FACTS
REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES IN 1997

• The institution and its production
• Download "Review of Activities 1997"
• Organisation diagramme

The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) is a research and advisory institution in the Danish Ministry of the Environment. The Survey's primary function is to provide the essential geological service for the utilisation and protection of Denmark's, Greenland's and Faeroe Island's natural resources. This involves mapping, data collection and basic research, in addition to providing impartial advice and presenting geological results to both the general public and the scientific community.
Within the environmental sphere, the Survey has both a research and advisory role with respect to environmental protection, water supply, exploitation of raw materials and nature conservation. Similarly, the Survey assists the Ministry in its administration of the utilisation of deposits in the subsurface, including the supervision of exploration for and exploitation of oil, natural gas, geothermal energy, etc.
In addition, the Survey undertakes numerous contract assignments for private firms. Over the years a large number of papers have been published on the Survey's scientific and practical activities. GEUS was created in 1995 by the amalgamation of the Geological Survey of Denmark (established 1888) and the Geological Survey of Greenland (established 1946).  

The institution and its production

The year 1997 turned out to be a very positive year for GEUS, both from scientifical and financial points of view. The Survey experienced progress in most areas and achieved significant results. These are described in detail in the following review that concerns five scientific programme areas. These are:

• Databank, information technology and general presentation
• Water resources
• Energy resources
• Raw materials and Greenland mapping
• Nature and environment

The Survey-s governing board entered into a 3-year performance contract with the Minister of Environment and Energy covering 1997 to 1999. It was agreed that the board should prepare each year a report describing the extent to which the production goals have been achieved. The statusreport for 1997 is part of the GEUS' "Accounts and Activities" (in Danish Virksomhedsregnskab 1997). In general, the fulfilment of the years goals is assessed to be very satisfactory. This applies both to total production and to the specific focus areas to which particular importance has been attached.

However in the programme areas Water resources and Energy resources the number of scientific articles published in international journals was about 10 per cent lower than anticipated. In future, effort will be directed toward increasing the output of such research in these two programme areas.

GEUS and the Geological Institute of the University of Copenhagen host the Danish Lithosphere Centre (DLC), which is financed by the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF). Following international evaluation in 1997, the DNRF decided to continue financing DLC until 31 January 2004. The Survey holds the administrative responsibility for DLC whereas the scientific responsibility rests with the DNRF.

GEUS is involved in the planning of a Geocentre on Østervold in Copenhagen together with the Geological Institute, the Geological Museum and the Geographical Institute (all under the University of Copenhagen) as well as the Danish Lithosphere Centre. Unfortunately, problems have occurred in 1998 in the form of a major budget overrun. The problems are expected to be solved before the end of 1998.

In three of GEUS-s scientific programme areas, the 1997 level of activity was significantly higher than anticipated. This applies to Water resources which has been the object of intensified political interest aroused by the fact that the seepage of pesticides to the groundwater has turned out to be a more serious problem than so far assumed and that the Water Environment Plan I has not had the anticipated effect on the nitrate area. Against this background the Government has initiated a number of initiatives, including research projects and review work aimed at maintaining Denmark-s favourable water supply conditions.
As part of an international panel-s evaluation of the Danish National Agency of Environmental Protection-s approval procedure, GEUS carried out comprehensive review work in the pesticide area. Besides, the Danish Parliament and the Danish National Agency of Environmental Protection submitted a large number of questions to GEUS for an opinion.
The longer-term work to establish a national water resource model was continued under a project contract with the central office of the Ministry of Environment and Energy. A corresponding project contract covers part of GEUS-s pesticide research. The two project contracts originally covering the period from 1996 to 1999 were prolonged by one year due to time-consuming analysis tasks, etc.

In 1997, GEUS-s pesticide research work was primarily carried out under the auspices of the Groundwater Group financed by the Danish Environmental Research Programme (SMP 96). The Groundwater Group is an open centre involving eight institutions. GEUS is performing the management and administrative function for the Groundwater Group.

The level of activity in the Data bank and information area and Energy resources area was also higher than expected. This was especially due to the successful development of the fifth licensing round in connection with hydrocarbon licences on the Danish shelf, including the preparatory work which especially the oil companies carried out in 1997. The companies- interest in the licensing round meant that the sale of released data yielded about DKK 8 mill. against the anticipated DKK 2 mill. In addition, comprehensive advisory services were extended to foreign licence applicants. Over the years, GEUS has accumulated a number of research results that throw light on the possibilities for new oil and gas discoveries in the Danish part of the North Sea.

In the two other scientific programme areas the level of activity generally fulfilled the expectations.

In the programme area Raw materials and Greenland mapping the publication of the geological map sheet "Dove Bugt" from Northeast Greenland needs mentioning. Furthermore, the finding of a new zinc-lead-silver mineralisation in North Greenland aroused interest in the mining industry. A survey for heavy minerals in Denmark was concluded detecting a large, possibly commercial deposit near Skjern in West Jutland. Besides, a general overview of marine raw material deposits in inner Danish waters was prepared. This overview forms the basis of the Danish National Forest and Nature Agency-s future administration of the Raw Materials Act as regards offshore raw materials.

In the Nature and Environment area, glaciological research indicated that the melting from the underside of floating ice caps in Greenland may have an impact on the global climate development. Furthermore, a method for calculating the phosphate contents of lake water over time by means of lake sediments was developed. This method makes description of land-use changes in the areas surrounding lakes possible.
The conversion of the existing soil maps in Denmark to digital format was completed. The users show great interest in the new maps.
Research into soil pollution shows that tar compounds can be categorised into compounds degradable in nature and compounds only removable by means of soil decontamination techniques.

In 1998 the efforts to fulfil the objectives of the performance contract will be continued. The planned use of human and financial resources appears in detail from GEUS-s Work Programme which in particular accounts for the tasks of the specific focus areas identified. The work will focus on the establishment of a new warning system for pesticides, development of a national groundwater model, intensified hydrocarbon exploration in Denmark and Greenland and new projects in the mineral and climate research areas. In general, the financial framework is expected to grow moderately through increased influx of external funds.

Currently, the prospects for GEUS-s level of activity in the years after 1998 are uncertain due to the open financing situation especially from year 2000 and onwards. In any prioritisation situation GEUS will, of course, primarily seek to maintain the level of activity in the specific focus areas as mentioned in the following review of the scientific programme areas.

Download "Review af activities 1997"

List of Contents The institution and its production The work in the programme areas: - Data banks, information technology and general presentation - Water resources - Energy resources - Raw materials and Greenland mapping - Nature and environment

Organisation diagramme  
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