Kneisel, apl. Prof. Dr. Christof
Chair of Geography – Physical Geography
Tel.: +49 931 31-85441
Fax: +49 931 31-85544
E-Mail: kneisel@uni-wuerzburg.de
Institute of Geography and Geology
Am Hubland
97074 Wuerzburg
Campus Hubland South
Geography Building
Room 218
during semester break: only by arrangement
Consultation hour for students interested in the Erasmus exchange programme:
by arrangement only erasmus.geographie@uni-wuerzburg.de
- permafrost and periglacial morphodynamics
- glacier-permafrost-interactions
- mountain geomorphology
- natural hazards
- soil science, soil geomorphology
- application of geophysical methods in geosciences and geoarchaeology
- study sites: Canada, Iceland, Swiss Alps, Central German Uplands
Soil water balance of forest sites with different lithologies in Northern Bavaria
| funding | Bundesministerien für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (BMEL) und für Umwelt, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit (BMU) - Waldklimafonds |
| duration | 01/2020 - 12/2023 |
| project leader |
|
| project staff | Julian Fäth, M.Sc. |
| project partner | Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schuldt, Universität Würzburg, Lehrstuhl für Botanik II – Ökophysiologie und Vegetationsökologie |
| project description |
Multi-Scale Characterization of Polar Permafrost Landscapes by Airborne and Satellite Remote Sensing and In-Situ Geophysical Measurements
| funding | German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG; BA1000/33-1, KN542/15-1, UL465/2-1) |
| duration | 10/2017 - 02/2022 |
| project leader |
|
| project staff | Julius Kunz, M.Sc. |
| project partner | Carleton University Ottawa, Alfred Wegener Institut Bremerhaven |
Three-dimensional internal structure and characteristics of periglacial landforms as a key to enhance the understanding of process dynamics and sensitivity to climate change
| funding | German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG; KN542/13-1) |
| duration | 04/2014 - 12/2020 |
| project leader | apl. Prof. Dr. Christof Kneisel |
Carbon balance on the renaturation of moor forests exemplified by the National Park Hunsrück- Hochwald
| funding |
|
| duration | 05/2016 - 04/2019 (Teilprojekt 05/2016 - 07/2017) |
| project leading | apl. Prof. Dr. Christof Kneisel |
| project staff | Julian Trappe, M.Sc. |
Influence of permafrost on chemical weathering and erosion in high Alpine areas
| funding | Swiss National Science Foundation (Schweizerischer Nationalfonds, SNF) |
| duration | 06/2012 - 06/2015 |
| project leader | Prof. Dr. M. Egli (PI, University of Zurich) |
| contact | apl. Prof. Dr. Christof Kneisel |
Spatial assessment of permafrost characteristics and dynamics in alpine periglacial environments (SPCC)
| funding | German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG; Kn542/8-1) |
| duration | 07/2008 - 12/2012 |
| PI | apl. Prof. Dr. Christof Kneisel |
Permafrost in loose sediments (PiLS)
| funding | German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG; Kn542/7-1) |
| duration | 11/2005 - 12/2008 |
| contact | apl. Prof. Dr. Christof Kneisel |
Geomorphological, sedimentological and pedological prospection of typical Landforms inside the natural and cultural region Spessart
| funding | Forschungsfonds der Philosophischen Fakultät I der Universität Würzburg |
| duration | 06/2016 - 03/2018 |
| project leader | apl. Prof. Dr. Christof Kneisel |
| project staff | Julian Trappe, M.Sc. |
Boden- und Landschaftswasserhaushalt an Waldstandorten in Unterfranken
| funding | Forschungsfonds der Philosophischen Fakultät I der Universität Würzburg |
| duration | 02/2014 - 03/2015 |
| project leader | apl. Prof. Dr. Christof Kneisel |
Geophysical, pedological and dendrogeomorphological investigations on gelifluction lobes and associated landforms in subarctic Sweden
| funding | EU-Transnational Access Programme |
| duration | 2006 - 2008 |
| project partner | Dr. Isabelle Roer, Geographisches Institut der Uni Zürich |
| contact | apl. Prof. Dr. Christof Kneisel |
2007
Professorial Dissertation (German Habilitation) at the University of Würzburg
Title: The nature and dynamics of frozen ground in alpine and subarctic periglacial environments
since Feb. 2006
Lecturer at the Department of Physical Geography at the University of Würzburg
2002 - 2006
Assistant lecturer at the Department of Physical Geography at the University of Würzburg
2000 - 2002
Assistant lecturer at the Department of Physical Geography at the University of Trier
1999 Dissertation (Dr. rer. nat)
Title: Permafrost in glacier forefields – a comparative study in the eastern Swiss Alps and northern Sweden (in german)
HELLEBRAND, H., MÜLLER, C., KNEISEL, C., KREITER, T. (2016): Nicht invasive Untersuchungsmethoden zur Entwicklung von Sanierungsmaßnahmen im Wasserbau. In: Herrmann, R.A. & Jensen, J. (Hrsg.): Sicherung von Dämmen, Deichen und Stauanlagen, Handbuch für Theorie und Praxis (Vol. V, 2015), S. 121-133.
EMMERT, A., KNEISEL, C. 2016: Internal structure of two alpine rockglaciers investigated by quasi-3D electrical resistivity imaging (ERI), The Cryosphere Discuss., doi:10.5194/tc-2016-135.
