Atmospheric sciences extends from the large-scale dynamical/meteorological processes and systems in the atmosphere to the smaller scales of turbulent mixing, both in time frames that span from centuries (e.g. related to climate research) to shorter scales of seconds. Covered under this keyword are contributions that e.g. focus on studies of atmosphere composition, aerosol and cloud physics, in-situ or laboratory studies of gas-particles interactions and chemical reaction kinetics and large-scale infrastructure.

Biogeosciences covers biosphere-geosphere interactions in the present, past and in the future, biogeochemical cycles and research at the interface of (micro)biology and earth sciences. It integrates biological, chemical, and physical and its focus goes beyond the established scientific approaches embracing multi- and interdisciplinary understandings of bio-geosphere functioning in space and time. Experimental, conceptual, and modelling approaches are welcomed and the development and calibration of proxies and their use to reconstruct palaeoenvironments.

Building with Nature is an NWO-research programme which started in 2013 for infrastructure projects that want to make use of natural structures and processes in an innovative manner. It brings various disciplines from the natural and social sciences together, such as hydrology, hydrodynamics, climatology, morphology, ecology, marine geology and marine physics, public administration, business studies, planology, economics, environmental sciences and technical sciences.

The cryosphere are those parts of the Earth that are subject to prolonged periods of temperatures below the freezing point of water. These include glaciers, frozen ground, sea ice, snow and ice. Research topics can focus solely on the cryosphere (e.g. land/sea ice mass balance), or on interactions with other components of the climate system, both addressing theory, observation and modelling.

Earth scientific studies increasingly benefit from the accessibility and use of Earth observation satellite data, (often commercial) small-sat constellations and the increasing capabilities of drones and. Exchange information on the use of Earth and aerial observation and share the best practices and available tools for Earth science applications, including upcoming BigData/BigScience issues.

There are a number of general trends that currently affect the teaching and learning environment for Earth Scientists, varying from a gradual shift in the way humanity is exploring and exploiting our planet, via changes in the labour market asking for a new type of professional, to the introduction of new styles of teaching such as blended learning and flipping the classroom. Abstracts covered under this keyword, in some way or another, respond to such trends and (may) result in enhanced teaching and learning, which includes best practices, innovative ideas and suggestions for future improvements in tertiary education. In addition, abstracts are also invited that focus on outreach to the general public and the utilisation of our geoheritage (i.e. university or museum collections) in teaching and/or scientific studies.

The safe, efficient and cost-effective use of the subsurface in environmentally sustainable ways for the exploration and exploitation of natural resources and the construction of transport and storage infrastructures requires a thorough knowledge of the geological and geophysical heterogeneity. Covered by this keyword are contributions on case studies and innovative approaches to construct static earth models based on, e.g., process-based numerical forward modelling, seismic, well logs and core studies, and hybrid outcrop – stochastic – laboratory studies as well as dynamic models simulating processes in and around natural resource exploitation as well as underground infrastructure facilities. In addition, studies specifically focussed on sedimentary basins as hosts of important natural resources like coal, gas, oil, ore deposits, groundwater and geothermics are welcomed. This keyword also matches well to studies embedded in the recent KEM and DeepNL research programs.

Geological, geomorphological, pedological and botanical work carried out in archaeological context, both applied and academic.

These keywords cover studies that are fundamental to the study of the solid Earth. Topics can include studies related to the Earth’s mantle; oceanic and continental crust; the formation and crystallisation of magmas; the chemical compositions of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks; studies of volcanoes and various types of volcanism. While mostly fundamental in nature, applied topics include pollution of the atmosphere, surface or subsurface waters, the formation of ore deposits, and environmental impacts of volcanism (both subaerial, submarine as subglacial).

Geodesy is a science dedicated to the measurement and the mapping of the Earth’s surface. As the Earth’s surface is shaped by the planet’s gravity field, the classical definition includes the Earth’s gravitational potential. However, observing the Earth’s shape, orientation, rotation as well as the gravity field, also provides insight into spatial and temporal patterns of geophysical processes. These processes include e.g. sea-level rise, the tides, changing ice masses and global water circulation and deformations of the solid Earth. Topics therefore span from measurement systems to the actual investigation of geophysical processes.

Geodynamics covers all aspects of geodynamic processes in the lithosphere, mantle, and core. This encompasses observations, imaging, theory, numerical modelling (simulations) and laboratory modelling (experiments). Possible topics include the dynamics of subduction, mid-ocean-ridge processes, vertical and horizontal plate movements driving mountain building and basin formation, lithosphere dynamics, mantle convection, and core dynamics.

