The Atmosphere and Ocean De-Aliasing Level-1B (AOD1B) Product provides a priori information about temporal variations in the Earth's gravity field due to global mass variability in the Atmosphere and ocean. It is based on analysis and forecast data …

For complex geodynamic questions we use a wide variety of analytical methods and procedures. Some of the analytic equipment is located in our group, others are operated in cooperation with GFZ sections, e.g. the laboratory for thin-section preparati…

In the Chromatography Lab whole oil analyzes are performed with special attention to saturated hydrocarbons, highly volatile organic compounds, and lipid fractions (e.g. fatty acids, alcohols, sterols).

For quantification of organic (e.g. acetate, formate) and inorganic anions (e.g. chloride, sulfate) in aqueous samples ion exchange chromatography is used.

The quantification of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in aqueous samples and chromato…

Correlation based geomagnetic field model of the holocene core field, based on archeomagnetic and volcanic data. ArchKalmag14k is constructed using methods from Bayesian statistics, in particular Gaussian processes and the Kalman filter, to reflect …

GFZ provides surface loading products including vertical and horizontal deformations of the crust imposed by surface loading of geophysical fluids in Atmosphere, oceans, and the continental hydrosphere. Products are provided with a spatial resolutio…

Bioinformatics is an essential component for high-precision analyses of microbial communities, active genes and the reconstruction of new genomes. Our laboratory uses a variety of open-source software and contribute to develop new software solution …

_Brillouin-Interferometry_

Knowledge of the elastic properties of geomaterials at high P-T conditions plays a central role in determining the composition of the Earth's interior. The Brillouin interferometer at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geos…

The Bubble Lab is an experimental laboratory to study (a) fluids in hydrothermal terrain, and (b) volcano-tectonic processes. We simulate fluids and solids in two separate but closely related laboratories. First, we have an experimental laboratory f…

Geomagnetic field models of the last 3 to 10 kyrs based on archeo- and paleomagnetic data. This updated version of geomagnetic field description for the past 10 000 years is mainly based on the same data as CALS10k.1b. However, the model offers high…

The unified catalogue of earthquakes in central, northern, and northwestern Europe: Grünthal et al. (2009) published a catalogue for central, northern, and northwestern Europe with unified Mw for events with Mw ≥ 3.5 in the time frame 1000-2004. Thi…

Within the research group [CLEAR](https://www.gfz.de/en/wg/clear/) we endeavor to understand large scale geological processes that operate deep inside planets. Our approach is to recreate high pressure-temperature conditions in the laboratory and ex…

The primary scientific goal of the Central European Volcanic Province Observatory is to better understand and map the processes in transcrustal magma systems beneath distributed intraplate volcanic fields, and to assess their volcanic hazard and the…

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a method of thermal analysis for determining the amount of heat released or consumed by a sample at a defined temperature change. For this purpose, a container with sample material and an empty reference co…

The Cryo-Microbiology Labs are a lab complex focused on the biological aspects related to microbe-mineral interface reactions in cryogenic and non-cryogenic environments. The research addresses a series of culture-dependent and -independent techniqu…

The Culture Lab is equipped with two low-temperature incubators (Percival LT-36VL and E-36VL) and two refrigerators to grow various types of algae under different light conditions and temperatures, including UV-A and UV-B.

Cultures can also be g…

DEKORP (Deutsches Kontinentales Reflexionsseismisches Programm) was carried out between 1984 - 1997 as the German national reflection seismic program funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (BMFT), now Federal Ministry of…

The "German instrument pool for amphibian seismology" (Deutscher Geräte-Pool für amphibische Seismologie, DEPAS) provides broadband-onshore stations and ocean bottom seimometers for the preferred use within amphibious projects. The onshore component…

The DIGIS geochemical data repository is a research data repository in the Earth Sciences domain with a specific focus on geochemical data. The repository archives, publishes and makes accessible user-contributed, peer-reviewed research data in stan…

The declination calculator provides declination values for any location on Earth and any time between 1900 and 2025. The calculation is based on the International Geomagentic Reference Field (IGRF) which describes the geomagnetic core field. The cal…

The GFZ contributes to the Global Geophysical Fluid Center (GGFC) of the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) by providing matter and motion terms of effective angular momentum functions (EAM). EAMs are due to mass trans…

The Earthquake Model Central Asia (EMCA) was the GEM (Global Earthquake Model) regional program, coordinated by GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences.

The EMCA (Earthquake Model Central Asia) catalogue (Mikhailova et al., 2015) includes inf…

EMEC-2021 is a catalogue of tectonic earthquakes for the broader Mediterranean area, harmonised into a single magnitude scale, Mw (Lammers, Steffi et al., 2023). It is an extended version of “The European-Mediterranean Earthquake Catalogue (EMEC) fo…

The European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98) is the basis for assigning seismic intensities in European countries. The European Macroseismic Scale has been most recently updated in 1998 and is referred to as EMS

The history of the EMS began in 1988 w…

The ESA ESM is a synthetic model of the time-variable gravity field of the Earth suitable for satellite gravity mission simulation studies. The model is an update of the ESA Earth System Model as described by Gruber et al. (2011), and is also given …

Swarm, the fifth Earth Explorer mission approved in ESA's Living Planet Programme and launched on November 22, 2013, 1:02 pm (CET), consists of a constellation of three identical satellites in near-polar orbits between 400 and 550 km altitude.

