ANNUAL REPORT 2001
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Nature and environment |
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Ilulissat Ice Fjord on the World Heritage List
The Ilulissat Ice Fjord was recommended for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In this connection, GEUS was requested to prepare the recommendation material to be presented to UNESCO. The request must be submitted by 1 February 2003 by the project steering committee consisting of representatives of Greenland Home Rule, the municipality of Ilulissat and the Danish Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Collection of materials began in 2001. This work is funded by DANCEA. |
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Mechanisms causing dramatic rock slide and flood
On 21 November 2000, the village of Saqqaq in central West Greenland was flooded by a giant wave. It was caused by a large rockslide at Paatuut on the steep southern coast of the Nuussuaq peninsula. In 2001, GEUS investigated the cause of the rock slide and wave. The investigations show a very dramatic course of events. An explosive congelifraction occurred in a fracture between the massive basalt rock wall and partly dislodged rock. This caused a major slide where about 90 million cubic metres of massif crashed into the sea from a height of more than one kilometre. At the shore the sliding rocks created a peninsula on the steep seabed. A later breakdown of the unstable peninsula then released a sub sea slide which started the wave. The studies funded by the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum, Greenland Home Rule, also describe previous slides in the area and identify areas at risk of similar rockslides. |
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Progress in the soil contamination field
The Danish Center for Biological Processes in Contaminated Soil and Sediment ( BIOPRO) carried out wide-ranging activities in the soil contamination field. They demonstrated that it is possible to stimulate the disintegration of tar compounds, the so-called PAH compounds, using the familiar oyster mushroom. In 2001, BIOPRO arranged a major international conference with participation of more than 200 scientists. The conference findings show that old contaminations of topsoil are less accessible to animals, plants and microorganisms than new contaminations, because old contaminations are integrated in the humus compounds of the soil. Future studies will show the extent to which widespread diffuse soil contamination in Danish towns actually constitute a health problem. |
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Monitoring coasts
Monitoring of coastal changes in Oresund between Denmark and Sweden in connection with the Oresund bridge construction was completed. Several reports describe the monitoring results and give an account of coastal development on the Danish island of Saltholm from 1954 to 2000, including identification of areas which may be influenced by the Oresund Bridge in future. GEUS and the Danish Coastal Authority conducted investigations of coastal development and sediment transport around Ringkøbing Fjord. This work included geological mapping, fjord surveys and borings in and around Holmslands Klit. |
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Increased viability of natural forests
Information about our original forests is essential to the restoration of natural forests. In 2001, GEUS participated in natural forest research in order to plan the establishment of more robust natural forests and the management of forest areas. Based on the report by the Wilhjelm committee, GEUS contributed a scientific abstract in Danish on the research and management status of untouched forests in Denmark - Danske Landskaber og Urørt Skov i Danmark [Danish landscapes and the untouched forest in Denmark]. GEUS also participated in three major EU research projects mapping the trees and plants previously growing in forests and studies of the balance of forests and climate. This work supported the EU directives on sustainable use of forest resources and protection of biodiversity. Finally, GEUS completed its investigations of the windfalls of Draved Forest. They show that natural forests are much more storm resistant than man-made forests. |
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Long-term mapping of nutrients in Danish lakes
A new method to map long-term nutrient concentrations in Danish lakes has been developed. Based on planktonic diatom content in lake sediments, it is now possible to calculate phosphorous content in lake water dating back several thousand years. This method is an important tool for managing the aquatic environment in connection with the implementation of the EU Framework Directive in the field of water policy which requires clarification and definition of the natural background conditions of the aquatic environment. This work includes studies of a sedimentary core from Dallund Lake on Funen reflecting developments over the last 6,000 years. Results show a clear connection between the nutrient content of the lake and agricultural activity in the area and that 1,000 years ago there was already a heavy nutrient load on the lake. The studies were conducted under the auspices of the 'Changing Landscapes' project under the Danish Environmental Research Programme (SMP 97). |
