ALBERT

Description: In sequence of the GFZ93 high resolution gravity models (Gruber Th., et al, 1993) a new model, named GFZ95A, which is complete to degree and order 360 of a spherical harmonic series was computed. The model is based on new data sets, which were collected during the last months. This new data promises a major step towards a more precise high resolution gravity model. Especially from new available data over CIS (Community of Independent States) major progress can be expected with respect to the former models, which were based on predicted data in this area.

Description: During the TOR-1 passive seismic experiment in 1996/97, a maximum of 139 temporary seismograph stations were operating over the Sorgenfrei-Tornquist Zone (STZ) in an area extending from northern Germany through Denmark to central Sweden. One of the objectives was to study horizontal anisotropy directions in the subcrustal lithosphere and asthenosphere across the Trans-European Suture Zone. To achieve this goal,broad-band and intermediate-period (5 s) data of the TOR-1 stations and additional stations of permanent networks (GRSN, GEOFON) were analysed for splitting of SKS and SKKS phases. As a result of the relatively dense station spacing, the method offers good lateral resolution of anisotropy.Preliminary results suggest that the directions of the fast horizontal S wave velocity are affected by the STZ. In central Europe and southern Sweden, far away from the STZ, fast S wave directions are approximately E-W while they turn more northerly closer to the STZ where they are approximately parallel to the trend of the STZ. No significant shear wave splitting was observed north of 57 degr. N and east of 14 degr. E. Small delay times between 0.2 and 0.5 s observed at the northernmost TOR-1 station T40S and T60S may be controlled by anisotropy in a thickened crust. The mantle contribution of horizontal anisotropy within the STZ is probably constrained to an approximately 60-km-thick zone in the depth range between 70 and 300 km. The observations are consistent with a model where azimuthally anisotropy is not governed by present-day mantle flow in the asthenosphere, but rather is frozen into the subcrustal lithosphere during the last episode of tectonic activity.

Description: Oxygen-isotope ratios of precipitation (δ18OP) inferred from deep-lake ostracods from the Ammersee (southern Germany) provide a climate record with decadal resolution. The record in detail shows many of the rapid climate shifts seen in central Greenland ice cores between 15,000 and 5000 years before the present (B.P.). Negative excursions in the estimated δ18OP from both of these records likely reflect short weakenings of the thermohaline circulation caused by episodic discharges of continental freshwater into the North Atlantic. Deviating millennial-scale trends, however, indicate that climate gradients between Europe and Greenland changed systematically, reflecting a gradual rearrangement of North Atlantic circulation during deglaciation.

Description: Within a few years after the German reunification, most open pit lignite mines in the Central German Lignite Mining District have been shut down leaving more than 200km2 of devastated land in Saxony (Germany) even now. These areas are in demand of short term conceptions for future landuse and suitable recultivation methods. This thesis investigates, how thermal infrared (TIR) remote sensing in particular can provide valuable information, which is required to assist the landuse planning in identifying and classifying critical areas. In order to establish the mining of the lignitic seams the overburden Quatemary and Tertiary sediments had been removed and dumped in conveyor bridge dumps. The Tertiary sediments contain the mineral pyrite, which reacts to sulfuric acid under wet oxidizing conditions. The acidification of the dumps is not only strongly affecting the chemical characteristics of groundwater and residual lakes but also the stability of slopes leaving the risk of slides and subsidences. For a risk assessment of the aff~cted areas the geochemical and mineralogical composition as well as compositional changes of the dumps have to be explored. This is giving strong motivation for the application of remote sensing methods to answer the short term demands of landuse planners. Hyperspectral scanner data were acquired over two open pits (Espenhain, Zwenkau). The used scanner is DLR's Digital Airbome Imaging Spectrometer (DAIS 7915) which records data in 79 bands from the visible to thermal infrared. To allow a quantitative approach by means of empirical methods, the airbome data had to undergo a number of correction procedures and accompanying ground truth measurements had to be carried out. For a quantitative analysis of the target area, the data were calibrated and atmospherically corrected. Atmospheric modeling is based on the software packages SENSAT and ATCOR using the MODTRAN code. Interna! distortions of the imagery were corrected from flight attitude information and the data were finally geocoded to Gauß-Krüger-coordinates. A total of 77 field sarnples were taken to develop quantification algorithms based on spectral characteristics. Chemical and mineralogical analyses (GFZ Potsdam) as well as thermal infrared laboratory spectrometry (2.5-14μm) were performed. The samples were found tobe mainly composed of quartz (50-90 weigth percent), alkaline feldspars (5-20 wt.% ), kaolinite (0-15 wt.%), illite (2-20 wt.%) and pyrite (0-4 wt.%). In the TIR, many rock-forming minerals (e.g. silicates) show characteristic spectral features. To investigate the influence of different grain sizes on the spectral behavior, the particulate material was ground to grain sizes 〈63μm. Both, the fine homogenized and the original dump sediments were measured. The mineralogical quantitative sarnple composition was correlated with the spectral features measured in the laboratory. Different approaches were investigated to quantify the rnineralogical composition including absorption band depths and spectral angle mapping (SAM). The analysis in the laboratory allowed a determination of kaolinite and quartz contents of the overburden dumps. By transferring the regressions obtained from laboratory spectroscopy to atmospherically corrected and calibrated DAIS 7915 data, quartz contents were successfully mapped. Due to the broad TIR bands of DAIS, the spectral features of kaolinite were not resolved in the airbome data. A temperature map derived from night-time DAIS thermal infrared data were evaluated with respect to exothermic pyrite oxidation, too. The fresh Tertiary dumps in Zwenkau show thermal anomalies which seem to be related to exothermic oxidation processes. As a final outlook, the potential of the ASTER sensor, which is planned to be launched in early 1999, was evaluated. The TIR bands of ASTER are likely tobe a powerful tool for the mapping of quartz contents of particulate material. However, the low geometric resolution in the thermal infrared (90m pixel size) causes limitations for a structural analysis. Therefore, the Multi-Sensor-Multi-Resolution Technique (MMT) was used to unmix the low resolution bands using the higher resolution reflective ASTER bands (15-30m pixel size). The results show a significant improvement of the images. The MMT algorithm allows a further spectral investigation of the unmixed TIR data. The results presented in this work show that remote sensing data can provide useful information for a quantitative assessment and monitoring of environmental impacts. The combined use of the wavelength region from the VIS to TIR produces characteristic features that allow a differentiation of the mineralogical components, which could not have been achieved with either data set separately.