Th…

Our observatories are a key instrument for a comprehensive understanding of the system Earth. The combination of monitoring programmes and observatories allows for an observation of the processes shaping the Earth system from a local to a global sca…

The ElMiE Lab is a research-oriented facility and part of the Helmholtz center in Potsdam. The ElMiE - Lab offers the sample preparation and analyses of geological or environmental inorganic samples for element concentrations and mineralogy of inorg…

The EleMap Lab is devoted to *in situ* analyses of minor and trace elements in minerals and other geological materials. We have a Teledyne Analyte Excite 193 nm excimer laser coupled to a Thermo Scientific iCAP RQ quadrupole ICP-MS and a Thermo Scie…

The development of geophysical exploration systems with high resolution for underground applications and mobile operation on the surface implicate many interesting problems to be solved with electronics. That is, design and programming of radio-cont…

The Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) is a German hyperspectral satellite mission that monitors and characterizes the Earth’s environment on a global scale. The primary goal of EnMAP is to provide accurate diagnostic information on …

The Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry Labs are an integrated laboratory suite designed for studying the formation of nature-inspired and synthetic mineral phases, and their interactions with nutrients and contaminants. This facility is th…

For rock deformation experiments we handle different apparatuses, allowing to perform brittle (low temperature) tests on large rock samples (MTS servo-hydraulic press) and high temperature (ductile) experiments on small samples (Paterson-type gas de…

LARS is large volume experimental apparatus for the investigation of anthropogenic induces and natural occurring reservoir processes under simulated in situ conditions in the lab. The sediment sample has a diameter of 0.45m and a length of 1.35m. Th…

The Specialised Information Service for Geosciences (FID GEO - Fachinformationsdienst Geowissenschaften) is an information service of the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam (GFZ) and the Goettingen State and University Library. Funded b…

FLECAS-HT is a unique flow-through system enabling the simultaneous measurement of permeability and electrical resistivity (co-axial 4-electrode arrangement) on rock cylinders with a diameter of 30 mm and a length of 75 mm at temperatures of up to 5…

Optical fibers are well suited for deployment in boreholes as they can tolerate harsh environments, i.e. high pressures and temperatures, or strongly corrosive media, and are immune to electromagnetic interference.

The following devices are ava…

FLECAS was designed as versatile and transportable core analysis system for the investigation of consolidated and unconsolidated rocks under reservoir temperature and pressure conditions. It comprises a measuring setup for the measurement of porosit…

The lab contains devices that can be used to monitor chemical and physicochemical parameters in natural and synthetic geothermal fluids. For instance,

*Fluid-Monitoring System „FluMo“*

A versatile fluid-chemical monitoring unit (“FluMo”) has…

This data set provides a stochastic event set of flood inundation depth maps (fluvial flood hazard footprints) for the German part of the Danube catchment for current and future climate in GEOTIFF format..

The maps provide inundation depth inform…

Mt. Etna (Eastern Sicily), located in one of the most complex tectonic environments, is one of the most active and best monitored volcanoes around the world. It is characterized by multi-hazard activity that endangers the densely populated area. Act…

In our lab we use a FTIR-spectrometer Vertex 80v manufactured by Bruker. It is equipped with various light sources, beam splitters and detectors to operate from 25.000 cm⁻¹ to 80 cm⁻¹. The maximum resolution is 0.25 cm⁻¹.

An attached IR-microsco…

Central Asia is highly vulnerable to global warming and natural hazards. The region allows us to study not only changes and impact in the water cycle but also a broad range of other natural, often hazardous, phenomena. Central Asia is influenced by …

In 2018 the GEOFON global seismic network consists of more than 80 active high quality stations with real-time acquisition. The network plays a leading role in global real-time seismology providing valuable data for almost all fundamental and applie…

GEOFON operates the GFZ Seismological Data Archive, which facilitates access to data from the GEOFON stations, from GIPP passive experiments and from plate boundary observatories, as well as from many partner networks/institutions, providing a perma…

The GEOFON Earthquake Explorer is a world map of global seismicity located automatically using the global virtual seismic network. Detailed information including hypocenter coordinates and a location map are displayed for the last major earthquake.

All real time data streams from GEOFON stations as well as around 900 additional real-time stations from international partners are used to determine rapid automatic location estimates for all globally recorded earthquakes and most regional ones. Th…

GEOFON has a long tradition of developing high-quality open software products for the seismological reasearch community. The best example is probably the SeisComP3 package (http://www.seiscomp3.org), which became one of the most widely used in the c…

The GEOMAGIA50 database is an international collaboration to provide easy access to published archeomagnetic/volcanic and sediment paleomagnetic and chronological data for the past 50,000 years. GEOMAGIA50 has been funded by the US National Science …

GFZ Data Services is a repository for research data and scientific software across the Earth System Sciences, hosted at GFZ. The curated data are archived, persistently accessible and published with digital object identifier (DOI). They range from l…

The use of high-resolution geophysical exploration systems, developed by the HGZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, for underground applications at tunneling and within boreholes requires a high demand due to safety and operational reliability. The G…

GFZRNX is a toolbox designed and created for the needs of the GNSS community. It supports RINEX observation, navigation and meteorological data. The major tasks include checking, repairing and manipulating (sampling, selection of satellite systems a…

GGF100k is a global geomagnetic field model covering the past 100,000 years. It is the first model that provides a global view of the geomagnetic field evolution over an extended period. The model is based on an extensive global dataset of over 100 …

