Temme’s research focussed on the understanding of changes in the landscape. Landscapes change, over thousands of years, as a result of processes like erosion and deposition. Because these processes interact with eachother for long times, and in different parts of landscapes, it is almost impossible to predict landscape dynamics with mind experiments.
Instead, computermodel LAPSUS was used, which simulates changes step by step, using field data. These data were gathered in the Drakensberg in South Africa, in an area where erosion is currently intense. In addition to a more complete view of the changes over the last 50.000 years, results showed that this current erosion can be a delayed response to the large climatic changes that occurred at the end of the Last Glacial. That puts the discussion about present landscape changes in a new perspective. Should we not look back much further in time than we are used to achieve full understanding?
Title thesis: "Understanding landscape dynamics over thousands of years : combining field and model work"