Biografie

Since 2009

Ph.D student at the, Department of Geoscience, University of Potsdam, Germany PhD advisors: Manfred Strecker (University of Potsdam), Paul Kapp (University of Arizona)

2009

MSc in Geoscience, Department of Geosceince, University of Arizona, U.S.A, MSc advisors: Paul Kapp, Peter Reiners, Jon Pelletier

2007-2009

MSc student in Geology, Department of Geoscience, University of Arizona, U.S.A

2007

Pre-Diploma in Geoscience, Department of Geoscience, University of Potsdam, Germany

2004-2007

Diploma student in Geology, Department of Geoscience, University of Potsdam, Germany

Forschung

Research Interests:

Structural geology

Geochronology

Surface processes

Terrestrial sedimentology

Tectonic Geomorphology

My interest focuses on the complex feedbacks between tectonic, surface and climate processes. I take a field-based approach that entails geological mapping, structural and basin analysis, geochemistry combined with thermochronology, and cosmogenic nuclide dating to solve different aspects of spatiotemporal patterns of surface processes and their tectonic and/or climatic forcing mechanisms.

Aims of my research efforts to date include: (1) quantifying the dynamic relationships between tectonics and climate with respect to the development of orographic barriers, (2) deciphering process rates at a variety of time scales to better understand the discrepancies between long-term (i.e., geological) and short-term process rates of deformation and erosion, (3) studying active and inactive thrust belts to better understand changes of tectonic style, timing of deformation, uplift and erosion foreland sysems, (4) understanding the role of crustal anisotropies in localizing compressional reactivation, and hence causing disparate patterns of uplift in  broken foreland settings, (5) the late Cenozoic tectonic evolution of Asia and South America.

Most recently, I have been investigating wind erosion in central Asia and its tectonic and climatic implications, the formation and style of intermontane basin development in NW Argentinia, and the influence of aridity on the plateau development in Tibet. In my future professional career I hope to investigate more deeply terrestrial archives that hold valuable information of past tectonic activity, and its forcing of climatic conditions.

Professional Experience  

2009                           Visiting graduate-student researcher at the University of Arizona, using the (U-TH)/He dating facility of Prof. Peter Reiners and the cosmogenic nuclide dating lab of Prof. Jay Quade

2008-2009                 Research assistant, Department of Geoscience, University of Arizona, U.S.A

2006                         Student assistant, “Desire”, GFZ Potsdam, Germany

2005-2007                 Student assistant,”Denudation and erosion in the Sutlej- Valley, NW India” and “Inversion of moment tensors in anisotropic media with applications on cluster earthquakes in Vogtland/NW Bohemia”, Department of Geoscience, University of Potsdam, Germany

Honors/scholarships/grants 

2011       Potsdam graduate school (PoGs) travel grant to attend the AGU fall meeting 2011, San Francisco, USA

2011       Cover story of May's GSA Today edition: Wind erosion in the Qaidam basin, central Asia: Implication for for tectonics, paleoclimate, and the source of the Loess Plateau

2010       Potsdam graduate school (PoGs) travel grant to attend the AGU fall meeting 2010, San Francisco, USA 

2008       Recipient of the first “Farouk El-Baz Student Research Award” of the      Geological Society of America, for outstanding research in arid environments and to encourage and promote desert research.

2008       GPSC Travel Grant to participate in the AGU fall meeting 2008, San Francisco, U.S.A

Lehre

Teaching Experience

2012                           Teaching assistant, Modul BscP17 "Einführung in die Strukturgeologie Exkursion, Rheingraben-Jura-Nördliche Schweizer Alpen", Department of Geoscience, University of Potsdam, Germany

2011                           Teaching assistant, Modul MScP02 "Seminar and Colloquim- Geoscience", Department of Geoscience, University of Potsdam, Germany

                                  Teaching assistant, Modul BW01 "Field course A: Sediments and field mapping (France)", Department of Geoscience, University of Potsdam, Germany

                                  Teaching assistant, Modul BscP17 "Einführung in die Strukturgeologie Exkursion, Rheingraben-Jura-Nördliche Schweizer Alpen", Department of Geoscience, University of Potsdam, Germany

