Thomas Müller

Dr. Thomas Müller is a Scientist in the Research Division 2: Marine Biogeochemistry at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany, specializing in the Marine Geosystems (MG) research unit. His work bridges marine and terrestrial hydrogeology, focusing on offshore freshened groundwater, submarine groundwater discharge, and isotope hydrology.

His research interests include:

• Marine and coastal hydrogeology
• Isotope hydrology and noble gas thermometry
• Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD)
• Groundwater modeling in arid and monsoonal climates
• Environmental tracers and multi-tracer dating
• Offshore aquifer systems and paleohydrology

His recent publications (2020–2025) highlight a strong trend in quantifying submarine groundwater discharge using novel autonomous methods, reconstructing paleoclimate and recharge dynamics in Oman using isotopic tracers, and investigating offshore aquifers through geophysical and geochemical approaches. His work frequently integrates field measurements, modeling, and international expeditions.

Scientific awards include:

• National Geographic Explorer (2024)

Dr. Müller has been involved in numerous research cruises such as SO277 (OMAX), MSM99_2 (Helgoland Pockmarks), M162 (GLORIA-FLOW), and Meteor 196, and leads or contributes to projects like SMART (Sustainable Management of Offshore Groundwater Resources). He collaborates widely across institutions and disciplines but there is no public indication of formal student advising. His research is supported by the Helmholtz Association and international partnerships.

He is part of active research teams focusing on:

• Offshore groundwater systems
• Coastal fluid flow and pockmark dynamics
• Isotope-based hydrological investigations
• Autonomous oceanographic sensing