ALBERT

Description: The earthquake catalogue of southwestern Germany for the last millennium now contains about 30,000 digital macroseismic intensity data points (IDPs). Intensity assessments are based mainly on primary sources using the European Macroseismic Scale 1998 (EMS). The article describes a guideline for best practice of conventional macroseismic evaluation in application to historical and modern-time earthquakes in SW-Germany. Suitability of various diagnostics for intensity assessment is discussed. Assumptions to estimate damage grades and vulnerability classes of buildings are presented. Data restrictions and treatment of special cases are outlined. Further topics are quantification of uncertainties and IDP quality as well as substitutes for intensity. An essential task is to bridge the gap between information from historical sources and seismological needs for use in the earthquake catalogue, thus all issues have a focus on historical earthquakes. Questions of completeness, subjectivity, transparency, and interdisciplinary work are addressed also. Special emphasis is given to a well balanced use of the EMS scale throughout all time periods leading to consistent assessments in the catalogue.

Description: research

Description: In Structural Geology, many projects start with intensive field-based data acquisition campaigns, which might be performed in quite different types of natural or artificial outcrops. For some years, this field work has been substantially influenced and transformed by various close-range sensing techniques that allow the field geologist to create a digital outcrop model (DOM) and to take along plenty of geometrical and spectral information about the outcropping rocks. In general, DOMs can be utilized for outcrop visualization, documentation, manual outcrop analysis (“point-picking”), extraction of spectral data and/or semi-automatic extraction of geometric data. Within a structural investigation DOMs might be deployed for fold analysis, fault analysis, extraction of fracture networks, fracture roughness estimation, detection of neotectonic activities or digitization of geological features for 3D-models of various scales resulting in a large number of analyzing techniques. Latter might be carried out on point clouds or meshes (with or without spectral information) and may differ in pre-processing and processing steps as well as in software solution. Therefore, the analyzing structural geologist faces various tools, data formats, file types, operations and outcomes. Our investigation focus on the compilation of useful, transparent, sustainable and comparable workflows or “pipelines”, which can be executed by open-source/open-access solutions.

Description: poster

Description: Current procedures to collect macroseismic data in Germany are diverse and scattered. At least 10 institutions collect macroseismic data by internet. Several institutes have a long tradition in seismology and have collected macroseismic data using paper forms for many decades. In addition, the responsibilities for geoscientific issues in Germany are a matter of the federal states and several of them have a state earthquake service. The only institution that automatically calculates and maps intensities online in near real time is Erdbebenstation Bensberg in cooperation with the Royal Observatory of Belgium. Baden-Württemberg uses a short form internet questionnaire at the moment. 5 state earthquake services (Bayern, Hessen, Niedersachsen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Sachsen) have implemented the standard German earthquake questionnaire (Kaiser 2014) which is adapted from the standard questionnaire developed by the ESC Working Group on Internet Macroseismology published by Musson & Cecić (2012). Most institutions express their strong need to implement standard procedures for automatic intensity assignment and a standard format for the exchange of questionnaire responses. References Kaiser, D. (2014): Der neue einheitliche Erdbeben-Fragebogen. Mitteilungen / Deutsche Geophysikalische Gesellschaft, 2/2014, 29-33. Musson, R. M. W. & Cecić, I. (2012): Intensity and Intensity Scales. In: New Manual of Seismological Observatory Practice 2 (NMSOP-2).- Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ, 1-41; Potsdam. doi:10.2312/GFZ.NMSOP-2_ch12

Description: lecture

Description: Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is an important cofactor of calcium‐ and lanthanide‐dependent alcohol dehydrogenases, and has been known for over 30 years. Crystal structures of Ca–MDH enzymes (MDH is methanol dehydrogenase) have been known for some time; however, crystal structures of PQQ with biorelevant metal ions have been lacking in the literature for decades. We report here the first crystal structure analysis of a Ca–PQQ complex outside the protein environment, namely, poly[[undecaaquabis(μ‐4,5‐dioxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐f]quinoline‐2,7,9‐tricarboxylato)tricalcium(II)] dihydrate], {[Ca3(C14H3N2O8)2(H2O)11]·2H2O}n. The complex crystallized as Ca3PQQ2·13H2O with Ca2+ in three different positions and PQQ3−, including an extensive hydrogen‐bond network. Similarities and differences to the recently reported structure with biorelevant europium (Eu2PQQ2) are discussed.

