ANNUAL REPORT 2002
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Nature and environment |
and the North Atlantic in particular
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Geology, ocean currents and climate
Large volumes of cold, heavy seawater flow along the ocean floor from the Greenland and Norwegian Seas, across the Greenland–Scotland ridge, to the North Atlantic deep-ocean basins.The intensity of the exchange of water across this ridge has crucial significance for the climate in the North Atlantic region. One of the important outlets for this cold water is a channel system in the ocean floor east and south of the Faeroe Islands. Over several years, GEUS has demonstrated a correlation between the intensity of the flow through this channel system, and the climate. A decline in the flow along the ocean floor is thus associated with cold climate periods, and an increase in flow is associated with warmer periods. In 2002, GEUS completed a project which provides new opportunities for monitoring the variation in the important ocean floor currents in large regions. Using sound waves, a number of geological formations on the ocean floor which have been created by the ocean floor current have been mapped.The study of the ocean floor formations shows that it is possible to map the progress and intensity of the current along the entire channel system – a task which is nearly insurmountable using traditional current meters. The work has been carried out together with researchers from several European countries and the Faeroe Islands, and has been supported by the Danish Natural Science Research Council, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and the Faeroe Islands offshore consortium. |
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Development of the European beech forests
Danish traditional songs are full of praise for the pale green beech woods, even though the beech is a relatively new tree species in Denmark. Beech trees immigrated to the country around 4500 years ago from Southern Europe. This has been revealed by a comprehensive study of the development of the beech woods in Europe throughout the last 10,000 years, carried out by GEUS. Climate is the crucial factor determining the spread of the beech tree in Europe, but over the last 2500 years, the development of beech woods has also been powerfully influenced by human activity. The study, based on a large volume of pollen data from all over Europe, also describes how the beech tree has thrived with other tree species throughout the ages, and identifies environments which promote or hinder the spread of the beech forest.This work is part of the NATMAN EU project, the goal of which is to develop nature-based management of the beech woods, taking into account both recreational and financial interests. The results will also be included in the development of biodiversity monitoring under the national monitoring programme, NOVANA. |
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New method for measuring the melting of ice
A warmer climate in the future will mean rises in sea levels. A likely contributor to these rises is the Inland Ice in Greenland, which is the world's second largest ice mass. In this connection, GEUS and many international researchers are trying to work out whether the Inland Ice is growing or shrinking in the present climate. In 2002, GEUS performed measurements of the climate and the extent of ice melting in West and East Greenland, in areas where satellite measurements had revealed thinning of the Inland Ice. The goal of the work was to shed light on the causes of the thinning. In this connection, GEUS has developed new equipment to measure automatically the extent of ice melting, which is cheap, robust and requires a minimum of maintenance. The international research community has worked for years to develop methods for monitoring the vast regions which comprise the melting zone of the Inland Ice, but the methods proposed have either been inadequate or very expensive. The development of the new equipment has brought the possibility of more extensive monitoring of the Inland Ice a step closer. This work has been supported by the Danish Natural Science Research Council, Greenland Home Rule, and the EU. |
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Geological mapping of Denmark
GEUS has carried out geological mapping in several regions in Denmark.This year's mapping has been organised so that it comprehensively accommodates the need for geological maps for current community tasks. In 2002, map sheet 1117 II Hanstholm was printed and the fieldwork has been completed for map sheet 1411 II Lolland. In addition, fieldwork has been carried out in the northern part of Ribe County, such that the survey of the county has now been completed. Our geologists have also surveyed three map sheets in Ringkøbing County in connection with the county's designation of areas with special drinking water relevance.The survey work in the Ribe and Ringkøbing areas has been supported by these counties. |
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Problems with steam cleaning of soil
The method of using steam to clean contaminated soil is not without problems. This has been shown by a recently completed research project. The steam cleaning of contaminated soil, such as is used extensively in the USA, removes the toxins from the soil either directly or by stimulating the bacteria which break down the toxins. However, it has been found that the steam can also stimulate some harmful fungi and bacteria which have not previously occurred here, and which can cause respiratory problems, allergies, and urinary tract infections in humans. The steam stimulates the germination of spores from certain fungi and bacteria in the soil, which can survive and propagate at these very high temperatures. The result is surprising, since these fungi and bacteria were not present in the soil samples prior to steam cleaning. Further work is being done to analyse the microbial community in the soil to see whether the unusually large populations of these organisms disappear again after the soil has cooled down. |
