Pier Paul Overduin

Dr. Pier Paul Overduin is a Senior Scientist at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), specializing in permafrost research. His work focuses on subsea permafrost dynamics, coastal geomorphology, and geophysical methods applied to Arctic environments. He leads the Hydrochemistry laboratory at AWI's Potsdam branch and co-coordinates the Horizon 2020 EU Project Nunataryuk, investigating permafrost thaw impacts on Arctic coasts and socioeconomic adaptation strategies. Overduin is also involved in the MOSES project, developing modular observation systems for Earth systems research.

His research interests include submarine and terrestrial permafrost, coastal erosion processes, and the application of geophysical techniques like electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). Key projects involve mapping subsea permafrost in regions such as the Laptev Sea and Lena Delta, studying methane dynamics in thermokarst lakes, and analyzing organic carbon fluxes in Arctic river deltas. Overduin has contributed to high-resolution bathymetry models of Arctic coastal zones and investigates the interplay between permafrost degradation and coastal stability.

Overduin’s work bridges field observations, laboratory analysis, and numerical modeling to understand climate-driven changes in Arctic systems. His publications address topics such as subsea permafrost thermal regimes, organic matter transport in river systems, and the implications of thawing permafrost for carbon cycling and coastal communities.