Description: Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is an important cofactor of calcium‐ and lanthanide‐dependent alcohol dehydrogenases. The crystal structure of a Ca–PQQ complex (Ca3PQQ2·13H2O) is reported for the first time outside a protein environment. image

Description: research

Description: On the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the ecological crisis appears in every physical and social aspect, and typically affects the rangelands on which most local people depend for their livelihood. Until today, however, changes in land use and vegetation cover on this Plateau have not yet been adequately and practically treated in studying the framework of sustainability. This thesis deals first with the basic ecological influences and interactions before reviewing their implications for development. The limitations of an ecological perspective is recognized, but this stems mainly from the misapplication of perspective and should not detract from its value. Ecology is undoubtedly the most basic and pervasive of the many determinants of the pastoral production systems of the high-frigid land. To ignore ecology or to fail to take it into account is to court disaster. The amount of literature reflects the importance of the subject but is not reviewed here in any detail; rather the aim is simply to set the scene for later discussions.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: research

Description: Few data exist that provide insight into pro- cesses affecting the long-term carbon cycle at shallow fore- arc depths. To better understand the mobilization of C in sediments and crust of the subducting slab, we investigated carbonate materials that originate from the subduction chan- nel at the Mariana forearc (〈 20 km) and were recovered during International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 366. Calcium carbonates occur as vein precipitates within metavolcanic and metasedimentary clasts. The clasts repre- sent portions of the subducting lithosphere, including ocean island basalt, that were altered at lower blueschist facies conditions and were subsequently transported to the fore- arc seafloor by serpentinite mud volcanism. Euhedral arag- onite and calcite and the lack of deformation within the veins suggest carbonate formation in a stress-free environ- ment after peak metamorphism affected their hosts. Inter- growth with barite and marked negative Ce anomalies in car- bonate attest the precipitation within a generally oxic envi- ronment, that is an environment not controlled by serpen- tinization. Strontium and O isotopic compositions in car- bonate (87Sr/86Sr = 0.7052 to 0.7054, δ18OVSMOW = 20 to 24 ‰) imply precipitation from slab-derived fluids at tem- peratures between ∼ 130 and 300 ◦C. These temperature es- timates are consistent with the presence of blueschist facies phases such as lawsonite coexisting with the carbonates in some veins. Incorporated C is inorganic (δ13CVPDB = −1 ‰ to +4 ‰) and likely derived from the decarbonation of cal- careous sediment and/or oceanic crust. These findings pro- vide evidence for the mobilization of C in the downgoing slab at depths of 〈 20 km. Our study shows for the first time in detail that a portion of this C forms carbonate precipitates in the subduction channel of an active convergent margin. This process may be an important asset in understanding the deep carbon cycle since it highlights that some C is lost from the subducting lithosphere before reaching greater depths.

Description: research

Description: Geometric 3D models are a very efficient tool to visualize geological units and structural features that have been presented before just in two dimensions on maps or cross-sections. Most of the information of 3D models is presented as 3D views, virtual wells or horizontal or vertical cross-sections. However, are there further options to transfer as much as possible of the complex information of a 3D model in an adequate way to the user? Is it useful and promising to analyse 3D objects like surfaces or volumes in GIS software? In our investigation we performed a GIS based analysis of an existing geotechnical-geological 3D model of periglacial sediments. The two steps were multiple raster calculations to create geotechnical maps and a digital analysis of surface parameters based on geomorphological techniques and statistics. The investigation area is located in southern Lower Saxony and covers the city of Goettingen and surrounding regions within the valley of the river Leine. The valley is filled by unconsolidated, periglacial sediments of Quaternary age with a variable thickness ranging from 1 to 70 m. The analysed 3D model was constructed with GoCAD in a former project (Nix et al. 2009). The model is based on a heterogenous dataset comprising well data, thematic maps, and outcrop descriptions. Finally, the surfaces and volumes of the following units were modelled, with a special focus on their different geotechnical properties: (1) anthropogenic material, (2) floodplain and slope deposits, (3) freshwater limestone, peat and organic clay, (4) loess, displaced loess, and loess loam, (5) fluvial gravel, (6) outwash fan material, (7) solifluction material, (8) mixed, hetereougenous fillings of subrosion sinks and (9) the surface of the underlying hardrocks. Each top and bottom surface of the Gocad volumes was exported as raster file with additional information stored in an associated attribute table. In ArcGIS various geoprocessing tools were used to calculate and analyse these rasters and to develope thematic geotechnical and geological maps. The geomorphological analysis was subdivided in several steps. Firstly, the surfaces were described visually, concerning their outline, shape and distribution, as well as superficial structures like distinct edges, holes, channels. Secondarily, descriptive statistic parameters of thickness, area and elevation of each surface were calculated. Thirdly, geoprocessing tools of the Spatial Analyst were performed on each surface. Finally, several surfaces were combined to analyse them together, calculating ratios and overlay combinations. Seven thematical geoengineering and geological maps were created, each of them presenting one portion of the three-dimensional dataset: Map of the stratigraphy and depth of the Quaternary base, Map of the thickness of the Quaternary sediments, Distribution map of model units 1 m below ground level, Distribution map of model units 2 m below ground level, Maps of types of different foundation soils, Distribution map of sediments with low loading capacity and Map of distribution and quality of the wells. While the map creation focused on the geotechnical aspects of the model, the applied geomorphological analysis revealed various parameters and values that are related to the geological formation of the model units. Despite the complex dataset represented by the analysed 3D model, thematical information could be transfered into 2D as thematic maps. Some geological characteristics and parameters of the model units were extracted by the descriptive and GIS-based analysis. References Nix, T., Wagner, B., Lange, T. , Fritz, J., Sauter, M. (2009): 3D-Baugrundmodell der quartären Sedimente des Leinetals bei Göttingen. – 17. Tagung für Ingenieurgeologie, S. 223-227, Zittau

