Heidrun Kopp

Heidrun Kopp is a Professor of Marine Geodesy at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, where she leads Research Area 4: Ocean Floor Dynamics. She is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Dalhousie University. Her research is centered on marine geodynamics, subduction zone processes, seismic imaging, and natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis.

• W3 Professor for Marine Geodesy, GEOMAR & CAU Kiel (since 2012)
• Leader, Research Area 4: Ocean Floor Dynamics, GEOMAR (since 2021; 2012–2017)
• Principal Investigator, ERC Synergy Grant T-SECTOR (since 2023)
• Coordinator, MULTI-MAREX Joint Project (since 2024)
• Adjunct, Dalhousie University (2018–2028)

Her research interests span marine geodesy, subduction zone tectonics, crustal deformation, seismic imaging, and geohazard assessment. She investigates the structural complexity of convergent margins, the role of seamounts and ridges in subduction, and the mechanisms of earthquake and tsunami generation. Her work integrates seismic, geodetic, and bathymetric data to understand lithospheric deformation and seismogenesis at active margins. She has conducted extensive fieldwork in regions including northern Chile, Sumatra, the Mediterranean, and the South China Sea.

The recent publications highlight a strong focus on subduction zone dynamics, particularly in Chile and Indonesia, with advanced seismic and geodetic techniques used to image fault structures, monitor crustal strain, and assess seismic and tsunami hazards. There is a recurring theme of amphibious experiments, offshore monitoring networks (e.g., GeoSEA), and the use of seismic tomography and reflection data to understand megathrust behavior and margin segmentation.

Dr. Kopp has received substantial research funding as PI or co-PI from major agencies including the European Research Council (ERC), German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), German Research Foundation (DFG), and the European Union. Her leadership roles include coordination of large international projects and scientific cruises. She has also held significant service roles, including President of the German Geophysical Society (DGG) and Vice-President of the IUGG’s Inter-Commission Committee on Marine Geodesy.

She has led or co-led numerous research cruises and large-scale geophysical experiments, often involving ocean-bottom seismometers and acoustic ranging systems. Her lab and research group at GEOMAR focus on marine geophysical data acquisition and analysis, contributing to global understanding of subduction zone behavior and offshore geohazards.