Geomorphology is the study of land-surface features and the dynamic processes that shape them. At the heart of geomorphology is the understanding landform history and dynamics, and predicting future changes through a combination of field observations, physical experiments, and numerical modelling. Research focussed on processes that ‘build topography’ as a result of the interplay between the effects of tectonic forces and processes that modify the terrain, such as weathering, erosion through running water, waves, glacial ice, wind and gravitational forces. This also includes human influences on geomorphological processes and the societal application of geomorphological research.

Developments in instrumentation, technology, methods and data handling used in any field of the geosciences, aiming to advance instrumentation and data systems and to share experiences and approaches with other subject areas.

Monitoring, modelling and prediction are basic issues in hydrology and geohydrology. Research is focussed on quantitative and qualitative aspects of fresh and saline groundwater and surface water systems, their dynamics and their interrelationships with the surrounding geology and ecosystems. This includes interactions between hydrology and geomorphology (e.g., erosion, sedimentation, groundwater systems), the relationships between hydrology and soils or sedimentary reservoirs, as well as the interaction between the hydrosphere and the biosphere (e.g., ecohydrology, wetlands). This may also include research into the management and operation of water resources by societies in various parts of the world, reservoir engineering, civil engineering, soil sciences en environmental sciences.

Research pertaining to the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), an international marine research collaboration dedicated to advancing scientific understanding of the Earth through drilling, coring, and monitoring the subseafloor, and the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP), a multinational program to further and fund geosciences in the field of Continental Scientific Drilling.

This includes the geological and geophysical processes that can be hazardous and can produce damage to the environment and to the society. Underlying aims can be improving the understanding of the evolution of the processes or discuss new technologies, methods and strategies to mitigate their disastrous effects. Specific hazards include: hydro-meteorological processes, volcanism, landslides, earthquakes, sea and ocean, snow-avalanche and glacial and wildfires. In addition social aspects of the before mentioned hazards can include studies addressing topics such as development sustainability, emergency, warning, and after-disaster resilience.

Nonlinearity is broadly found in all branches of the geosciences. Covered by this keyword are studies of, new methodologies, new modelling or new data analysis techniques related to nonlinear paradigms whose applications broadly applicable to various subdisciplines. This can include deterministic chaos, tipping points, nonlinear waves, similarity across scales, network theory, stochasticity, predictability and its limits, pattern formation, self-organised criticality, extreme events.

This keyword broadly covers the various ocean science disciplines on global, regional and local (e.g. Waddenzee) scales. Research topics can focus solely on the oceans (e.g. large-scale circulation, coastal oceanography, sea level change), or on interactions with other components of the climate system, both addressing theory, observation and modelling.

Studies including the study of, any kind of, climate archive from rocks to ocean cores, speleothems, ice cores, chronicles, to instrumental records are welcomed. Besides observations, climate modelling on all time scales from the deep past to the future are areas covered under this interdisciplinary abstract keyword.

Recent advances in (Dutch) planetary geoscience are covered by this keyword and this includes geological, morphological, geophysical, astronomical and geochemical studies of planet- and moon interiors, surfaces, and atmospheres; and interdisciplinary contributions on the origins and the evolution of the solar system and exoplanetary systems. This covers an equally broad range of methodologies for studying these topics, such as ground-based observations or space mission exploration (i.e. remote sensing), numerical and analogue modelling, extra-terrestrial sample analysis, and terrestrial analogue (field) studies.

These topics centre on the development of static and dynamic geophysical models, conducting research that spans from acquisition parameters to petrophysical properties, theoretical and experimental aspects of rock physics, and supporting the transitions from geo-modelling to geo-technical application. This keyword also matches well to studies embedded in the recent KEM and DeepNL research programs.

Soils form the interface between the Earth’s crust and atmosphere and are a basis for life on Earth. Soils foster biodiversity and record the interactions between lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. This keyword broadly covers the soil sciences as today's soils are linked to a wide range of scientific, but also societal issues such as food security, water availability and climate change.

A vast majority of the Earth’s surface is covered by sedimentary deposits, which are eroded and deposited and form a direct link between the lithosphere, atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere. Sedimentary rocks have recorded the history of our planet since almost 4 billion of years and play a pivotal role for our understanding of the evolution of life. This deep-time archive of Earth history is studied with a wide range of analytical techniques providing details on the evolution of our planet. Focused on all aspects of the sedimentary record, this keyword covers studies that will provide a better understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processes controlling the formation and distribution of sediments and sedimentary rocks.

Contributions for this keyword investigate rock deformation at all scales with the aim to understand its complex relationships using natural observations, including mapping, remote sensing and seismic measurements, and experimental approaches.

The New Delta is an NWO-research programme which started in 2014 which covers the entire spectrum of the top sector Water. Projects tie in with large, global issues in which the Netherlands wants to play a leading role. It addresses challenges in the area of water safety, water availability and the sustainable economic use of the water infrastructure, and hence the focus of the programme lies on deltas and their drainage basins.