The GGFSS70 is a global geomagnetic field model covering the period 70,000 to 15,000 years ago. The model is based on nine selected sediment records from globally distributed sites. The dataset contains only high-quality paleomagnetic records, with …

The GFZ supports the work of the International Heat Flow Commission (IHFC) of the IASPEI by providing thematic and technical support for the global heat flow database. We develop a new research data infrastructure for the IHFC Global Heat Flow Datab…

The "Geophysical Instrument Pool Potsdam (GIPP)" provides seismic, magnetotelluric and geodetic instruments and sensors for projects of GFZ groups, universities and other research facilities. It is hosted by Section 2.2 "Geophysical Imaging" and Se…

The GIPP Experiment and Data Archive is the platform for long-term archiving of geophysical experiment data and its supply to users. It contains metadata of all experiments supported by the "Geophysical Equipment Pool Potsdam" (GIPP) as well as data…

The magnetotelluric instruments are part of the "Geophysical Instrument Pool Potsdam(GIPP)" which means that the instruments are generally available for academic use to all German Universities. The allocation of the instruments is decided by the GFZ…

GNSS data from the geodetic receivers of global and regional ground networks are operationally analysed at GFZ in near-real time. The atmospheric data products, like zenith total delay and converted integrated water vapour above the ground stations,…

With the setup of global and regional GNSS networks and the IGS Analysis Centre in the early 1990s, GFZ has been implemented an „Operational Data Centre (ODC)” to handle the huge amount of data.

The ODC serves the preparation and quality manageme…

Since the early 1990s, the GFZ has operated a global GNSS station network with currently about 70 stations for precise satellite clock & orbit determination, realization of the terrestrial reference frame, radio occultation measurements or studies o…

GONAF (Geophysical Observatory at the North Anatolian Fault) is a combined surface and downhole based observatory to measure tectonic deformation transients (seismic and aseismic) along the overdue Marmara segment of the North Anatolian Fault Zone (…

The primary objective of the GRACE-FO Mission is, as for GRACE, to obtain precise global and high-resolution models for both the static and the time variable components of the Earth's gravity field. As in the original GRACE mission, this goal is ach…

The GSHAP project was one of the global initiatives within the framework of the UN International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR), declared by the United Nations General Assembly for the 1990s. Around 190 geoscientists from all continen…

Gas geochemistry is an essential aspect in many areas of research, such as volcanology, environmental research and raw materials exploration.

The GFZ's Gas Geochemistry Laboratory (GGL) routinely analyzes most permanent gases. In addition to the …

The Ultrapyc gas pycnometer (Anton Paar Ultrapyc 5000 Micro) can be used to measure the density of solid and semi-solid substances to determine the purity or porosity of samples. Samples with a volume of only 0.25 cm³ (but also larger samples of 1-3…

Several analysis tools are available for cell-based research e.g. facilities to carry out polymerase chain reactions (PCR). The qTower³ G touch qPCR machine is a 96-well format and currently uses one SYBR Green module, however, can be equipped with …

The geomicrobiology laboratories are part of the GeoBioLab – The Helmholtz Laboratory for Integrated Geological and Biological Research. The GeoBioLab provides a platform for interdisciplinary research across various scientific fields, including mic…

The research done in section 3.1 demands precise and accurate analyses of element concentrations and isotope ratios in a wide range of materials (minerals, rocks, fluids and gas) and on samples as tiny as 1 micron in diameter and with just picograms…

Microorganisms interact with their environment as they produce and and consume dissolved compounds that will therefore become depleted or enriched in their surrounding, mainly in the pore water. Analysis of dissolved compounds is therefore a prerequ…

The geomagnetic Hpo index is a Kp-like index with a time resolution of half an hour, called Hp30, and one hour, called Hp60. besides that, the Hpo index is not capped at 9 like Kp, but is an open ended index that describes the strongest geomagnetic …

The Indices of Global Geomagnetic Activity is a service contributing to the International Service of Geomagnetic Indices (ISGI) of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) provided by the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences…

The GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences operates and supports geomagnetic observatories worldwide. We provide unique and important scientific data for the investigation of Earth's interior (Earth's core and mantle) and near-Earth space (ionosphere …

The Adolf-Schmidt-Observatory for Geomagnetism in Niemegk is operated by GFZ since 1992. It belongs to [Section 2.3, Geomagnetism](https://www.gfz.de/en/section/geomagnetism/overview). The observatory is located 50km SW of Potsdam. Since 1930 it con…

The Santa Maria (SMA) Observatory (Azores) is operated by GFZ and currently under construction.
The geomagnetic field intensity and directions are continously recorded at the observatory.

The Geomagnetic Observatory St. Helena (SHE) was set up in 2007 and is operated by GFZ. Data from 2010 onward is also available at INTERMAGNET.

The Geomagnetische Observatory Tristan da Cunha (TDC) was opened in October 2009 and is operated by the GFZ. The observatory is member of the INTERMAGNET program.

The Geomagnetic Observatory Wingst (WNG) is operated as a remote station of the Niemegk Geomagnetic Observatory by GFZ since 2004. The Wingst observatory is a member of the INTERMAGNET program.

