Understanding the Water Cycle  [12.06.19]

Drought, floods, rising sea levels - the water on earth is causing more and more problems. In order for people to be better informed about what is in store for them, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Maike Schumacher sits down at the computer.

Since September 2018, she has been in charge of the department of Data Assimilation in the Earth System at the University of Hohenheim, handling large amounts of data. Test.

Mrs. Schumacher, your chair was newly created. How did it come about?

It is a tenure-track professorship which Mr. Wulfmeyer supported in particular. As you can see, with success.

Data assimilation in the Earth System - what does it mean?

The Earth system consists of many components, including the oceans, the atmosphere, but also the hydrosphere. There is a continuous water cycle which can vary greatly in space and time. Long meteorological droughts, for example, can lead to sharp decreases in hydrological resources.

On the one hand, this can now be simulated with computer-aided models, and on the other hand observations can be made via satellites, local data, etc. However, both approaches have their limitations. Data assimilation therefore combines both. If, for example, the models do not simulate the water withdrawal very well, this can be corrected by observations. In this way, the model is improved and adapted to the actual development, and the information is carried into the model.

How is your area of expertise integrated into the institute?

There are only two departments at the institute, and I cooperate very closely with the physics and meteorology department. There is a lot of research on weather and climate simulations. Atmospheric models, but also data, play an important role here. And, of course, assimilation. At the moment I am concentrating on hydrology, i.e. the land surface and also groundwater resources. But of course this can be combined wonderfully, because they influence each other.

What was your path to Hohenheim like personally?

I studied geodesy and geoinformation at the University of Bonn and did my doctorate there. Data assimilation was already my focus, and I even decided not to go abroad for my doctorate like many others did. I had a research stay in Australia as part of my doctoral thesis. At the beginning of the millennium there was a 10-year-long drought, the so-called "Millennium Drought", and I was able to test my methods well.

But then I went abroad, to the University of Bristol. I evaluated geodetic satellite data and researched the question of sea-level rise. The warming of the oceans plays a role and the ice melt and continental hydrology also have an influence. Another aspect is less well known: In the ice age, the poles were covered by ice masses, and since this weight has melted off, there is still a continuous land uplift. This also changes the sea level.

And is the sea level rising now?

On average, yes, but to varying degrees, and in some places it is even falling.

If you look at your research as a whole: What is the most important question that drives you?

It would be fantastic to be able to predict droughts and floods and thus take better protection measures. I therefore want to generate as much data as possible to optimize the models for forecasting. It would then be possible to react in good time, which would also be important for agriculture. I would then pass on the results to the large organizations and politicians so that this information is really noticed.

What project would you start if you had unlimited resources and opportunities?

Actually the same, but then the resources could be further expanded, for example the expensive computer capacities.

Which research projects are you currently working on in reality?

I am now looking at the experiences I gained in Australia in other models as well. The model I am working with offers the possibility to integrate additional data. It is fast and has a good spatial resolution. I vary the parameters and look at what changes and which data set is most important.

Do you already have support or is your team still under construction?

At the moment I have support from my secretary, but a position as a postdoc or for a doctorate is advertised. Everything else I have to raise through third-party funding.

Can students participate in your research?

In the summer semester there is a first Master's thesis, the student has a very research-related topic. But in the future there will be more theses and also student assistants for support. I would also like to tackle Humboldt reloaded, because I like working with small groups, so that students can also ask questions.

But you certainly won't be able to avoid big lectures either?

No, of course there are also the big lectures, physics and statistics in the Bachelor's programs. But also there it is possible to carry out experiments for illustration. In the exercises, the students then become active themselves, i.e. they calculate themselves.

What do you think good teaching means?

 

Good teaching is a mixture of different elements. Instead of PowerPoint, I like to use the blackboard, which gives me time to think. Practical supplements are also very important. The main thing, however, is that enthusiasm comes across, which is a good indicator of good teaching.

 

What about after graduation? Where can your graduates work later?

There are many possibilities, for example in research, industry, or business. The German Weather Service, for example, would be a classic career field.

Other stakeholders with an interest in the impacts of climate change could also be considered. As a rule, our graduates are very broadly based. In principle, the methods they learn here could also be applied to completely different topics.

Do you have any good advice for your students?

You should always do what you're interested in. Don't let yourself be distracted, even if something is not fun, but always keep an eye on the big goal - the desired degree or profession.

How do you like Hohenheim now?

Very good, the university is beautiful and it is very easy to establish contacts with colleagues. Everyone is very interested in interdisciplinary research. But there is also a very pleasant atmosphere with the students. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Hohenheim is not a giant university, which makes it easier to make contacts.

How do you spend your free time, Mrs. Schumacher?

I have a young daughter, so I spend a lot of time with my family. We're out a lot, going hiking or swimming.

 

Thank you very much for the interesting interview!

Interview: Elsner; Translation: Neudorfer