Description: poster

Description: Since the 14th century, moderate seismic activity with 14 earthquakes of magnitude MW≥5.0 occurred in Western Europe in a region extending from the Lower Rhine Graben (LRG) to the southern North Sea. In this paper, we investigate how well this seismic activity could reflect that of the future. The observed earthquake activity in the LRG is continuous and concentrates on the Quaternary normal faults delimiting the LRG, which are also the source of large surface rupturing Holocene and Late Pleistocene earthquakes. The estimated magnitudes of these past earthquakes range from 6.3±0.3 to 7.0±0.3 while their average recurrence on individual faults varies from ten thousand to a few ten thousand years, which makes foreseeing future activity over the long-term possible. Three of the largest historical earthquakes with MW≥5.5 occurred outside the LRG. Late Quaternary activity along the fault zones suspected to be the source of two of these earthquakes, i.e. the 1580 Strait of Dover and 1692 northern Belgian Ardennes earthquakes, is very elusive if it exists. Hence, similar earthquakes would be very infrequent at these locations suggesting that the seismicity outside of the LRG would be episodic and clustered on some faults during periods of a few hundreds of years interrupted by long periods of inactivity typically lasting for some tens to hundreds of thousand years. Seismic moment release estimation and its comparison between recent geological and historical seismicity periods lead us to suggest that the high seismicity level observed between AD 1350 and AD 1700 west of the LRG would be uncommon.

Description: research

Description: This publication developed from the 5th International Colloquium on “Historical Earthquakes, Paleoseismology, Neotectonics and Seismic Hazard” which was held from 11 to 13 October 2017 at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) in Hannover, Germany. It comprises four contributions: Brüstle, W., Braumann, U., Hock, S. & Rodler, F.-A. (2020). Best practice of macroseismic intensity assessment applied to the earthquake catalogue of southwestern Germany. In: Kaiser, D. (Ed.). Historical Earthquakes, Paleoseismology, Neotectonics, and Seismic Hazard: New Insights and Suggested Procedures, DGEB-Publikation 18, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Erdbebeningenieurwesen und Baudynamik. doi: 10.23689/fidgeo-3864 Camelbeeck, T., Vanneste, K., Verbeeck, K., Garcia-Moreno, D., Van Noten, K. & Lecocq, T. (2020). How well does known seismicity between the Lower Rhine Graben and southern North Sea reflect future earthquake activity? In: Kaiser, D. (Ed.). Historical Earthquakes, Paleoseismology, Neotectonics, and Seismic Hazard: New Insights and Suggested Procedures, DGEB-Publikation 18, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Erdbebeningenieurwesen und Baudynamik. doi: 10.23689/fidgeo-3866 Hürtgen, J., Reicherter, K., Spies, T., Geisler, C. & Schlittenhardt, J. (2020). The Paleoseismic Database of Germany and Adjacent Regions PalSeisDB v1.0. In: Kaiser, D. (Ed.). Historical Earthquakes, Paleoseismology, Neotectonics, and Seismic Hazard: New Insights and Suggested Procedures, DGEB-Publikation 18, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Erdbebeningenieurwesen und Baudynamik. doi: 10.23689/fidgeo-3867 Leydecker, G. & Lehmann, K. (2020). The earthquake of September 3, 1770 near Alfhausen (Lower Saxony, Germany): a real, doubtful, or a fake event? In: Kaiser, D. (Ed.). Historical Earthquakes, Paleoseismology, Neotectonics, and Seismic Hazard: New Insights and Suggested Procedures, DGEB-Publikation 18, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Erdbebeningenieurwesen und Baudynamik. doi: 10.23689/fidgeo-3865

Description: Introduction to DGEB-Publikation Nr. 18 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Erdbebeningenieurwesen und Baudynamik (DGEB)

Description: editorial