ZOLLINGER, B., ALEWELL, C., KNEISEL, C., BRANDOVA, D., PETRILLO, M., PLÖTZE, M., CHRISTL, M., EGLI, M. (2016): Soil formation and weathering in a permafrost environment of the Swiss Alps: a multi-parameter and non-steady-state approach. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms: DOI 10.1002/esp.4040.
KNEISEL, C. Emmert, A., Polich, P., Zollinger, B., Egli, M. (2015): Soil geomorphology and frozen ground conditions at a subalpine talus slope having permafrost in the eastern Swiss Alps. Catena, 133: 107-118
KNEISEL, C., Emmert, A., Kästl, J. (2014): Application of 3D electrical resistivity imaging for mapping frozen ground conditions exemplified by three case studies. Geomorphology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.12.022
KNEISEL, C., RÖDDER, T. & SCHWINDT, D. (2014): Frozen ground dynamics resolved by multi-year and year-around electrical resistivity monitoring at three alpine sites in the Swiss Alps. Near Surface Geophysics, 12, 117-132.
ZOLLINGER, B., ALEWELL, C., KNEISEL, C., MEUSBURGER, C., GÄRTNER, H., BRANDOVA, D., IVY-OCHS, S., SCHMIDT, M., EGLI, M. (2013): Effect of permafrost on the formation of soil organic carbon pools and their physical–chemical properties in the Eastern Swiss Alps. Catena, 110:70-85.
RÖDDER, T., KNEISEL, C., (2012): Influence of snow cover and grain size on the ground thermal regime in the discontinuous permafrost zone, Swiss Alps.- Geomorphology, 175-176:176-189.
KNEISEL, C., RÖDDER, T., ROTH, N. & SCHWINDT, D. (2012): Electrical resistivity monitoring for the detection of changes in mountain permafrost at different time scales. In: Geological Survey of Austria, 92: GELMON, 1st International Workshop on Geoelectrical Monitoring, Vienna, 51-56.
SAEMUNDSSON, T., ARNALDS, O., KNEISEL, C., JONSSON, H., & DECAULNE, A. (2012): The Orravatnsrustir palsa site in Central Iceland – Palsas in an aeolian sedimentation environment.- Geomorphology 167–168: 13-20.
RÖDDER, T., KNEISEL, C. (2012): Permafrost mapping using quasi-3D resistivity imaging, Murtèl, Swiss Alps. Near Surface Geophysics, 10: 117-127.
EGLI, M., WERNLI, M., BURGA, C., KNEISEL, C., MAVRIS, C., VALBOA, G., MIRABELLA, A., PLÖTZE, M. & HAEBERLI, W. (2011): Fast but spatially scattered smectite-formation in the proglacial area Morteratsch: An evaluation using GIS.- Geoderma 164: 11-21.
BAUMHAUER, R., KNEISEL, C., MÖLLER, S., SCHÜTT, B. & E. TRESSEL (2011): Physische Geographie 2 - Klima-, Hydro-, Boden- und Vegetationsgeographie (=Geowissen kompakt). 2. durchgesehene Auflage. Darmstadt (Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft), 154 p.
HAEBERLI, W., NOETZLI, J., ARENSON, L., DELALOYE, R., GÄRTNER-ROER, I., GRUBER, S., ISAKSEN, K., KNEISEL, C., KRAUTBLATTER, M., PHILLIPS, M. (2011): Mountain permafrost: development and challenges of a young research field.- Journal of Glaciology 200: 1043-1058.
KNEISEL, C. (2010): The nature and dynamics of frozen ground in alpine and subarctic periglacial environments. The Holocene 20: 423-445.
KNEISEL, C. (2010): Frozen ground conditions in a subarctic mountain environment, northern Sweden. Geomorphology 118: 80-92.
BEYLICH, A.A. & KNEISEL, C. (2009): Sediment budget and relief development in Hrafndalur, Subarctic oceanic, eastern Iceland.- Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research 41: 3-17.
KNEISEL, C., HAUCK, C., FORTIER, R. & MOORMAN, B. (2008): Advances in geophysical methods for permafrost investigations.- Permafrost and Periglacial Processes 19/2: 157-178.
HAUCK, C. & KNEISEL, C. (eds.) (2008): Applied geophysics in periglacial environments.- 240pp Cambridge University Press
Our field of research includes surface and subsurface processes and interactions of different environmental factors in various environmental systems on diverse temporal and spatial scales. With the assessment, the monitoring and the modeling of the predominantly in-situ collected data being the three mainstays of our integrated research approach, we focus on the assessment of heterogeneities in surface and subsurface parameters at sites in mid-latitudinal, high-altitudinal and subarctic environments.
Applied methods include near-surface and subsurface temperature and soil moisture measurements, pedological, ecological and geomorphological mapping, GIS-based terrain analysis and data regionalization combining field data and remotely sensed data. Near surface geophysics comprising 2D and 3D geophysical mapping and monitoring are used to characterize the oftentimes heterogeneous subsurface. Currently, our main methodological focus lies on the application of 3D electrical resistivity imaging to assess, monitor and visualize time-dependent subsurface processes.
Based on field observations and collected in-situ data, geophysical models of the subsurface as well as conceptual models of the different environmental systems are deduced in order to develop future scenarios. These scenarios describe the reaction of processes to changing environmental conditions as a function of constant and variable components of the environmental systems.
