenoFeedbacks project addresses the effects and feedbacks of phenological changes in the climate system

Participating department members: Annu Panwar

Duration: 07/2020 - 08/2025
PI/Co-PIs: Nuno Carvalhais, Markus Reichstein

Within ESA’s Earth Explorers, the primary objective of BIOMASS is to improve our understanding on the role of the land biosphere on the global carbon cycle, with clear implications in a context of climate change. Project Office BIOMASS aims to synthesize, produce and disseminate relevant information within the biomass community; identify gaps and investigate solutions within the context of BIOMASS; and establish communication to maintain a necessary dialogue within the broader context of the BIOMASS mission.

Participating department members: Nuno Carvalhais, Markus Reichstein, Nicole Börner, Siyuan Wang more

Duration: 2023 - 2025
Funding: DFG
PI/Co-PIs: Marion Schrumpf

Decoupling surface and subsurface processes of litter decomposition and effects on soil organic matter stabilization with increasing drought.

participating department members:
 

Duration: 09/2020 - 08/2026
PI/Co-PIs: Markus Reichstein

The EU-funded USMILE project will use machine learning to improve modelling and understanding of the Earth system.

Participating department members: Markus Reichstein, Alexander Winkler, Reda El Ghawi more

Duration: 01/2024 - 12/2026
Funding: BMBF (PT Jülich) (Grant ID: 03WIR3605A)
PI / Co-PI: Jana Wäldchen

Description: TP1: Basics of image-based automatic damage detection and citizen science
The aim of the project is to develop an AI-powered method for the automatic detection of forest pests to support forestry and landowners in identifying threats early and responding swiftly to infestations. Another key focus is the development of educational concepts and communication strategies to raise public awareness about forest health and damage.

participating department members: Jana Wäldchen, Anke Bebber more

Duration: 2/2025 - 1/2029
Funding: EU - Horizon Europe
Contact: Vitus Benson, Markus Reichstein, Nuno Carvalhais
Grant ID: GA 101187947 more

Duration: 2/2025 - 1/2029
Funding: EU - Horizon Europe
PI / Co-PI: Vitus Benson, Markus Reichstein, Nuno Carvalhais
Grant ID: GA 101187947

Description:
WeatherGenerator which aims to use machine learning in novel ways for weather forecasting and to model related Earth system processes. The role of MPI-BGC is to model the land ecosystems in response to weather.


Participating department members: Nuno Carvalhais, Vitus Benson, Sebastian Hoffmann, Melanie Weynants, Markus Zehner, Claire Robin, Lazaro Alonso