The Groß Schönebeck geothermal research platform is located 50 kilometres north-east of Berlin on the southern edge of the North German Basin. Two research wells open up horizons at depths of between 3.9 and 4.4 kilometres at temperatures of around …

Service for assigning of localities in Germany (based on names or zip code) to seismic zones according to the earthquake resistant German Building Code DIN EN 1998-1/NA:2011-01, zonation map (former DIN 4149:2005-04) (only available in German and fo…

The Tidal Model forced by Ephemerides (Thomas et al., 2001; Weis et al., 2008) is a purely hydrodynamic, barotropic tidal simulation. After recent updates of bathymetric data, dissipation channels and the handling of Self-Attraction and Loading it i…

The globalwaterstorage.info information portal is complementary to GravIS. While GravIS is mainly addressing scientists and students who do not necessarily have to be experts in geodesy but at least have a certain basic knowledge about GRACE/-FO or …

The Gravity Information Service (GravIS) visualizes and describes Level-3 products based on the most recent GRACE and GRACE-FO gravity field release from GFZ. The products presented at GravIS are available for download at GFZ's Information System a…

Within HELGES we have a ISO 6 metal-free clean laboratory, dedicated entirely to blank-sensitive metal(loid) geochemistry. Numerous ISO 4 laminar flow hoods are available for the preparation of wide-ranging sample substrates for non-traditional stab…

Within HELGES, we have more than 100 m² of clean lab space is available for separation of meteoric and terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides. We prepare wide-ranging sample substrates for meteoric cosmogenic nuclides (e.g. rocks, sediments, soils, river w…

The Thermo Scientific Element 2 is a highly sensitive, high-resolution sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Perform accurate and reliable quantitative multi-element analyses at trace level, with the highest sensitivity and with…

In the HELGES Laboratory, sample preparation and measurements of cosmogenic nuclides (¹⁰Be, ²⁶Al) and stable isotopes of metals and metalloids (currently Li, Mg, Si, Fe, Sr, B) in geological and environmental sample materials, such as sediments, roc…

An iridium strip heater is a specialized heating device that uses iridium, which has a high melting point, corrosion resistance, and excellent electrical conductivity. At the HELGES laboratories, the Iridium strip heater is used to produce homogeneo…

The mineral sorter is suitable for separating minerals from sediment in which the minerals to be separated differ in brightness and color. After previous sieving, the dry sediment is sorted into light and dark parts up to a maximum grain size of 1 m…

The main application of the Neptune MC-ICP-MS mass spectrometer is the analysis of stable and radiogenic isotope ratios of elements purified from a wide range of geological materials, including rocks, soils, plants, waters, and more. We have establi…

Our laboratory is equipped with one of the latest sample digestion systems. The Multiwave can digest samples of all kinds - e.g. food, environmental, pharmaceutical and, of course, geological samples. The samples can be digested at up to 300°C and 2…

Samples of all kinds are pretreated in our sample preparation laboratories. Samples are usually first dried, sieved or separated into magnetic or non-magnetic components in a magnetic separator based on their magnetic properties. Separation based o…

The UV fs laser ablation lab at HELGES is a state-of-the-art facility for the *in situ* micro-scale analysis of isotope ratios and element concentrations in a wide range of solid geological and environmental materials (such as rocks, minerals, soils…

The ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer) allows simultaneous detection and quantification of most elements in solutions at concentrations ranging from a few ng/g (ppb) to hundreds of µg/g (ppm). We analyse a wide select…

To analyse element concentrations in a wide range of materials two Q-ICP-MS (iCAP Q by Thermo) are available. Samples can be analyses as solutions (e.g. water samples or rocks after acid-dissolution). Alternatively, a [femtosecond laser ablation sys…

The Helgoland Gravimetric Observatory Germany (HELGOG) was established in March 2020 in the basement of the Biologische Anstalt Helgoland (BAH) of the Alfred Wegener Institute AWI, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research. The main research fo…

With the HOWAS 21 flood damage database, scientists at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences have created a sound data basis for researching flood damage. This data is used to better understand how flood damage occurs and to assess the effe…

Experimental tectonics is the branch of geosciences that uses so-called "analogue models" scaled down from nature to the laboratory to study tectonic processes *in situ*. Thanks to new materials, testing methods and monitoring techniques, which have…

For high-P/high-T experiments, we offer various kinds of piston-cylinder- and multi-anvil presses, which are utilized for conditions ranging from the crust to the uppermost lower mantle. In detail, the High P and T Synthesis Laboratory includes the …

The High-Temperature Fluid Measuring Cell is a flow-through device that allows to measure the electrical conductivity of highly corrosive aqueous fluids in dependence of pressure and temperature. So far, the facility was used to study geothermal hig…

FT-ICR-MS is applied for the characterization of polar compounds like NSO (nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen containing organic compounds) in fossil and recent geological samples (sediments, sedimentary rocks, coals, soils, and water samples), assessment …

For our research on hydrogen storage, we operate a dedicated, separate hydrogen laboratory. This laboratory provides an excellent infrastructure to perform geochemical experiments on fluids, rock samples and hydrogen under relevant pressure and temp…

Monitoring of geochemical and hydrochemical-physical parameters in the field

*Portable Fluid-Monitoring System incl. flow-through cell „FluMini"*

The portable fluid monitoring system has been developed for continuous in situ measurements of ph…

The hydrothermal diamond-anvil cell (HDAC) can be applied to study fluids, solids and particularly aqueous samples _in situ_ at high pressures and temperatures. Although such cells are usually used at P-T conditions of less than 3 GPa and 850 °C, ex…

The hydrothermal laboratory is equipped with horizontal and vertical cold-seal pressure vessels for the synthesis of crystals or glasses or to study interactions between minerals/rocks, melts, and fluids at hydrostatic conditions. The hydrothermal l…

