How did the climate in the Alpine region change during the ice ages and shape glaciers, flora and fauna over the millennia?

Winterstettenstadt.  In April, the Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics (LIAG), in cooperation with the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg and the State Office for Geology, Raw Materials and Mining in the Freiburg Regional Council (LGRB), will start three research boreholes within the community of Ingoldingen southeast of Winterstettenstadt, Germany. The boreholes, which are up to 160 meters deep, mark the start of the international project "DOVE - Drilling Overdeepened Alpine Valleys". The aim of this project is to reconstruct the spatial and temporal climate development during the ice ages in the entire Alpine…

The Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics (LIAG) officially appoints Prof. Dr. Manfred Frechen as acting director by resolution of its Governing Board. Prof. Dr. Gerald Gabriel takes over his previous position as deputy director.

Both are currently in charge of the research areas "Geochronology" and "Seismics and Potential Methods" at the institute. In addition, the LIAG management was commissioned to define its research line in a framework concept with regard to the initial topics of “Groundwater Geophysics” and “Geohazards”. This is a first step towards an Institute for Environmental Geophysics.

LIAG and OOWV cooperate for sustainable groundwater management

Spiekeroog. Scientists of the Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics (LIAG) have installed for the first time a saltwater monitoring system (SAMOS) on the Spiekeroog Island in cooperation with the Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesischer Wasserverband (OOWV). Using a geoelectric measuring system, changes in the salt/fresh water boundary in the protective dune area of the island are monitored continuously. The real-time evaluation provide crucial information for sustainable water management by OOWV.

The Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics will continue to operate after 2022, when the joint federal-state financing ends.

The continuation will be carried out by the State of Lower Saxony after a cabinet decision on January 21, 2020, has created the necessary conditions for the continued financing of the institute. With the restructuring of the LIAG now underway, the aim is to rejoin the Leibniz Association as soon as possible. The Institute would like to thank the Geologischen Diensten and further Associations for their support in maintaining the Institute.

In a recently published Nature article, an international research team with LIAG participation unlocks the secrets of Lake Ohrid that is located between Northern Macedonia and Albania. With an age of 1.4 million years, Lake Ohrid is not only the oldest lake in Europe, but also an ideal witness of Mediterranean climate history. The drilling took place within the framework of the ICDP (International Continental Scientific Drilling Program). The research team discovered pronounced low-pressure areas with intensive rainfall during interglacial periods. Similar phenomena could occur again in the future, as a result of man-made climate change.

The prestigious "Division Outstanding Early Career Scienctists Award" of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) goes to Dr. Christian Zeeden from the Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics (LIAG) in Hanover for his work in the field of stratigraphy/ sedimentology/ palaeontology. The prize is awarded by the European Geosciences Union (EGU) and honors young scientists who have distinguished themselves through outstanding scientific achievements at an early career level. On April 10th, Zeeden will receive the prize at the EGU's annual conference in Vienna for his impressive publication and collaboration achievements.

The Japanese Quarternary Association awarded a prize to Dr. Sumiko Tsukamoto of the Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics (LIAG, Hannover) for her outstanding research in the field of age determination of sediments with electron spin resonance (ESR) and luminescence dating methods at the annual meeting in Japan. The meeting was held in Tokyo from 24th to 26th of August, 2018.

ESR and luminescence dating are physical methods that are relevant for a multitude of possible applications. Among others, they are employed to determine the age of sediments. Archeologists use this information to date finds and their geological horizons. Based on the age data of sediments, geoscientists continually expand their knowledge about the climate of the…

Comprehensible factual information on „Deep Geothermal Energy“ continues to be of great interest to the general public. Due to the great success of the German edition of the free brochure, a new revised edition is now published in English in order to make the subject accessible to an international audience. All essential aspects of this field of knowledge have been summarized on 80 pages by the Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics and its partners. International target and user groups are decision makers in politics and economy as well as journalists, teachers, students and people interested in natural sciences and new technologies.

The revised and translated brochure was printed in an edition of 3,000 copies and is also available for…