Thomas Roggenkamp

Dr. Thomas Roggenkamp is a Research Associate in Physical Geography at the Geographical Institute of the University of Bonn, where he is affiliated with the working group of Prof. Dr. Jürgen Herget. He specializes in paleohydrology and geoarchaeology, focusing on the reconstruction of historical flood and drought events using documentary and geomorphological evidence. His work bridges natural and cultural sciences, particularly in understanding the hydrological dynamics of the Rhine during Roman times and recent extreme events like the 2021 Ahr Valley flood.

His research interests include paleohydrology, geomorphology, geoarchaeology, and historical flood reconstruction. He investigates how past societies interacted with river systems, using historical records, geological data, and hydrological modeling to reconstruct extreme events such as floods and droughts. His work has significant implications for understanding climate variability, flood risk, and resilience in cultural riverine landscapes.

The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on hydrological extremes, particularly in the Ahr and Rhine river systems. His research combines historical climatology, environmental archaeology, and modern hydrological modeling to provide insights into both ancient and contemporary flood dynamics. He frequently collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and contributes to policy-relevant discussions on flood protection and resilience.

He has been recognized with the LVR Science Prize (2022) for his dissertation on the hydrology of the Roman Middle and Lower Rhine. This award highlights the academic and regional significance of his work in Rhenish regional studies.

Dr. Roggenkamp supervises bachelor's theses and teaches courses such as field practicals in physical geography, advanced seminars, and research seminars on topics like the Ahr Valley flood disaster. He is actively involved in current research projects on extreme discharge values along the German Rhine, in collaboration with the Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG). He also participates in academic conferences, including co-convening an EGU session on flood trends in cultural riverine landscapes.

He is associated with the AG Herget research group at the University of Bonn, which focuses on geomorphology and paleohydrology. The group conducts interdisciplinary research on landscape evolution, extreme hydrological events, and human-environment interactions over long timescales.