2010                           Teaching assistant, Modul BW01 “Field course A: Sediments and field mapping (France)”, Department of Geoscience, University of Potsdam, Germany

2009                           Teaching assistant, “Advanced structural mapping in the Pyrenees (Spain)”, Department of Geoscience, University of Potsdam, Germany

2008                           Teaching assistant, “Introduction to Stratigraphy and Sedimentology”, Department of Geoscience, University of Arizona, U.S.A

Publikationen

Scientific Journals

Publications:

Kapp, P., Pelletier, J., Rohrmann, A., Heermance, R., Russel, J., 2011, Speculations about the history of wind erosion in the Qaidam Basin and its implications for tectonics, paleoclimate, and the source of the Loess Plateau: GSA Today, v. 21, no. 4/5, doi: 10.1130/GSATG99A.1

Rohrmann, A., Kapp, P., Carrapa, B., Reiners, P., Gyunn, J., Ding, L., Heizler, M., 2012, Thermochronologic evidence for Plateau formation in central Tibet by ~45 Ma: Geology, v. 40, p. 187-190, doi: 10.1130/G32530.1

Link to paper: Thermochronologic evidence for Plateau formation in central Tibet by ~45 Ma

To be submitted:

Rohrmann, A., Heermance, R., Kapp, P.,  McCalister,  A., Fulong, C.: Wind erosion as the primary driver of exhumation in the Qaidam Basin, China (EPSL)

Rohrmann, A., Strecker, M.R., Bookhagen, B., Sachse, D., Mulch, A.: Modern rainfall amounts and water stable isotope from the South Central Andes of NW Argentina: Impacts of orographic barriers and plateau topography 

Conference Contributions & abstracts

American Geopysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, San Francisco, U.S.A

Rohrmann, A., Strecker, M.R., Bookhagen, B., Sachse, D., Mulch, A. (2011): Modern rainfall amounts and water stable isotope data from the south central Andes of NW-Argentina: Impacts of orographic barriers and plateau topography, abstract #A41D-0122

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2010, San Francisco, U.S.A

Rohrmann, A.; Heermance, R.; Kapp, P., Mc-Callister, A. (2010): First quantification of severe wind erosion in yardang fields using cosmogenic 10Be within the western Qaidam Basin, China, abstract #EP41C-0716

European Geophysical Union, Annual Meeting 2010, Vienna, Austria

Rohrmann, A.; Kapp, P.; Gyunn., J., Reiners, P.; Carrapa, B.. (2010): Thermochronologic evidence for Plateau formation in central Tibet by Collision, abstract #EGU2010-3097 (Poster)

Asian Workshop, Asian Climate and Tectonics 2010, Utrecht, Netherlands

Rohrmann, A.; Kapp, P.; Gyunn., J., Reiners, P.; Carrapa, B.. (2010): Thermochronologic evidence for Plateau formation in central Tibet by Collision (Talk)

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, San Francisco, U.S.A

Heermance, R.; Kapp, P.; Rohrmann, A.; McCallister, A. (2009): Extreme winds during the Quaternary deduced from yardang preservation within lacustrine sediments in the Qaidam Basin, China, abstract #PP21B-1341 (Poster)

5^th International Symposium on Tibetan Plateau, Beijing, China

Kapp, P.; Rohrmann, A.; Volkmer, J. (2009): The tectonic history and formation of the Tibetan Plateau (Talk)

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2008, San Francisco, U.S.A              

Rohrmann, A.; Kapp, P; Reiners, P. (2008): Minimal erosion in central Tibet since the Eocene and implications for plateau development, abstract #T32A-08 (Talk)

2008 Joint Meeting of The Geological Society of America, Houston, U.S.A

Kapp, P.; Rohrmann, A.; Pelletier, J. (2008): Wind-enhanced tectonics in the Qaidam Basin and implications for the source of the Loess Plateau (Talk)

Geodaze 2008, Tucson, U.S.A

Rohrmann, A.; Kapp, P.; Pelletier, J.; Russel, J.; (2008):  Wind-enhanced tectonics in the Qaidam Basin and implications for the source of the Loess Plateau (Talk)