The International Association of Geodesy (IAG) is the scientific organization in the field of geodesy. It promotes scientific cooperation and research in geodesy on a global scale and contributes to it through its various research bodies. It is a me…

The International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) is a multinational program to further and fund geosciences in the field of Continental Scientific Drilling. Scientific drilling is a critical tool in understanding of Earth processes a…

The determination of Earth’s global gravity field is one of the main tasks of geodesy: it serves as a reference for geodesy itself and provides essential information about the Earth, its interior and its fluid envelope for all geosciences. Thus, it …

The ELEMENT 2XR is a high-resolution sector field mass spectrometer (HR-ICP-MS) with inductively coupled plasma as an ion source. It is used for the quantitative analysis of element concentrations or isotope ratios. It offers excellent results even …

ICP-OES is an established analytical method for the determination of elements in the concentration range from μg/l to g/l. It is suitable for analyses of large sample throughputs due to low analysis time.

The configuration of the 5110 ICP-OES wit…

The Doris (Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite) system is a French satellite system used for precise orbit and positioning determination. It is based on the Doppler Effect principle consisting of a terrestrial beacon ne…

The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) was established in 1987 by the International Astronomical Union and the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics. The primary objectives of the IERS are to serve the astronom…

The International Geodynamics and Earth Tide Service (IGETS) is one of five services coordinated by the International Gravity Field Service (IFGS) of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG). The main objective of IGETS is to monitor temporal …

IGFS is a unified “umbrella” IAG service, which: (i) Coordinates collection, validation, archiving and dissemination of gravity field related data (ii) Coordinates courses, information materials and general public outreach relating to the earth’s gr…

The International GNSS Service (IGS) is a service of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG). It provides Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) data and products with highest quality to the scientific community and beyond.

GFZ contri…

As one of the analysis centers of the International GNSS Service (IGS), we process thousands of GNSS observations daily to derive precise station coordinates, satellite orbits, satellite clock corrections and Earth rotation parameters. In line with …

After the successful first full reprocessing of the International GNSS Service (IGS), the Analysis Centers (ACs) of the IGS started the second reprocessing in 2010. The complete history of GPS data collected by the global IGS network since 1994 was …

The International Generic Sample Number (IGSN) is a globally unique and persistent identifier (PID) for unambiguous identification of physical samples and collections with discovery function in the internet. IGSNs are citable in scholarly literature…

In principle, an internally heated pressure vessel (IHPV) consists of a thick-walled pressure vessel sealed by closure plugs at the ends. In addition, there is a pressure inlet/outlet as well as several electrical leads into the vessel for power sup…

The International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) was established as one of the IAG measurement services in 1998, with a charter to organize and coordinate world-wide Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) and Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) activities to support pro…

INTERMAGNET is an international program to provide quality controlled geomagnetic observatory data through a website and an ftp-server. Both archive and near-real time data are provided. The INTERMAGNET observatories in Niemegk, Wingst, Tristan da C…

IPOC is an international network of institutions and scientists organising and operating a distributed system of instruments and projects dedicated to the study of the subduction system, its role in landscape evolution, and associated geohazards at …

The Information System and Data Center (ISDC) is an access point for diverse geoscientific data, corresponding metadata, scientific documentation and software tools. The majority of the data and information that are offered to the public are global …

Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) is a highly accurate technique, used since the 1970s in geodesy that has delivered groundbreaking scientific discoveries. This technique allows scientists to measure global distances with millimeter accuracy;…

Ion chromatography is used to analyze anions in aqueous solutions. This physical-chemical separation process is based on the distribution of the substance into a mobile fluid phase and a solid stationary phase. We analyze mostly chloride (Cl⁻), fluo…

The Isotope Geochemistry Labs are equipped with a clean room facility (including several low-blank chemistry laboratories (class 100), sample preparation and ion-exchange chromatography, a set up for isotope systems: Pb, U-Pb, Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd as well a…

The Continental Deep Drilling Program of Germany (in German: Kontinentales Tiefbohrprogramm der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, abbreviated as KTB) was a scientific drilling project near the town of Windischeschenbach, Bavaria. The KTB Depth Laboratory …

Geomagnetic field models for the periode of 30 to 50 kyrs that contain the Laschamp and Mono Lake field excursions. The LSMOD models (current version LSMOD.2) represent the global evolution of the geomagnetic field for the time interval 50 to 30 ka.…

The devices for geoelectric measurements include various tools such as a GeoTom, resistivity probes, non-polarizable probes and electrode cables of various lengths for surface and downhole application. A sandbox model (diameter and height 0.6 m) is …

The Dendroclimatology Laboratory serves for the reconstruction of temporal and spatial variability of the climate of the past utilizing multi-parameter tree ring analysis.

Aims:

- to reconstruct the temporal and spatial variability of the cli…

This laboratory deals with magnetostratigraphic dating of paleoclimate archives and the reconstruction of geomagnetic field variation in the geological past, as well as with analyses of magnetic minerals.

Therefore, intensity and directions of se…

The focus of our research work results from the increasing use of underground space for geothermal energy extraction/storage and geological gas storage (CO₂, H₂). This requires not only the determination of petrophysical target parameters, but also …

In the laboratory for fluid chemistry, various devices are used to determine the chemical properties of geothermal fluids.

In the laboratory for fluid physics, various devices are used to determine the properties of geothermal fluids: density, viscosity, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, heat capacity, sonic velocity.

