Atacama 2025 – Straight into one of the Driest Deserts on Earth

What are the other subprojects in the Collaborative Research Centre actually working on? Where exactly are they conducting their research – and how do all the pieces fit together? To get a better sense of the bigger picture, our PhD student Dennis Handy set off on a special trip at the start of 2025: an introductory excursion to the Atacama Desert in Chile. The goal? To explore the study area firsthand – and to move beyond a narrow focus on one’s own project. It’s all about seeing the broader context.

The excursion marked the beginning of the third phase of the Collaborative Research Centre "Earth – Evolution at the dry limit". The eight-day journey was organized and led by Dr. Benny Ritter and kicked off in Antofagasta, from where the group travelled across the fascinating landscapes of the Atacama.

Along the way, there was plenty to take in: The team not only experienced the region’s spectacular nature (yes – there really are flamingos and llamas!), but also gained valuable insights into the goals and content of the various subprojects. 

One particular highlight was visiting the Salar del Huasco, a salt flat located at around 3,700 metres above sea level – home to a unique ecosystem and an atmosphere unlike any other.

For Dennis, this excursion was much more than just an introduction. It laid a solid foundation for the work ahead in Subproject C08, which is based in our research group. In this new project phase 3, the team will focus on understanding how changing environmental conditions interact and affect desert surfaces – with a special focus on the formation of surface crusts in the hyper-arid core of the Atacama.

Edited by: Luisa Loers.