CLIMATE AND EARTH
SYSTEM SCIENCES
Photo: UHH/Denstorf
29 August 2023
Photo: Andreas Baier
We are proud to announce the successful disputation of our SICSS member Gesa Schulz
Her dissertation “Impact of anthropogenic stressors on the estuarine nitrogen cycle” was supervised by Dr. Kirstin Dähnke (Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Geesthacht), Dr. Birgit Gaye (Institute for Geology, Universität Hamburg), and Prof. Dr. Hermann Bange (GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel).
Gesa investigated the estuarine nitrogen cycle and the factors controlling it. She focused on the effects of different stressors on nitrogen retention, nitrogen turnover and nitrous oxide production in the two highly anthropogenically influenced estuaries Elbe and Ems. Thus, she studied the effects of low discharge and hyper-turbid conditions on estuarine nitrogen turnover, as well as possible controls on nitrous oxide production and emissions. Her findings emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to water quality improvement, nutrient reduction, and sediment management, which must also include possible impacts of climate change.
Gesa was a member of Universität Hamburg and the Institute of Carbon Cycles at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon.
Gesa’s future plans?
Gesa has already started to work for the project "NAPSEA" at Hereon, staying true to the work on nutrient inputs and turnover processes. Next year, she will participate in two research cruises aboard the research vessel Sonne and investigate the nitrogen turnover processes in the Indian Ocean.