The Laboratory for Microscopy focuses on the specific requirements of microfacies analysis of lake sediments, but also offers a wide range of possibilities for other applications. Sedimentological, petrographic and microfacies analyses on all kinds …

Tephra, the Greek word for ash, is used to describe any material that is ejected by a volcano into the atmosphere (pyroclasts). Tephra includes dense blocks and bombs (> 64 mm), and lighter materials such as scoria, pumice and ash (< 2 mm). As one m…

The laboratory for thin-section preparation is specialized in the preparation of thin sections of soft and unconsolidated lacustrine and marine sediments, soils, hygroscopic sediment samples such as salts and clays, and freeze cores, as well as of h…

The laboratory for XRF (X-ray Fluorescence) Element Scanning focusses on non-destructive and continuous core analyses. These analyses allow detailed geochemical characterisation of complete sediment cores down to individual layers and grains. Bridgi…

Optical microscopes are available in the Microscopy Lab for different techniques, such as brightfield, polarization contrast, fluorescence. The microscopes can also be equipped with the following cameras: Sony Alpha 6000 digital camera and Kern ODC-…

The Multi GNSS Experiment (MGEX) was initiated by the IGS in 2012. In MGEX all available signals of the new GNSS satellites are analysed. Currently, seven IGS analysis centers generate consistent and precise orbits and clock corrections of the new s…

Mag.num models are the series of recent GFZ high-precision geomagnetic core field models that rely on satellite magnetic field measurements, in particular on calibrated Swarm and CHAMP vector field and ground observatory data. The coefficients of th…

The GFZ section "Geomagnetism" provide data products derived from the measurements of the ESA (European Space Agency) missions for Earth Observation (EO), e.g., Swarm as well as for German missions, e.g., CHAMP (CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload). O…

The Micro-Raman Spectroscopy Laboratory (Sections 3.1 and 3.2) uses a Horiba Jobin Yvon LabRAM HR Evolution Raman spectrometer equipped with a motor-driven x-y table and an Olympus optical microscope. Depending on the experiment two different laser …

Our Microbiology Laboratories are used for the enrichment, isolation, and characterization of novel microorganisms, including both aerobic and anaerobic species. We conduct phylogenetic and physiological analyses to describe new strains and assess t…

This lab is dedicated for carrying out various microbial techniques in a sterile environment. These include the isolation of fungi on agar media from soil samples, the purification of DNA from microbial cultures and soil samples, and setting up of s…

The electron microprobe technique allows for nondestructive analyses of smallest parts of materials (in micrometer range) with high precision. Materials that can be analyzed are embedded and polished mineral grains (also gemstones), glass particles …

The microscopy lab comprises facilities for reflected-light microscopy for organic petrography.

Reflected light microscopy is applied in the field of organic petrography for the reconstruction of facies, determination of thermal maturity and de…

The Mineral Separation laboratory is designed for performing chemical cleaning and purification of minerals. The fume hood in the lab is suitable for using hydrofluoric acid, in addition to other more commonly used acids. Four hot-dog rollers that s…

This integrated laboratory suite is designed for studying the formation of nature-inspired and synthetic mineral phases, and their interactions with nutrients and contaminants. It is equipped with two anaerobic chamber workstations, small-scale chem…

The Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry Labs are equipped with a very diverse suite of spectroscopic and scattering instruments to determine material chemical composition, structure, surface area and grain size of both synthetic and natural…

Molecular microbial ecology is crucial for understanding the role of microorganisms in ecosystems, as it provides insights into microbial diversity, interactions, and functions at the molecular level. Our labs utilize advanced techniques for environ…

Underground laboratories are set up in rock formations that are fundamentally suitable for the final disposal of radioactive waste. They are important for investigating the complex behaviour of repository systems under controlled and at the same tim…

The experimental task is to realize controlled long-term investigations on the permeability evolution of sedimentary rocks at simulated pressure- and temperature conditions pertinent to geothermal reservoirs.

Therefore, the investigations are p…

The noble gases (or "rare gases") helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon are chemically inert. Due to their volatile nature they have a strong tendency to partition into gas or fluid phases and can be used as tracers for the origin and the transpor…

The Operational Support Group of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, ICDP, situated at GFZ, provides downhole logging services and access to utilize the ICDP instrument pool for PIs of successful ICDP proposals. ICDP is a prop…

The Omics Lab is currently equipped with all facilities to carry out DNA extractions, polymerase chain reactions (PCR) and gel electrophoresis. Current research includes the biodiversity and functions of cryophilic microbiomes with the focus on snow…

This lab will be dedicated for the contamination-free workup and analysis of ultra-trace abundances of soluble organics and samples for molecular biological studies. Currently, it is under construction.

Processes related to the solvents extraction of snow and ice algae or particles are conducted in the Organic Microbial Geochemistry Lab. These processes are done in combination with ultrasonic bath, shaking, and solid phase extraction. Evaporation o…

In the Organic Surface Geochemistry Lab (OSGLab) of the Geomorphology section, the smallest of molecules and isotopes open a door to the past. In the OSGLab we conduct research on regional differences of the causes and effects of past climate change…

In the Organic-geochemical Laboratories both biotic and abiotic transformation processes of sedimentary organic matter from shallow to deep, young to old, terrestrial to marine, and from molecular to basin scales are investigated.

The Organic-ge…

FEI Helios G4 Dual Beam Helios G4 UC is part of the fourth generation of the leading Helios Dual Beam family. It combines the innovative Elstar electron column with high-current UC+ technology for extreme high-resolution imaging and the highest mate…

The FEI Quanta 3D FEG is a state-of-the-art Dual Beam machine combining traditional thermal emission scanning electron microscope (SEM) with focused ion beam (FIB). This combination allows the characterization of materials in 2D and 3D (tomography),…

The Transmission Electron Microscopy TEM laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility equipped with a FEI Tecnai G2 F20 X-Twin transmission electron microscope and a FEI FIB200TEM Focused Ion Beam device for specimen preparation. The laboratory provide…

Liquid Phase-(Scanning) Transmission Electron Microscopy (LP-(S)TEM) allows _in situ_ observations of the dynamic behaviour of materials in liquids, with both high spatial resolution and temporal resolution. In LP-(S)TEM, the liquid cell is mounted …

Optical microscopes are available in the Microscopy Lab for different techniques, such as brightfield, polarization contrast, fluorescence. The microscopes can also be equipped with cameras.

We also have the FlowCam 5000 by Yokogawa, which is a p…

The PISA facility combines the state-of-the-art imaging and spectral technologies for all kinds of research applications. It consists of a range of electron microscopes with various detectors including EBSD and EDS, and optical microscopes.

High…

Sample preparation instruments are available for all kinds of samples for scanning electron microscopes and transmission electron microscopes: Gold-Palladium Sputter Coater - Leica; Carbon Coater - Leica; Cryo Sample Preparation - Leica; Gatan Model…

The new state-of-the-art transmission electron microscope from Thermo Fisher Scientific Themis Z brings a lot of new opportunities for the characterization of crystal structure, microstructures and chemical composition of materials. Simultaneous ima…

The Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscope of the Zeiss Ultra Plus allows you to capture, analyze and supplement high-resolution images to get total information out of your sample. The complete detection system of the Ultra Plus combines a high…

The sources for the [magnetotelluric (MT) method](https://www.gfz.de/en/section/geophysical-imaging/topics/methoden-em) are naturally occurring electromagnetic field variations. Electromagnetic currents are excited over a wide frequency range in the…

One of the most important reservoir parameters is the permeability, which defines the ability of a liquid to flow through a porous medium. In our laboratories, we have various setups available to determine the permeability at different pT conditions…

In the Physical Laboratory, experiments are performed to study mainly the interactions of sediment and water, but also measure rheological properties of sediment and prepare samples for further analysis in the other labs. In detail, the following re…

The static 1000 t laboratory press of Max Voggenreiter GmbH can be operated either with a Walker module as a multi anvil press or via a second hydraulic cylinder with a piston cylinder module (diameter 12.7 mm).

To investigate the pressure/temperature regime of the Earth´s crust and shallow parts of the upper mantle, at the GFZ three piston cylinder presses are installed and run. Two of the three presses are non-endloaded piston cylinder apparatus ("Johanne…

For characterization of pores and fractures within rocks the laboratory is equipped with an X-Ray computer tomography system (Nanotom CT), He-gas pycnometer (AccuPyc), Hg porosimeter (2000 WS), and a gas adsorption porosimeter (TS Surfer). For damag…

For the thermal decomposition of organic matter different pyrolysis techniques are applied. They are used in combination with different gas chromatographic methods such as gas chromatography, gas chromatography mass spectrometry and gas chromatograp…

Radiance Light Trends is a GIS web application that is designed to quickly display information about radiance trends at a specific location (available online at https://lighttrends.lightpollutionmap.info). It uses data from two satellite systems, DM…

The laboratory is equipped with two confocal high-resolution Raman spectrometer systems to study fluid and solid samples (from single point analyses and line scans to two- and three-dimensional Raman imaging) at ambient pressure and temperature and …

*Polyaxial High-pressure Test System (TrueTriax)*

The grant from the Investment Bank of the State of Brandenburg (ILB No. 85053766) enabled the acquisition of a high-pressure, high-temperature 3D True Triaxial Press facility at the GFZ, which is …

The section is well equipped for rock crushing, sieving and milling, preparation of thin and polished sections and grain mounts, and mineral separation by gravimetric and magnetic methods. We maintain central facilities and equipment for cleaning, c…

A Rotating Multi-Anvil Press constructed by Max Voggenreiter GmbH is installed in the high-pressure hall of the GFZ. The apparatus consists of an 800 tons hydraulic press and a Walker-type multi-anvil module. The whole apparatus is rotatable by 360°…

The South African Geodynamic Observatory Sutherland (SAGOS) of GFZ was established during the years 1998 – 2000 based on an Agreement on Cooperative Activities between the National Research Foundation (NRF) and GFZ, signed in August 1998. SAGOS is l…

The SHARE European Earthquake Catalogue (SHEEC) 1900-2006 has been compiled by GFZ Potsdam in the frame of an independant project and represents a temporal and spatial excerpt of "The European-Mediterranean Earthquake Catalogue" (EMEC) for the last …

Recognizing that the exploration and harnessing of magmatic and geothermal reservoirs involves many disciplines, the mission of “SMARTIES” is to implement a long-term observatory facility together with episodic field experiments for defining, testin…

The Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) Station of the GFZ Potsdam has been continuously operating within the framework of the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) since January 2003. The method of satellite laser ranging was established in 1964 and…

The GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences operates a satellite receiving station at Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen (78° 55´ North, 11° 56´ East) to receive data from research satellites in polar orbits. The station is located about 1 km outside the village,…

Tracking Earth surface processes through size and shape of sediment particles

In the SedLab, we analyse the compositional properties of sediments by measuring the full range of grain-size distributions from a few nanometers to centimeters and by …

General applications in the soil physics lab comprise soil sample preparation, particle size analysis and estimation of soil moisture content.

For solid state analyses, a thermo combustion based CHN analysis of organic materials is applied.  

Further, a Horiba LabRAM HR Evolution Raman spectrometer with motor driven table and Olympus microscope can be used. This spectrometer is equipped…

Conditions on the Sun and in the solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere that can influence the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems and can affect human life. GFZ contributes to the develo…

The GFZ spectroscopy laboratory supports advances in optical and thermal remote sensing for the definition of new sensors for spaceborne missions, for the development of methodologies toward improved surface properties characterization, and for the …

The Stable Isotope Lab addresses stable hydrogen isotope analysis of lipids and hydrocarbons (lean samples), stable carbon isotope analysis of lipids, hydrocarbons, gases (lean samples), stable carbon and hydrogen isotope analysis (rich samples) as …

In the laboratories for stable isotopes in sediments and water, the isotope ratios of the light elements nitrogen (N), carbon (C) and oxygen (O) in continental geoarchives such as lake sediments and speleothems as well as oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H)…

Measuring the physical properties of rocks under simulated _in situ_ conditions in the laboratory is crucial for a comprehensive characterization of natural geological reservoirs. The long-term flow-through apparatus SEPP consists of a total of 6 te…

The Northeastern German Lowland observatory (TERENO-Northeast) is part of the Helmholtz Association`s interdisciplinary, long-term research network of Terrestrial Environmental Observatories - TERENO representing typical landscapes in Central Europ…

The observatory is a long-term monitoring site of Earth surface processes, solid, solute and gaseous matter fluxes and biogeochemical cycles and their drivers, straddling an active mountain landscape from orogen ridgepole to coastline. Set within a …

Being a modern geodetic measuring method, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) has reached an important role in geosciences. Within the scope of the Tide Gauge Benchmark Monitoring Working Group (TIGA-WG) of the IGS, GFZ analyses and reprocess…

During the KTB project (1987-1995) two deep boreholes were drilled, the so-called pilot hole (KTB-VB, 4 km) and the ultra deep main hole (KTB-HB, 9.1 km). Both wells are nearly completely cased. The VB is accessible to nearly bottom hole. At KTB is …

The GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences operates a fully equipped, large geometry SIMS instrument, which is supported by a comprehensive spectrum of peripheral instrumentation. The SIMS laboratory is an open user facility intended to support the ne…

The Thermal Petrophysics Laboratory offers a wide range of measurement methods, primarily for determining the thermal properties of rocks and minerals.

In addition, mineralogical and other petrophysical parameters can be determined. The following…

UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), also known as drones, are currently increasing in importance for geosciences. This is particularly true for remote sensing, where they complement conventional platforms such as airplanes and satellites with their adv…

The Varved Sediments Database (VARDA) provides standardized proxy records from annually resolved lake archives. All proxy records offer full quantification of age-uncertainty from state of the art age-depth modeling routines. VARDA is a service prov…

The World Stress Map (WSM) is a global compilation of information on the crustal present-day stress field maintained since 2009 at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (Section 2.6 Seismic Hazard and Risk Dynamics). It is a collaborative project…

CASMO is the online interface to produce user-specific stress maps from the WSM database release along with your own stress data records. The stress maps will be provided for download in high quality (postscript, jpg, png or pdf file format) as a co…

The preparation laboratory includes facilities for the extraction of the soluble organic matter from sediments, sedimentary rocks, coals, microbial cultures and water samples using flow-blending-extraction and ultrasonic-extraction tools. Further, m…

For X-ray diffraction characterisation of solid materials, we hold two STOE STADI-P powder-X-ray diffractometers. Collected pattern are processed with the GSAS-software for Rietveld refinement.

For the crystallographic orientation of single cryst…

For routine X-Ray fluorescence analysis, powdered sample material is fused to a glass disc. Therefore, the powered samples (grain sizes < 62 µm), as well as two Fluxana-samples are dried at ~100 °C, weighed, and melted on different heaters at temper…

An X-Ray Diffraction analysis is a method in which a beam of X-Rays is usually directed at a fine powder of randomly oriented grains of crystalline substances. The X-Rays are scattered in directions that depend on the crystal structure of the sample…

The Zugspitze Geodynamic Observatory (ZUGOG) was established in September 2018 on top of mountain Zugspitze in the European Alps, with the dual targets of validation and calibration of GRACE-FO and supporting research into alpine mountain building p…

The mobile Drilling Information System (mDIS) is a database management application developed and provided by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) for capturing and curating metadata on geological cores and samples, drilli…

CHAMP (CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload) was a German small satellite mission for geoscientific and atmospheric research and applications, managed by GFZ. With its highly precise, multifunctional and complementary payload elements (magnetometer, ac…

GFZ-1, the first satellite of the GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ), was designed as a small, passive satellite, equipped with 60 retro-reflectors to be illuminated from the ground by the global network of satellite laser ranging (SLR) systems. The…

The Earth explorer satellite GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer) was the first satellite mission within the framework of the Living Planet Program of ESA. This satellite mission was mapping the Earth's gravity field on g…

GRACE was a joint project between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR). The mission has been proposed in 1996 jointly by the University of Texas at Austin, Center for Space …